I always enjoy working a Clark game cause there are still some familiar faces on the Clark sideline…one is Coach Rodney Wilson (he was my History teacher), another is Paul “Doc” Rost (he is the trainer), and the last one is David Dalkowitz (I don’t what is his title is, but to be honest it doesn’t matter as he is always present at Clark football games). I did make it my duty to see Coach Wilson before the game.
OMG, how can I not mention Coach Kevin Hamilton (he was the assistant basketball coach while I was at Clark and now he is the Assistant Athletic Director of Northside ISD and Farris stadium is his home away from home). I didn’t see Kevin before the game, but I did see him at a game a few weeks earlier.
I don’t have any superstitions, but I have preferences and one of those preferences is I like putting my stat board on a wall on the left side (I have always done it that way, it works great for me, and I can see the field (out of the corner of my eye) while I update the stats), but on Thursday night, I was discombobulated as I had to put the stat board a wall on the right side and I just never really got into a good groove stat wise (every time I updated the stat board, I was facing a wall and couldn’t see the game). I don’t complain (well, only in writing)…I just suck it up and do my job!!!
I know that the top 3 teams in District 27-5A are going to be Brandeis, Warren, and O’Connor (in no particular order). But, folks, 4 teams make the playoffs and Clark and Jay will be battling with each other along with the Stevens Falcons!!! WOW…three teams for one spot!!!
Coming into the game, Clark had 2 wins and 2 losses and Jay had 2 wins and 3 losses in District play. I was expected a very close game and gosh, I got exactly what I wished for!!! The Clark Cougars defeated the Jay Mustangs by a score of 23 to 21. It was a 23 yard field goal by the Cougars with 90 seconds left in the game!!! WOW!!!
The Jay Mustangs ran 51 plays for 281 yards and the Clark Cougars ran 50 plays for 294 yards. Yeah, very evenly matched.
The Jay Mustangs quarterback is Moses Reynolds. For all the Jay fans, that last name should ring a bell as Moses is the younger brother to Josh Reynolds. Josh was a wide receiver for Jay (he graduated last year) and this dude did everything and anything in whatever was asked!! Moses was 9
of 20 passing for 124 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He also had 20 carries for 68 yards and 1 touchdown. The numbers don’t pop out but I know that as time on, he is going to be one of the best players in the city (he is only a Sophomore!).
Juan Ortega, the Jay running back, had 10 carries for 83 yards and 1 touchdown. Isiah Lloyd, a wide receiver for Jay, scored on a 65 yard touchdown pass but to be honest, I totally missed that play!!! I was actually updating the stat board as I knew I had some time cause the players for both teams were just standing around the ball and holy crap, in the blink of an eye, Isiah was streaking down the sideline with the the football and no defensive players in the vicinity!!! WOW!!! It was a trick play that obviously worked perfectly!!
I worked a Jay game several years ago with Mark Kusenberger and Jay ran the ball all night long (sweet, a Lionel Richie reference) with Zach Young and Myron Brew…they didn’t attempt any passes (trick or not)!
The Clark Cougars offense is very simple…hand the ball to Brandon Valle!! Valle’s 2nd carry of the game was a 63 yard touchdown run. At halftime, Valle had 18 carries for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns!! The Jay defense slowed Valle down big time in the 2nd half as he only had 9 carries for 12 yards and zero touchdowns. Please, let me add that up as I am a professional stat man…27 carries for 204 yards and 3 touchdowns (no calculator was used).
Next Thursday, I will be at Harlandale Memorial stadium as the Harlandale Indians host the Southside Cardinals. I am really excited that I finally get to see Harlandale quarterback, Brandon Ramon. Ramon is the real deal!!!
And on Friday night, I will be at D W Rutledge stadium as the Judson Rockets host the San Marcos Rattlers. My Judson/Smithson Valley article will be published tomorrow.
