Clear Creek football earned decisive victories versus White County.
The CCMS Bobcats hosted White last Tuesday, and the visiting Warriors only managed one score in two games.
The eighth-grade Cats scored every time their offense took the field. The defense was equally as dominant, and Clear Creek trounced the Warriors, 44-8.
The seventh-grade Bobcats have yet to give up any points this season. White struggled to get its offense going, and the Bobcats were there for interceptions when WCMS decided to pass. CCMS led by two touchdowns at the half and added another in the third quarter for a 20-0 win.
White fumbled on its opening drive of the eighth-grade game, and the ball was recovered by Jeremiah Patterson for CCMS.
Over its next 12 offensive plays, the Bobcats scored four touchdowns. The first was a one-play drive that resulted in a 64-yard Ryan Rellinger touchdown run. He added the conversion for a quick 8-0 edge.
The second drive covered 48 yards on two plays. Rellinger tested the right side this time and galloped for a 34-yard touchdown after running for 14 yards on the previous play.
The conversion failed, and the Cats’ next drive started at White’s 49. CCMS needed three plays this time, and Patterson added six more points on a 24-yard run. Kash Chastain tacked on the conversion for a 22-0 lead.
The Cats’ fourth series was 60 yards. Quarterback A.J. Callihan’s 26-yard keeper on second down moved CCMS to the Warriors’ 32. Rellinger then ripped off a 28-yard gain to the 4. McCoy Sutton’s 3-yard touchdown run was followed by Rellinger’s successful conversion for a 30-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Clear Creek’s defense forced three punts following White’s initial fumble. Bobcats Fabian Perez and Jamie Bautista were there to make tackles for losses and sack White’s quarterback.
The Warriors did reach the end zone on a 74-yard kickoff return to trim the Cats’ lead to 30-8.
Clear Creek’s final two drives spanned 57 and 36 yards, respectively. The first was a two-play possession that ended when fullback Madden Hopkins raced 57 yards to the end zone. Sutton added the conversion.
The next possession concluded with a 14-yard touchdown run by Jeremiah Few on the seventh play of the series for a 44-6 advantage.
A running clock was used in the fourth quarter. White’s remaining drives ended with turnovers. Bautista recovered a fumbled Warrior snap, and Sutton intercepted a pass on their final possession.
White turned the ball over on downs to start the seventh-grade game. CCMS strung together a nine-play drive that started at its 45. Fullback Cal Morrison rushed five times for 48 yards, but it was quarterback Slade Smith who took the ball across the goal line from 3 yards out.
CCMS led 6-0 after the failed conversion. White punted on its fourth play, and the Cats were back on offense at their 49. Morrison continued to be the Bobcats’ feature back as he gained yards behind Clear Creek’s offensive line. On the seventh play of the possession, Smith kept the ball around the right corner for a 25-yard touchdown.
Morrison’s conversion gave CCMS a 14-0 lead, and the Warriors’ next drive only lasted three plays. Bobcat Gauge Crump was there for the interception on third down. However, White regained possession when Smith’s deep pass was tipped and intercepted.
The Cats’ first drive of the second half produced the game’s final points. Smith, Morrison and halfback Noah Rice combined to pick up four first downs. On the drive’s sixth play, Morrison bullied his way for a 12-yard touchdown.
The conversion failed, but CCMS had a comfortable 20-point lead late in the third quarter.
White’s next drive ended with a turnover on downs. The Warriors’ last series concluded with a Morrison interception. His 38-yard return to the end zone was nullified because of a blind-side block.
CCMS had a final possession and advanced the ball to the Warriors’ 1-yard line. Rather than add more points, the Cats opted to kneel to kill the clock for the win.
The Bobcats traveled to Union County at press deadline.