RSS Feed
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Clarke Prep gets a foot in the playoff door Friday
The Clarke Prep School Gators used a second quarter offensive explosion to beat the Hooper Colts 42-22 last Friday in Hope Hull and assure themselves a spot in the upcoming state playoffs. The Gators blew open a close game with 22 points in the second frame as they improve to 5-4 on the season and 4-3 in the region. The Gator defense set the table for the game's first score as Chad Dickinson intercepted a Hooper pass at the CPS 27-yard line. Alternating between Wesley Morgan and Brett Bradford Clarke Prep moved to paydirt. Morgan capped the drive with a 4-yard blast. Hunter Mayton kicked the PAT and with 4:22 left in the period, the Gators led 7-0. CPS added to their lead on the first play of the second quarter as Morgan sprang free for a 19-yard TD run. Mayton again was true on the PAT and the lead was 14-0 with 11:49 left in the first half. On the ensuing kickoff a penalty backed the Colts up to their own 9-yard line and on the first play the snap to the quarterback sailed over his head and out of the endzone for a safety, increasing Clarke Prep's lead to 16-0. Following the safety the Gators got the ball after the free kick and set up shop at their own 40-yard line. Five plays later they were in the endzone again as Morgan powered in from 4-yard out. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 33-yard pass completion from Dickinson to Taylor Becton. Mayton's point-after touchdown attempt increased the lead to 23-0 with 7:56 to go before halftime. Hooper was able to transform a turnover into points after recovering a fumble in Gator territory. Justin Boyd capped the short drive with a 1-yard run. The 2-point conversion made the score 23-8 with 4:33 remaining in the second period. Clarke Prep took the ensuing possession and drove to the opposite goal. Bradford found a seam and 41-yards later he crossed the Colt goal line for the Gator touchdown. The attempt failed, but CPS held a 29-8 stranglehold with 2:28 to go before the break. The Colts managed to get into the endzone again, just before halftime. The try for two came up short as they cut into the Gator lead 29-14. In the third frame the Gators took the opening possession and drove 64-yards in 10 plays to score. Bradford capped the drive with a 4-yard run. Mayton's kick was good and Clarke Prep increased the lead to 36-14 with 6:57 left in the period. Tanner Tucker had an interception for CPS on the next Hooper possession to end a short drive and give the Gators the ball near midfield. Morgan got the honors on capping the drive with a 1-yard scoring run. The attempt was no good, but Clarke Prep added to their lead 42-14 with :51 seconds left in the third quarter. Hooper ended the game's scoring late in the fourth quarter with a TD and 2-point conversion to make the final score 42-22. Bradford led all rushers with 166 yards on 16 carries and two scores. Morgan had 128 yards on 23 carries with four touchdowns. All total the Gators rolled to 436 yards of total offense while holding the Colts to just 125 yards of offense. Becton paced the defense with six tackles and two assists. Tucker had five tackles, two assists and an interception. The Gators close out the regular season this Friday as they host Jackson Academy in their annual county brawl. Game time at Hamilton Field is 7:30. It is also homecoming for Clarke Prep this week.
|
for larger version       |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
