Clinton’s Josaiah McLaurin(left-center) and West Bladen’s Tyleak Ballard(right)
Alex Brooks
Bladen Journal
BLADENBORO-The Clinton Darkhorses defeated the West Bladen Knights for a 71-13 victory on Friday night in a SAC 6 Conference clash. Clinton junior quarterback NyDarion Blackwell went 10-for-11 passing with 202 yards and he threw for five touchdowns in a dominant performance on the road. Senior defensive-end Amaris Williams also had a dominant night on the other side of the ball with four sacks and a tackle for loss to help the Darkhorses’ hold their opponents to 13 points.
Williams opened the scoring for the away team with a rushing touchdown from four yards out with 9:12 remaining in the first quarter. The Knights responded on the ensuing kickoff with junior wideout Hezekiah Adams rounding the corner for an 83 yard touchdown return to the house. It only took the Darkhorses’ a few plays to score on their next possession with Blackwell connecting his screen pass to junior wideout Jakarrion Kenan for a touchdown.
West Bladen started their next possession on their own 20 yard line and they had their run stuffed for no gain on first down. The next play resulted in disaster for the host after a fumble was scooped in the backfield and returned for touchdown by Clinton senior Koran Blackwell for an easy score. The Knights ran the ball again on their next possession for a short five yard game but was held for no gain to bring up third-and-five.
West Bladen sophomore quarterback Hunter Hester’s pass was tipped in the air on third down and senior safety Alexander Evens snatched the tipped ball for an interception. Clinton’s offense capitalized on the turnover by extending their lead to 28-6 with 4:52 remaining in the first quarter. The Knights would go-on to respond with a 90 yard kickoff return by senior Malijah McKoy a few moments later to bring the score tally to 28-13.
The Darkhorses’ special teams was able to recover in time to take the ensuing kickoff for a 90 yard return when senior cornerback Jeffery Arnette scampered across the field for the final touchdown of the first quarter. Clinton immediately added to their lead at the start of the second quarter and the floodgates began to open. Star wideout Josiah McLaurin received a screen pass and made four defenders miss to run into the endzone to extend the Darkhorse lead to 50-13 with 8:10 remaining in the first half.
West Bladen’s offense put together a positive drive on the next possession but they began to stall around the 45 yard line to force a punt. Evens took the ensuing punt and ran it back just short of the goal line to set-up Clinton’s offense inside the redzone. Sophomore running-back Demarius Pugh punched the ball in to extend the away teams lead to 57-13.
West Bladen were able to put together another positive drive but their opponents defense held them to third down from around midfield. The Knights attempted to run a fake punt from 4th-and-short but failed to convert with under 50 seconds in the first half. Clinton was able to close out the second quarter on three plays that resulted in a touchdown to conclude the first half at 64-13.
The Knights were able to hold their opponents scoreless in the third quarter but the away team got their final touchdown of the night in the fourth quarter. West Bladen will have a chance to bounce back when they take on Midway in their next game for a SAC 6 clash.