Clay County heads north to face Monroe County, KY Thursday for a game moved up a day due to incoming weather

By THOMAS P. WEAVER

Horizon Editor

PORTLAND-For the second time this season, the Clay County Bulldogs fell by a three-point margin here last Friday night when their game-winning drive stalled to seal a 24-21 Portland win.

But all is not lost for the now 3-2 Dawgs, according to head coach Bruce Lamb.

“I think we learned we can play with anybody,” Lamb said after his team battled the Class 5A Panthers to the bitter end.  “They had athletes all over the field, they were big—huge, and our kids stayed right with them and had an opportunity to win at the end of the game.

“I think that says a whole lot about these kids’ character.”

Clay County’s fortitude was evident throughout, as they fell behind 9-0 in the first quarter, before rallying to lead 14-9 at the break.

A bad punt snap led to a safety accounting for the initial score, before Portland took advantage of a short field with seven more.

But the Dawgs were undeterred and put together a six-play, 76-yard drive to pull back within two of the Panthers, which was capped by a senior Nate Adams to junior Nolan Adams 35-yard touchdown.

Senior Manny Hernandez made the extra point and Clay County was back in it, only down 9-7.

The score energized the Dawg defense, which ended Portlands next three drives with an interception by senior Lance Burchett and two three-and-outs.

Then with just over four minutes remaining in the half, the Clay County offense marched 78 yards to paydirt.

Nate Adams had completions to his brother Nolan, junior tight end Reece Adams, and Burchett to set up a 10-yard touchdown catch by junior Cole Eads.

Hernandez booted the point-after and the Dawgs headed into intermission up 14-9.

“I feel like we are never out of a game with the kids we have,” Lamb said.  “I know that they are going to keep coming at you and that something is going to work.

“Our kids fought and they fought hard.”

Portland opened the second half with a sustained drive resulting in the Panthers reclaiming a 17-14 advantage, but it didn’t last long.

On the first play of Clay County’s resulting possession, the Adams brothers did it again.

Nate hit Nolan for a 58-yard touchdown down the sidelines and another Hernandez made kick surged the Dawgs back ahead 21-17.

“They took it on the chin sometimes, but they made up for it a little bit later,” Lamb said.  “They didn’t lay down—they kept going at them and going at them.

“Even though they had 100-somehting players and we played maybe 13-14 kids at the most.”

Portland responded to the Adams’ touchdown connection with one of their own to account for what turned out to be the final margin, but securing the victory didn’t come easy for the Panthers.

Clay County had two more drives, both of which resulted in Portland fourth-down stops.

The first stalled at the Panther 30-yard-line with under seven minutes to play, but the Dawg defense quickly got the ball back for their offense with a three-and-out.

“They did a phenomenal job,” Lamb said of his defensive unit.  “I thought coach (Mike) Dickerson put them in the right places at the right time and the kids responded really well.”

Thanks to the big stop, Clay County began what could have been their game-winning drive with 4:12 remaining at their own 35-yard-line.

Nate Adams found junior Waylon Cherry to flip the field on a third-and-long, before the Dawgs’ advance ended in a turnover on downs at the Portland 27-yard-line and the Panthers ran out the final seconds to notch the win.

“Our kids played extremely hard and gave great effort,” Lamb said.  “We didn’t play perfect by any means, but we played extremely hard and that keeps you in the game.

“I’ll take that every week.  I’m just very proud of what they did.”

Buldog stats

Clay County produced a total of 287 yards on 39 offensive plays in the loss, including 18 rushing yards on nine carries and 269 passing yards.

Nate Adams was responsible for all of the yards through the air on 16 of 32 passing (3TDs/INT).  Nolan Adams was the leading receiver (8/147 yds./2TDs), while Reece Adams (3/48 yds.), Burchett (2/30 yds.), Cherry (1/33 yds.), Eads (1/10 yds./TD), and senior Ayden Soto (1/1 yd.) also had catches.

Soto (3/10 yds.), senior Worm Smith (2/8 yds.), and Nate Adams combined for the rushing yardage total.

Leading tackler Reece Adams led the Dawg defense with 12 tackles (2TFLs), Smith recorded nine, Nolan Adams had seven (TFL), and Soto made six stops (TFL).

Senior Hayden Adams recorded five tackles, Eads and sophomore Roland Holaway each had four, and Cherry and junior Kolton Brown both had two.  Burchett (INT), senior Kaden Strong, and freshman Cade Copeland all had one tackle apiece.

Dawgs go to

T-ville Thurs.

The Dawgs will continue their three-game road trip Thursday night, as Clay County travels to Tompkinsville, KY to face Monroe County in a game moved up a day due to incoming weather.

The Falcons are 1-4 on the year with several close losses, and Clay County beat them 34-20 in Celina last season.

Monroe County, KY lost 36-30 to Adair County, KY last week and in overtime to Glasgow, KY earlier this season.  They also fell to Barren County, KY 21-15.

They were soundly beaten by Allen County-Scottsville, KY 40-6 last month, after winning their only game of the season over Todd County Central, KY by a score of 44-13.

Tune in to Horizon Sports Network coverage of Friday night’s game in Tompkinsville, KY to hear coach Lamb’s thoughts on the Falcons during the H&H Auto and Equipment Parts Pregame show starting at 6 p.m., one hour prior to kick off at 7 p.m.

Coverage can be found online at www.dalehollowhorizon.com or on the Dale Hollow Horizon Facebook page.