BLACKSVILLE – It’s not often that a Senior Night final regular season high school football game in November would have a weather report that included highs in the 70s, but then again, it could also be said that the heat was definitely on for Clay-Battelle as they hosted Hundred Friday night.
That’s what you’re feeling when you are ranked No. 17, one spot out of the playoffs – there’s big-time pressure to win that final game on the schedule, plus fervent hopes and prayers for help from across the state. However, all the good fortune that might occur outside of Blacksville wouldn’t matter one bit if the Cee-Bees didn’t take care of their own business first, and that’s exactly what they did, forging a dominating 41-0 first-half lead on their way to a convincing 54-8 victory.
“We knew what we could control, which was our performance tonight, and I thought we adjusted nicely to Hundred’s offensive scheme, which was new this year for them,” C-B coach Ryan Wilson explained. “We’ve done a great job all year with those in-game adjustments, and the kids once again did a great job.”
Clay-Battelle (7-2) ran a grand total of two offensive plays in the first quarter, yet finished that opening frame with a 15-0 lead. After forcing a Hundred (2-7) three and out, the Cee-Bees fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, the Hornets returning it 40 yards to the CB 35. A surprising diamond package of four wide receivers allowed the normally run-heavy Hundred offense to drive to a first-and-goal opportunity, but Zachary Hall stepped in front of a flat pass at the goal line and sprinted all the way down the near sideline to the house for a 99-yard pick-six stunner. Then, after another Hundred punt, it took Hall exactly one play to find the end zone again with a spectacularly instinctive run. Designed as a sweep left from his own 46, Hall gave up ground to avoid penetration, then planted his left foot, cutback hard to daylight on his right, and outsprinted everyone to the far pylon to add to the lead.
The Cee-Bee’s defense solved Hundred’s unique spread offensive formation once the second quarter began, while the CB offense began to rack up big plays to light up the scoreboard. Quarterback Carson Shriver also utilized his cutback quickness to burst through the middle of the Hundred line and sped in for a 71-yard score. Back-up quarterback JC Spears then found massive senior tight end Matthew Gadd on a slant where Gadd leaped high to snag the pass, then leaped over a pair of defenders and galloped in for a 35-yard TD.
Late in the half, Shriver rolled right and found Spears all alone in the back of the end zone for a 30-yard scoring strike, then with just 3 seconds left before halftime, Gadd took a swing pass from Shriver and rumbled down the far sideline and in from 33 yards out to give the Cee-Bees a commanding 41-0 advantage.
With the final outcome all but secured, the second half was played with an emphasis on ball control and winding clock from both teams. Midway through the third, Hall flashed through the middle, showed great strength to power through an arm tackle, and sliced over the line for a 19-yard rushing touchdown midway through the third. Later in the quarter, while in the game as a blocking back, the electrifying junior scooped up a fumble and exploded down the far sideline for a 52-yard rushing TD, his fourth score of the night. The Hornets’ Tyler Sleeth bucked in from the two late in the final quarter to close out the scoring.
Commenting on this team, especially his senior class (including Shriver, Gadd, Mercer, Mason Chisler, Seth Figueroa, Adam Kolat, Tate Elliot, Gabriel Thomas, Brendon Skavinsky, Jacob Kassay, and Logan Knechtel), Wilson got a little bit emotional.
“I told the seniors,” he continued, “that they have grown into fine young men, and if they take the traits they displayed every day in practice into their lives, they’ll be successful in whatever they do. And I’m proud of each and every one of our players this year.
“It’s hard for me to put into words what a joy it’s been to be with these guys all year,” he smiled. “They’ve done everything we asked, gave everything they had, played hurt, were great teammates, and finished 7-2. It’s been a very special year, and this is a very special group. We hope that things swing our way, and that we get to have one more week to work together.”
Hundred (2-7) 0 0 0 8 – 8
Clay-Battelle (7-2) 15 26 13 0 – 54
1st Q – CB – Zachary Hall 99 INT return (try good Carson Shriver run)
CB – Hall 54 run (Drew Mercer kick)
2nd Q – CB – Carson Shriver 71 run (kick missed)
CB – Matthew Gadd 35 pass from JC Spears (try failed)
CB – Spears 30 pass from Shriver (Mercer kick)
CB – Matthew Gadd 33 pass from Shriver (Mercer kick)
3rd Q – CB – Hall 19 run (Mercer kick)
CB – Hall 52 run (kick missed)
4th Q – HH – Tyler Sleeth 2 run (try good Zack Wise run)
PASSING
HHS – Toby Michael 7-16-1 31, Karter Parson 1-2-1 11, Totals 8-18-2 43
CB – Shriver 4-8-0 134 2TD, Hall 0-1-0 0, Spears 1-1-0 30 TD, Totals 5-10-0 164 3TD
RUSHING
HHS – Michael 12-47, Parson 13-26, Wise 13-56, Sleeth 2-19 TD, Josiah Morgan 1-8 Total 41-156 TD.
CB- Hall 4-135 3TD, Shriver 5-93 TD, Mason Chisler 2-9, Maverick Gum 4-17, Seth Figueroa 1-(-9), Logan Knechtel 2-7, Total 18-251 4TD.
RECEIVING
HH – Parson 6-14, Wise 1-0, Michael 1-11, Morgan 2-18.
CB – Spears 1-44, Gadd 4-120 2TD
INTERCEPTION
CB – 2 (Hall, Braden Ponceroff)
By Mark Schraf
