By Clay County High School Football Coach Jason Nichols
This past Friday our CCHS Panther football team traveled to Raleigh County to take on the Raiders of Liberty High School. This would be the first ever meeting between the two schools. Recent reclassification by the WVSSAC has forced the Panthers to adjust from their more familiar schedule. Schools such as Ritchie County, Ravenswood, and Webster County have dropped from AA to A and other schools such as Sissonville (and Herbert Hoover) have issues within their conference that only allows for only one non-conference opponent.
The Panthers have picked up some new opponents, and Liberty High is the first of the four new teams to the 2016 schedule. Liberty was a 2015 playoff team and they come into the season with returning AA All State player Justin Bailey. CCHS jumped out early on Liberty and took a 6-0 lead as Reece Nichols ran for a 65 yard TD on the first play from scrimmage. The Panthers continued to build on the lead as Alex Grose connected with Luke Young for a 10 yard TD pass and then the combo connected again for the two-point conversion. The Panthers took an early 14-0 lead.
The Raiders made a second-quarter comeback and Clay held a 20-18 halftime lead. The Panthers lead was 27-18 after Alex Grose threw a 30 yard TD pass to junior Ryan Burdette just before the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter was all Liberty High, as Clay committed three turnovers in the quarter. Liberty’s All State QB Justin Bailey ran for 216 yards on the night and was too much in the fourth, as Liberty capitalized on the Clay County turnovers.
The Panthers last score was another Grose to Luke Young 25 yard TD pass, but it was not enough, as Liberty improved to 3-1 with a 38-33 victory over CCHS. The Panthers dropped to a heartbreaking 1-3 as they enter the next two games against two of their toughest opponents on the season.
Statistical leaders for Clay were: RB Reece Nichols with 27 carries for 230 yards and one TD. Junior QB Alex Grose was 7 for 14 passing with 114 yards and 2 TDs. Senior WR Luke Young had three catches for 47 yards and two TDs and one two-point conversion. Senior DE Ian Smith had eight tackles on defense and senior DB Kenny Welch picked off two Liberty High passes.
CCHS will play no. 13 Independence High for Homecoming on Friday, September 30. Please come out and support the players as they try to rebound. CCHS will play their fourth ranked team of the year. Baylie Triplett will be crowned as Homecoming Queen and the Panthers will try pick up a victory this Friday.
