GREEN COVE SPRINGS - In the Clay High Kickoff Classic, the Blue Devils displayed a very strong ground game from running backs Lavaris Roberts, Javaris Roberts, Antonio Thomas, and the feet of quarterback Landon Chadwick to rack up 28 points to tie the Menendez Falcons before the starting players were pulled in the third quarter. The Junior Varsity players would wrap up play into the third and all of the fourth quarter as the Falcons would go into the regular season with a 42-28 pre-season win.
“It’s the pre-season kickoff classic, it’s rusty, it takes a little bit to get in the groove, they are nervous, and some guys are playing at this level for the first time,” said Clay Head Coach Kyle Kennard. “Once we settled in and calmed our nerves, we were fine. We didn’t turn the ball over and we do have a few things we have to get cleaned up, but that is how you want a kickoff classic. Let’s watch the film, figure out what we are bad at and get better at it.”
On the Falcon's second drive, the Blue Devils were looking for a spark on defense. Off the defensive line, end Omar Goosby, Darius Swilley, and Dominic Swilley met Falcon quarterback Cash Downey five yards deep in the backfield to force a Menendez punt and get the Blue Devils on offense again.
On a first and 10 from the 25, Lavaris Roberts took a handoff up the middle and broke out to put the first points on the board. With a good point after a kick from Ethan Bellemare, who was perfect all night, the Blue Devils were up 7-0 at 5:19 of the first quarter.
On the next Falcon drive, it was three deep passes to march down the field to set them up first down and goal to go from the six-yard line. With another short pass and back-to-back runs by Mason Lynch, the Falcons evened the score 7-7.
Into the second quarter, the Falcons were back in the driver’s seat running and passing their way down the field. On a second down and goal to go, the Falcon’s Lynch again punched the ball in the endzone to take the lead 13-7 after a muffed snap and missed point after attempt.
With a kick return out to the 28-yard line, Clay used the ground game to get the ball to the 36. On third down, Javaris Roberts had his number called and it was off to the races. Roberts stayed ahead of the chasing Falcon’s defenders to bring the score to 14-13 with 7:44 left until the half.
“I got real tired around the 40,” said Roberts. “I’m playing linebacker and running back, doing my best to get a good look and hoping for a scholarship. I heard the crowd and my team and it helped me keep pushing to stay just far enough ahead of the Menedez defenders.”
The Falcons went right back to work to again go ahead 21-14 with a two-point conversion.
The Clay return drive stalled on the 37 after a fourth down attempt which turned the ball back over to the Falcons with 2:36 until the half. Menendez would take until 25 seconds remaining to punch it in just before the half, 28-14.
As some Blue Devil fans started heading for a snack, Antonio Thomas had another plan. With a deep kick by the Falcons, Thomas took the ball at the 20-yard line, sliced and diced his way down the field going 80 yards to give Clay a perfectly timed boost going into the half, 28-21.
To start the second half, Menendez received and went three downs and a punt. The Blue Devils would go to work on the 44-yard line, passing and running the ball to the 30. Again, Javaris Roberts pounded the rock down to the three-yard line. On second and goal to go, Chadwick would roll out, keep the ball, and score to tie the game at 28.
Both teams would bring in the seconds, thirds, and junior varsity to finish out the game. The Falcons would score two additional touchdowns to bring the final score to 42-28.