WESTMORELAND-Fresh off a 43-6 region win over Jo Byrns (2-3), the AP #7-ranked Clay County Bulldogs head west on Highway 52 tonight to take on Westmoreland (3-2) in what has become a rivalry since the home-and-home series renewed three years ago.

The Dawgs lost to the Eagles 21-12 in 2019, before winning the next two.  They came out victorious 27-22 in 2020, before topping Westmoreland 21-14 last season.

All three games were hotly contested seesaw battles throughout, which has thrown fuel to the fire.

“They didn’t schedule us for homecoming for no reason,” Bulldog head coach Bruce Lamb said.  “It is definitely a rivalry.

“They want a lot of people there being loud and I expect another close one this week.  I just hope we come out on top, because they are a really good football team.”

Most would agree Lamb has a similar squad in the making, as the Bulldogs improved to 4-0 by battling through a penalty-laden first half to convincingly take down the Red Devils.

Clay County’s senior stars shined bright in the win, as tailback Joseph Marcom posted another 100-yard outing and added a pick-six interception, utility man Alec Kerr showcased his unmatched skills in the open field for a crucial score, wideout Jimmy Burchett made some of his signature big plays, and quarterback Keaton Arms ran for three touchdowns.

But Lamb said the Eagles were similarly built with their own abundance of talent and experience.

“They are really good and may be the best team on our schedule,” said the coach whose familiarity with Westmoreland dates back to his days at Livingston Academy.  “Coach (Chad) Perry does a phenomenal job and he has those guys prepared each week.

“These are guys that are senior oriented, kind of like us—they’ve been playing together since they were young.  It’s going to be a great matchup, and we just want to go in there, play our best, and see what happens.”

The Eagles are known for their ball-control offense and wing-T attack, though Lamb explained they have become more multiple lately.

“They also run veer and some shotgun,” he said, “but (wing-T) is what they do and they are great at what they do, so we’ve got to be able to control the line of scrimmage.

“Whoever does that will win, because when you’ve got two tough teams that go against each other, if you win up front, most of the time you are going to win the game.”

Lamb also reiterated what he has stressed since the season opener when talking about this week’s game.

“We’ve got to keep getting better,” he said.  “If we get better this week and happen to lose the game, it’s alright, because we get better.

“We just need to go play football and do the best we can, because a lot of times if you go play your best football, you are going to come out on top.”

Against Jo Byrns, the Dawgs did come out on top, but their play early was definitely not their best, as penalties and miscues plagued Clay County.

“It is good to have a little of that right now and see if we can fight through it,” Lamb said of his team’s struggle, which included 10 penalties for a total of 130 yards.  “But we need to fix it or it’s going to bite us at the wrong time.

“But when you got a lot of stuff going wrong, you’ve got to find a way to win and we did find a way to win and win convincingly.”

Arms capitalized on an early Jo Byrns turnover with a 19-yard rushing touchdown and Marcom ran in the two-point conversion to put the Dawgs up 8-0 early, but penalties resulted in a punt on their second drive.

Clay County then made it a two score game midway through the second quarter, as Marcom picked off a Red Devil pass and carried it to paydirt to change the scoreboard to 14-0, before the Jo Byrns answered.

The visitors cut their deficit to 14-6 with 2:57 left in the first half on a touchdown pass down the sideline and it seemed as though they were destined to remain within striking distance heading into intermission.

The Dawgs had other ideas.

Clay County scored again in less than a minute, as Kerr caught back-to-back balls from Arms, including a quick screen he took 32 yards through multiple Red Devil defenders into the end zone.

“When he touches the ball, he is going to find a way to get there,” Lamb said of Kerr.  “He is simply amazing—the cuts he makes, and I’ve never coached one like that.”

Sophomore Nate Adams then completed a two-point conversion rush and the Dawgs surged ahead 22-6.

Perfect clock management followed from Lamb and his staff resulting in Clay County getting the ball back with 51 seconds remaining in the half—which was all they needed.

Marcom broke a run for 28 yards, Burchett caught a pass for 17 yards, and the Dawgs were in business at their own 40-yard-line.

From there, Marcom took a handoff to the house as time expired and ran in the conversion to send his team into the locker room up 30-6.

“That one changed the entire game,” Lamb said.  “It changed the momentum, the mojo that was on us, and it went our way.”

Arms then invoked the TSSAA mercy-rule running clock early in the third period and tacked on another for good measure to open the fourth quarter.  His two scores, paired with an extra point by senior Levi Garrett, accounted for the final margin.

“It was an ugly game,” Lamb said, “but we fought through adversity and got it done.

“It was a big win, because it put us in the spot we want to be.  They want to be the first team to win the region, which allows us to host every playoff game and that’s what we want.”

Stats

Clay County had 379 yards of total offense on 39 plays, including 28 rushes for 284 yards (4TDs) and 95 yards through the air on five for 11 passing (TD).

Marcom was the leading rusher with 140 yards (TD/2PT) on 11 carries, while Arms (6/60 yds./3TDs), Kerr (2/27 yds.), Nate Adams (2/21 yds./2PT), freshman Cole Eads (4/20 yds.), Burchett (1/12 yds.), and freshman Nolan Adams (2/4 yds.) also had carries.

Arms (5 for 10/95 yds./TD) and Nate Adams (0/1) both threw passes, while Kerr (3/65 yds./TD) and Burchett (2?30 yds.) each had receptions.

Seniors Garrett and John Hamilton led the way defensively with five tackles apiece, while their classmates Hunter Kyle and Ricardo McElroy (Sack) both recorded four each.

Marcom (INT-TD/TFL) and Burchett added three stops; Arms, juniors Austin Anderson (RF), Ben Maxfield, and Weston Birdwell made two tackles; and Kerr, Nate Adams (Sack), sophomore Worm Smith, freshmen Cole Eads and Colton Brown, and juniors Parker Smith, Ernesto Sanchez, and Kanyon Short, all had one stop each.

For more from coach Lamb and to hear the Dawgs’ next action, tune into tonight’s game at Westmoreland on the Horizon Sports Network at dalehollowhorizon.com.  Coverage starts at 6 p.m. with the Carquest Pregame Show, followed by kickoff at 7 p.m.