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Clay offense goes big for spring win

Doug Deters
Posted 5/25/17

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - The Clay High Blue Devils went into spring practice with several new faces on both sides of the ball and in its coaching staff. As it is said many times; the more things change, …

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Clay offense goes big for spring win


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - The Clay High Blue Devils went into spring practice with several new faces on both sides of the ball and in its coaching staff. As it is said many times; the more things change, the more they stay the same. After falling behind 10-0 the Blue Devils would go on a 23-3 scoring run en route to a 23-13 spring game victory over Class 6A playoff team Matanzas High School.

Clay running back and linebacker Raequan Williams took the opening kick off to midfield but it came at a price as starting free safety Alec Holt suffered an ankle injury and would not return.

“It was a tough blow because Alec (Holt) has had a great spring and it caused us to have to move our best linebacker (Williams) to safety to replace him,” said Clay coach Joshua Hoekstra. “But I am pleased at the way we were able to respond from that adversity.”

The game was a defensive dominanted game in the early going with the teams trading punts multiple times in the first quarter. Clay defensive linemen Cody Devore and Kenny Johnson each had one sack apiece in the first quarter to lead the new look defense of the Blue Devils. Matanzas would strike first with a 47 yard field goal with just under five minutes left in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead.

Williams would take the ensuing kickoff 90 yards to the endzone but a flag was thrown for holding about 25 yards behind Williams much to the displeasure of Hoekstra. The offense would continue to struggle early for Clay; especially the offensive line which has been the Blue Devils strength for the last five years.

“We certainly have to improve in the running game and that begins with the O-line,” said Hoekstra. “We have three new starters but if the guys continue to work they will be fine.”

Matanzas would go to their bag of tricks using a fake punt for a first down on the opening play of the second quarter that would lead to a four yard touchdown run to give the Pirates a 10-0 and all the game momentum.

The Blue Devils would again go three plays and a punt and it seemed that the offense had little to no fire power so far in 2017. However, as the old saying goes: “The best offense is a good defense.” Linebacker Marcaun Robinson would intercept a pass at the Pirate 20 yard line and return it to the five yard line to give the Blue Devils the spark they needed.

Clay quarterback Caleb Eason would find wideout Tyler Lewis on third down for a three yard touchdown pass giving the Blue Devils their first score of the spring.

Matanzas would answer with an 80 yard drive but they would only manage a field goal to take a 13-7 lead with just over a minute until halftime.

The Blue Devils would again answer the score with a 70 yard touchdown pass to Christian Sweat (who made a difficult over the shoulder catch) and suddenly the Blue Devils took the lead with 57 seconds until halftime.

The quick scores may have rattled the Pirates as they perhaps got a little too agressive on the final drive of the half. After a penalty and a couple of negative plays Matanzas found themselves with third down at their own one yard line and only four seconds left in the half. The Pirates would gamble and drop back to pass then Blue Devil defensive lineman Kenny Johnson would “light up” the quarterback and get the safety as time expired to give Clay a 16-13 halftime lead. Asked about the importance of the play Johnson said “I just give 100 percent effort on every play, no matter what. It comes from working hard each and every day and doing what my coaches teach me to do.”

Hoekstra was quick to praise Johnson as well: “We feel like we have enough talent in guys like Kenny (Johnson) and Cody Devore to really distrupt some backfields.”

Both teams started the second half with mostly starters and the defenses stepped up early with both teams going three plays and a punt. The Blue Devils would score the only points of the second half midway through the third quarter on a 56 yard touchdown pass to Senior Ajay Belanger to give the Blue Devils a 23-13 lead. From then on the deep subs and junior varsity players would play the rest of the game to end the spring on a positive note with a 23-13 victory.