The Clear Creek Bobcats were back at home last Thursday to take on the Lumpkin County Indians.
It marked the fifth league football game of the season, and both Clear Creek teams were victorious. The eighth graders took the field first, and their opportunistic defense turned three Indian turnovers into touchdowns. CCMS jumped to a quick lead and never looked back en route to a 34-6 victory.
The seventh-grade Cats continued their undefeated season with another decisive win in a 42-0 trouncing of LCMS.
Eighth grade
Clear Creek scored 20 unanswered points to start the game. The first two scores followed CCMS fumble recoveries by Sam Jones and Michael Bushey.
CCMS took the field offensively at its 37 and used eight rushes to move down field. Bobcat halfbacks Hunter Britain and Cheyne Smith and fullback Bushey shared the carries all game. It was Britain who scored from 5 yards out for a 6-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter.
The next drive spanned 41 yards on four plays, and Britain ran 18 yards around the left corner for a 12-0 edge early in the second quarter.
Clear Creek’s third scoring march needed six plays and started at the Indians’ 49. Britain reached pay dirt for a third time with another 18-yard touchdown gallop to increase the lead to 20-0 with 41 seconds left in the half.
That proved to be enough time as an Indian screen pass turned into a 75-yard touchdown after the receiver made a handful of Bobcats miss on the play.
The teams traded punts to start the third quarter with CCMS leading, 20-6. Smith was there on the Cats’ next drive that started at the Indians’ 47. Smith burst through the line for a 25-yard gain on first down. Three plays later, Bushey tested the right side for an 11-yard touchdown run and 26-6 CCMS lead.
Lumpkin’s third fumble followed and Blake Grizzle recovered for CCMS. From Lumpkin’s 30, the four-play drive ended with a 3-yard Bushey touchdown run. The conversion extended Clear Creek’s lead to 34-6 with 2:55 to play.
Bushey came up big defensively when Lumpkin returned to the field with a leaping interception before the Indians’ final possession ended on downs.
Seventh grade
The seventh-grade Bobcats controlled the game on both sides of the ball and were never threatened by the Indians.
In the opening half, Clear Creek’s defense forced two turnovers and a pair of Lumpkin punts as the Indians had no room to maneuver. Meanwhile, the CCMS offense scored four first-half touchdowns and none needed more than four plays.
On the opening play of the game, CCMS halfback A.J. Callihan motored around the left end escorted by halfback Douglas Callihan, who flattened an Indian defender on the way to the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown run. Douglas Callihan added the conversion, and CCMS quickly led 8-0 26 seconds into the game.
The next scoring drive covered 35 yards on three plays. Fullback Peyton Chancey handled all of the rushes and his last took him across the goal line for a 1-yard score and 14-0 lead.
On the third drive, Chancey’s 24-yard run moved CCMS to Lumpkins’ 24. Quarterback Jace McCollum connected with Chancey two plays later for a 12-yard touchdown pass and 20-0 lead just moments into the second quarter.
The Indians then forced a CCMS punt, but they could not field it cleanly and the Cats’ offense was back on the field at Lumpkins’ 30. After a 19-yard McCollum run, Douglas Callihan covered the final 11 yards with a touchdown over the right side.
CCMS took a 28-0 lead into the half after Douglas Callihan’s conversion.
The second half was much of the same. LCMS fumbled on its first possession and turned the ball over on downs on its second.
The Cats continued to score, and its opening drive of the third needed four plays and spanned 36 yards. Douglas Callihan added another touchdown with a 12-yard run and 35-0 CCMS advantage.
The Bobcats’ last scoring drive was its longest of the night but only needed one play. Chancey broke loose around the left corner for a 60-yard run into the end zone.
Clear Creek’s 42-0 lead forced a running clock in the fourth quarter as reserves entered the game and preserved the Bobcats’ shut out.
The eighth-grade Bobcats are 2-3, and the seventh grade is 5-0 overall. CCMS will host Union County Thursday for a 5 p.m. game.