By THOMAS P. WEAVER

HORIZON Editor

SOUTH PITTSBURG-Clay County High School’s football season came to a swift end here last Friday night as the Bulldogs were blitzed 57-13 by top-ranked South Pittsburg, but the 2019 black-and-gold squad left their mark on history.

Not only did the Dawgs become the only CCHS team to host a postseason game on John Teeples Field, but they also became the first team in 22 years to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

“It was definitely not the end that we wanted, however looking back on it, it was still a success,” head coach Jake Johnson said of his team’s 8-4 finish—which also hadn’t been done since 1997 by the then Celina High School Bulldogs.  “To have an outright winning season, a playoff game in your town on your field, and a postseason win, it was a good year.

“Of course, you always want more, that’s just human nature, but these guys have brought football back.”

The loss to the now 11-0 Pirates served as the last game for senior Bulldogs Jake Ashlock, Will Ogletree, Wyatt Burks, Wesley Walker, Jonathan Maynard, Wesley Huff, Matt White, and Peyton Vanduyn—a group Johnson described as “the backbone” of his team.

“Our seniors were the cornerstone of the things that we were trying to do and build,” he said of the eight set to graduate in the spring.  “We had a lot of younger guys stepping up making plays and filing roles for us, but they are what made the machine go with their example and their leadership.

“Those are going to be the things that are hard to replace and they definitely left this team and this program better than the way than they found it.”

In their career finales, the seniors found out what a title contender looks like, as South Pittsburg had their way with the Dawg defense—a unit that was ranked fifth statewide for points allowed in the regular season.

The Pirates posted nearly as many points as Clay County had given up in their previous 11 contests combined and they did it in a hurry.

South Pittsburg scored on their opening pair of possessions, before converting two Bulldog miscues into points to claim a resounding 28-0 lead before the first buzzer sounded, but the Dawgs didn’t hang their heads.

After only having the opportunity to run eight offensive plays amidst the Pirate scoring barrage, the Clay County attack found a spark in the form of freshman Alec Kerr.

The fearless frosh set his team up at midfield with another electric kick return combined with his first carry of the contest, before Ashlock banged ahead for positive yardage and found Ogletree through the air for the Dawgs’ initial first down.

Kerr then did the rest when he broke free for a 39-yard touchdown run on the last play of the opening period, which served as just the second time a team had scored on the Pirates’ starting defense this season.

Then after Clay County dented scoreboard, Bulldog corner Carson Sharp used the moment to make a play of his own on South Pittsburg’s ensuing possession.

The speedy sophomore ran step for step with a receiver and picked off a Pirate pass, but the interception served as the only time the Dawgs turned back their opponent in the first half.

South Pittsburg went on to score 22 unanswered before intermission and carried a 50-6 lead into the break.

Then in the second half as the clock continuously ran, the Pirates tacked on one more for good measure, which was answered by Clay County.

Freshman Joseph Marcom’s 21-yard touchdown run, paired with an extra-point make by his classmate Levi Garrett, accounted for the final margin.

“These kids don’t give up and if you’re going to beat them, you just have to beat them and that’s what South Pitt did—they were loaded,” Johnson said.  “They are the best team I’ve seen thus far and I expect to see them in Cookeville.

“There’s nothing for us to be ashamed of in that one, because our guys didn’t quit.  Blue collar and competitive… that’s what they are and, at the end of the day, they are kids with talent and they’ve got a workmanlike attitude that’s going to get them far.”

Stats

Clay County did muster 192 total yards on 38 offensive plays, including 25 rushes for 130 yards (2TDs) and 62 yards passing.

Ashlock was responsible for all of the yardage through the air on 8/13 passing (INT), with completions to Kerr (3/33 yds.), Ogletree (2/14 yds.), Burks (1/8 yds.), Sharp (1/2 yds.), and freshman Jimmy Burchett (1/5 yds.).

Kerr was the leading rusher (5/43 yds.-TD), while Marcom (3/40 yds.-TD), Ogletree (8/18 yds.), freshman Keaton Arms (2/11 yds.), Sharp (2/10 yds.), and Ashlock (5/8 yds.) rounded out the ground game.

Kerr also led the way defensively with eight tackles and junior Brison Burchett recorded four.  Sharp (INT), junior Dalton Goad (TFL), and sophomore Wade Coons each had three stops, while Marcom, Arms, Burks, Walker, junior John Copeland, and Jimmy Burchett posted two apiece.  Maynard and junior Colin Dodson also made one tackle each.

To go back and listen to Friday night’s game or any of the 12 from this season, visit www.dalehollowhorizon.com.

Visit cchsmedia.zenfolio.com for more great photos from this game and more.