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Blue Devils flounder to Tornadoes

By Ray DiMonda Correspondent
Posted 9/15/21

STARKE - The Clay Blue Devils, coming off a 21-14 season opening win over rival Fleming Island High last week, were feeling pretty good coming into tonight’s matchup against the winless Braford …

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Blue Devils flounder to Tornadoes


Posted

STARKE - The Clay Blue Devils, coming off a 21-14 season opening win over rival Fleming Island High last week, were feeling pretty good coming into tonight’s matchup against the winless Braford Tornados. Bradford opened at home against traditional powerhouse Baker County, taking a 28-18 loss. Bradford then traveled to Union County to get trounced 50-21 to start their season in a two-game hole.

“There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent”- Lao Tzu.

Having a second week bye was not an ideal situation and may have bitten Clay.

“I told the kids; I take the loss. It’s on me” said Clay Head Coach Kyle Kennard as he displayed extreme ownership. “I didn’t have us ready to play. I knew it was going to be a tough game and I was thinking about it all week. I told the kids all week I was worried about it.”

The concern played out as Clay could never get any momentum after a Tornado opening drive that put them up 7-0. The regularly strong Clay running game was shut down early, and untimely Clay interceptions would derail drives that could have turned the game.

“I hope they realize they cannot just put on that Clay High School Football jersey and come out and win games,” said Kennard. “We have to prepare and we have to work to get ourselves back to what we know makes us successful. We will.”

In the end, the Blue Devils took one on the chin as they absorbed their first loss of the season, 24-13.

After a less than stellar kickoff and a Clay penalty, Bradford started business with only half the field to cover. Bradford quarterback Amari Jones was a lightning bolt when he would tuck and run. Clay had good up-front work, but if they didn’t stop Jones at the line, he and running back Manny Covey would juke and bob their way into the secondary for good yardage.

At 7:20, Bradford punched in the first score to go ahead 7-0.

After the kick, the Blue Devils went to work on their own 40. Clay came out running Chris Goldstein who started having good production up the middle until Bradford adjusted. After one first down, incomplete passes and shut down runs forced a punt. Bradford was working a drive when they attempted a flea-flicker that Clay was ready for.

Clay defensive back D’maurion Frazier came down with the pass interception and Clay was back in action. The enthusiasm was tempered with a Clay holding call after the pick off, pushing Clay into their own end of the field. Clay tried runs and a pass to move the ball and were faced with third down and almost 20. A screen pass to Al’querious “Q” Ray got back half the needed yards. Facing fourth and long, too close to punt, too far for a field goal, quarterback Billy Mobley threw his first interception to kill the drive.

With the ball back just as the quarter ended, Bradford took over at their own 20, a few short runs, then a big pass out to Jeremiah Crum moved the ball into Clay territory. With a stop and a false start against Bradford, things were looking good for Clay as Bradford faced third down and 10. Jones, scrambling around to avoid a sack, found wide out Jontez Williams open, and took it to the house for a 14-0 lead.

“I give them a lot of credit,” said Kennard. “They came back, made adjustments, and played their tails off. They are at home and got fired up by the crowd. They really wanted it.”

Clay got on the board in the second with an aerial assault after Bradford shut down Q Ray. Mobley connected on a screen pass to get Clay first and goal, followed by a Goldstein run to put Clay on the board 14-6 at 5:48.

The point after try went wide. Bradford drove and had to settle for three points, 17-6. Clay had another attempt at a field goal with 25 seconds left in the second, and that kick also went wide.

Q Ray finished the scoring as he bruised his way up the middle of the opening drive of the third quarter to get Clay to 17-13. The Blue Devils could never get it done in the fourth quarter as the Tornados added one more score, 24-13. Clay would throw another interception at 2:58 left in the fourth that took all the wind out of the sails. “They took it to us,” said Kennard. “Again, I give them a lot of credit. They had their guys ready to play and we didn’t and that’s my fault. We’ll get it fixed.”

The loss may be one that brings a valuable lesson back into the weight room and onto the practice field as Clay readies to host the Ridgeview Panthers, who are coming off a late game 17-14 win over Menendez.