By Jason Nichols
Friday, November 3 was a night to remember for the Clay County High School senior football players.
It would be the night time 9 seniors would suit up for CCHS. The fifth ranked Webster County Highlanders would enter with an 8-1 record. Our Panthers played perhaps one of the greatest football games ever played at Bradley Field. Many say that one needs to save their best for last, and this night was unforgettable. With renovations expected to the field after the season, these seniors wanted to lay it all on the line one final time.
Clay would jump out to a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter when Alex Grose connected with Kenny Welch for a 25 yard touchdown pass and catch. The two point conversion would fail and that would prove costly for the Panthers. The Panthers were playing for our first 7-3 record since 2004. The muddy field did not prove friendly as the defenses from both teams would display a brand of football that will be long remembered. CCHS would have three different red zone attempts to score on the Highlanders, but each time the Highlanders would make the tough stops. The Panther defense found itself backed into a corner on numerous occasions, but was able to stone wall Webster on nearly every drive.
After a blocked CCHS punt attempt, Webster was able to punch in a touchdown with 3:55 left to play. On the two point conversion attempt, Panther CB Kenny Welch laid a hit on the Webster ball carrier, but the conversion would be good and Webster would take an 8-6 lead. CCHS would march right down the field. Grose connected with Isaac Workman with what looked to be the go ahead touchdown from 35 yards out. But, Workman was marked out at the 10 yard line when he apparently stepped out of bounds. The Panthers would have two final attempts to reach the end zone and unfortunately the Panther pass would be intercepted in the end zone. Webster would pull out a very heartbreaking 8-6 win and CCHS would end the season with a 6-4 record.
Players of the Game include Senior WR/DE Ryan Burdette who had seven catches for 86 yards. Burdette also added six tackles defensively. Senior WR/DB/RB Isaac Workman was also a player of the game. Workman had 88 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards and another interception giving him eight interceptions on the season. Other notable performers include senior Alex Grose who threw for 158 yards. Kenny Welch had three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown. LB Riley Perkins had 12 tackles on defense. LB Bailey Boggs added 10 tackles and Andrew Stutler added eight tackles.
The Panthers finished the season at 6-4. We will lose seniors Isaac Workman, Kenny Welch, Nate Canfield, Ryan Burdette, Alex Grose, Johnathon Harper, Zack Ferrebee, Bruno Bonura, and Bailey Boggs who will all graduate in May. CCHS football would like to thank these fine young men and players on a terrific senior season and football career. They certainly laid it all out on the field one final time this past Friday. We will certainly miss them.