By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
October 19, 2002
DEKALB It may not have been as pretty or emotional as last week's win over Newton, but the Clarkdale High School Bulldogs won another Region 5-2A game on Friday night.
The Bulldogs traveled to play Kemper County and came away with a 55-14 win to improve to 6-2 on the season and 3-0 in league play. Clarkdale will travel to play Scott Central in a huge region game next week.
The Bulldogs came out flat in the first quarter against the Wildcats. Kemper County took advantage of sloppy play and penalties to move the ball down the field. Andrew Harrington hit Omarian Backstrom with a 26-yard pass to move Kemper County into Clarkdale territory. The Wildcats were able to use a lot of clock and move the ball to the Clarkdale three before the Bulldogs came up with a big play on fourth down to keep them out of the end zone.
Clarkdale moved the ball down the field from its own eight-yard line and scored with 4:47 left in the half. Justin Culpepper hit Quinn Moffite with a 17-yard touchdown pass. The extra point went under the bar and the Clarkdale held a 6-0 lead.
The Wildcats turned the ball over on downs at their own 43 with 30 seconds left and the Bulldogs made them pay. Culpepper again found Moffite with a touchdown pass. This time it was from 37 yards out with 19 seconds left on the clock. Culpepper also took in the two-point conversion to make the score 14-0.
The Bulldogs nearly scored again in the first half. Quinton Walker picked off a pass on the next play by Kemper County's offense and returned it to the nine-yard line before being brought down with no time left.
In the second half the Bulldogs were able to drive the ball down the field. Moffite broke loose on a 24-yard touchdown run with 8:17 left in the third quarter to expand the lead. David Prewitt hit the extra point to make the score 21-0.
The Bulldogs also scored on their next possession. Kevin Matthews and Cedric Burns took turns running the ball and moved Clarkdale down the field. Matthews finished off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Prewitt hit the PAT to make the score 28-0.
Kemper County answered with a big special teams play. Anwar Jenkins took the kickoff and the Wildcats ran a reverse to Backstrom who took the ball all the way to the Bulldog 37-yard line. Three plays later, Harrington hit Cyril Edwards on a screen pass and Edwards carried the ball in from 19 yards out. The two-point conversion failed and Clarkdale led 28-6.
Clarkdale quickly answered back with another touchdown. Matthews and Burns again carried the Bulldogs down the field. Matthews broke a 39-yard run to set up the touchdown. Marcus Hood finished up the drive with a two-yard touchdown run with 9:59 left to play. The PAT by Prewitt made the score 35-6.
The Wildcats again broke loose on a big kickoff play to move into scoring position. Jenkins faked the reverse and carried the ball all the way to the Clarkdale 10. Kevin Rush ran the ball in on the next play and Jerry Bourrage took in the two-point conversion to cut the Clarkdale lead to 35-14.
The Clarkdale offense continued to dominate the line and moved the ball down the field on its next possession. Culpepper finished off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run with 5:17 left to play. The PAT was no good and the Bulldogs led 41-14.
Clarkdale took over the ball in good field position after another interception by Walker, but were forced to punt. The punt was fielded on the roll and fumbled. The Bulldogs recovered on the Kemper County 17 and scored four plays later when Michael Steel carried the ball in from five yards out to make the score 48-14 with 37 seconds left.
The Bulldogs added another touchdown when Hood picked up a fumble and returned it for a 22-yard touchdown on the next Kemper County play from scrimmage. The PAT by Prewitt made the final score 55-14.
Burns finished with 127 rushing yards to lead the Bulldog offense while Matthews ended up with 111 yards rushing on the night.