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Devils’ might pounds Matanzas

By Randy Lefko
Posted 5/23/18

MATANZAS – With a steadyflow of power running behind their traditionally stellar offensive line, the Clay High Blue Devils’ football played power football en route to a 14-0 halftime score …

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Devils’ might pounds Matanzas


Posted

MATANZAS – With a steadyflow of power running behind their traditionally stellar offensive line, the Clay High Blue Devils’ football played power football en route to a 14-0 halftime score against Matanzas High in their spring football classic held Friday at Matanzas High School.

With the field a muddy mess from a steady downpour and erratic drizzles, Clay coach Joshua Hoekstra kept to his bread and butter of running the ball right into the teeth of enemy defenses.

In the first quarter, Clay, with junior quarterback Spencer LeSage, an off the line of scrimmage X-back last year with a handful of gamechanging touchdown catches from departed quarterback Caleb Eason, took controlof the wheel with tailback Wilgens Dorvilus behind him and blocking bulldog Ricky Bernabeu shadowing the offensive line. Newcomer Dallane Brown and wrestler Abbott Taylor also took shots into the Pirate defense.

But, it was defense that scored the first highlight o the night as linebacker Mason Adams, brother to Clay Today defensive player of year Mike Adams, now a Bethel University linebacker, scooped up a rain-soaked fumble on the second play of the night to set up LeSage and troops on the Matanzas 35 yard line.

Dorvilus, a bit smaller than all stater Aundre Carter at running back, took the first three handoffs getting gains of five and nine yards behind gaping holes from linemen Mike Carns, Jordan Collins, Ross Doan, John Haymore and Joe Grelli, who blasted the Matanzas front at will. Brown would get his turn as the next Clay ballcarrier and answer with gains of eight and six to set up a one yard scoring plunge from Dorvilus with just four minutes off the game clock.

Matanzas tried to counter with a jet sweep type offense that saw running back Josep Powell find a seam for a 15 gain on his first carry after the Clay score, but senior defensive ends Cory Devore on one end and Kenny Johnson on the opposite end were both quick to shut down the corners with crashing attacks to the center of the scrimmage line. Devore would score two tackles for loss with nosetackle Jeremy Sim getting a third. Matanzas eventually got pushed back to the 50 yard line via four negative yardage plays to force a Matanzas punt.

In the next Clay offensive series, starting at the Clay 15, Taylor became the focal point of the running attack with a three-carry spurt of six, five and 10 yards pounding the ball to the Matanzas’ 35 yard line. LeSage would add a 12 yard end around to midfield but Dorvilus would drop the ball near the Matanzas sideline to squash the effort.

With 1:20 left in the quarter, it was Devore and Sims again on the defensive attack again controlling the Pirate backfield to force a punt.

Taylor would carry the bulk of the Clay offense with gains of 12, 16 and 12 with a penalty flag stalling the Blue Devil momentum and forcing a long pass to end Christian Sweat who was unable to hold on the slippery ball.

On Matanzas’ ensuing drive, defensive tackle Colin Dumas found some space to harass quarterback Ryan Thomas forcing a scramble and a punt.

Starting at their own 40 with sophomore T.K. Kocak at quarterback, Taylor and Dorvilus took turns with the ball to push the Blue Devils to the Pirate 31 yard line where Brown added two runs of five yards. With a second down at the five, Kocak ran a left read sweep play to score the game 13-0 with 42 seconds to the half.