CELINA-The Clay County Bulldogs ended a three-game losing streak with a 34-13 win over Pickett County here Friday night. 

The win for the Bulldogs didn’t come easy on a cold, drizzly night. They took an early lead on a 63-yard scamper by Nick Cox with less than four minutes gone in the first quarter, but Pickett County scored on a “quarterback throwback” pass from Chase Penticuff to Nick Cross and added the PAT to take the lead just before intermission.

Cross, who ran for 100 yards and intercepted two passes, rambled 69 yards for a score on the first play of the third quarter to put Pickett up 13-6. Cross set up his earlier TD reception with a 58-yard run.

The Bulldogs, who had lost three straight games and four of five heading into the game, responded with three touchdowns in a five-minute stretch to take the lead and control of the contest. They drove 53 yards for a score at the 5:33 mark of the third quarter, with Cox scoring his second TD from two yards out on fourth and goal.

Matt Copeland picked a Pickett County fumble out of the air for the Bulldogs on the ensuing drive and returned it to the Bobcat 16. Clay County quarterback  Marshall Burch later scored on a one-yard dive, the first of three straight one-yard scores for CCHS.

Fullback Nick Stephens got the second one-yard score after Clay’s Dylan Collins recovered another Pickett fumble at the Bocat 40. That score capped a 20-point third period for the Bulldogs and made it 26-13 heading into the fourth quarter. 

Justin Owens got the last one-yard score for CCHS at the 5:01 mark of the final period. Stephens added the conversion run, accounting for the final score.

Nick Cox

Clay County pounded out 302 yards rushing on the night, with Cox leading the way. The sophomore tailback had 146 yards on 13 carries, with two scores. Owens and Stephens each cracked the 60-yard rushing mark. Despite Cross’ 100-yard rushing total on 13 carries, the Bulldogs still limited the Bobcats to 86 total yards on 34 plays. Cross was the only Pickett runner with positive yardage. The two teams combined for only 21 passing yards in the inclement conditions.

Clay County improved to 4-4 on the season with the win. The Bulldogs will travel to Gordonsville next Friday and will host Oliver Springs in the season finale.