By KEVIN MOBLEY – Web Writer
The Clarke Central High School varsity football team looks much improved early on in the 2013 campaign, but the ultimate test against Gainesville High School looms.
When watching the 2012 edition of the Clarke Central High School vs. Marist School game, I was awestricken at the fashion in which the War Eagles and their triple option offense dominated in the second half, as they sauntered to a 30-13 win against CCHS.
365 days later, when watching the same two programs square off, I still witnessed another CCHS loss.
However, there was something about the 2013 version of the Clarke Central squad in this game that peaked my interest: this team fought back, battling from a 23-3 deficit in the third quarter to finish out the game 29-18.
Week by week, this team has improved under the new leadership of head coach Ahren Self. They’re standing tall with a 5-1 overall record, 4-0 in 8-AAAAA play, even owning a top ten slot in the Oct. 14 version of the Maxpreps AAAAA Rankings, checking in at No. 10.
Behind a prolific running game and a tenacious defense, this team has asserted itself into the discussion as a legitimate region contender. The focus of this season has now shifted to the monumental matchup against Gainesville.
The importance of the “by committee” approach at running back cannot be stressed enough. Establishing the ground game does wonders for this CCHS offense, as senior quarterback Cameron Johnson has made some of his greatest plays this year from the play action.
Thus far, sophomore running back Jaqua Daniels has received the bulk of the Gladiator’s carries, rushing for 543 yards and 11 touchdowns. Almost all of those totals come from his performances against Loganville, where he rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns, and Apalachee, where he accumulated 138 yards and a school-record five touchdowns.
Of note, junior running back DeAnthony Vereen, who was named the leader for the running back battle in the pre-season, returned last week against Salem, but Daniels got the nod as the starter. It will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Aaron Cavin utilizes the two as the season progresses, but one would assume that the utilization of both backs as a “thunder-lightning” duo would be inevitable.
A schematic implementation that has helped both the aforementioned running and play action pass attacks is the use of a two-tight end set. In these two spots have been junior Qua-Von Scott and sophomore Anthony Smith. This formation allows for an extra exterior blocker that can help in run and pass block, but also brings into play the pass-catching abilities that Scott and Smith possess.
On the other side of the ball, senior linebackers Paul Eckhardt, Kavon Williams, Chika Anukam and Cedric Armstrong have led their defense to only allowing 15.8 points per game, collecting numerous interceptions, fumbles and sacks along the way.
The secondary, comprised of sophomore Rayshawn McCall, who leads the team in interceptions with four, and seniors Matthan Fulton, Drico Browner and Jaymel Israel, has been stout as well. They have held opponents to 86.3 yards per game through the air.
Although there have been great individual performances on defense, the entire unit have yet to piece it all together, particularly in run defense. The Gladiators given up a total of 1325 rushing yards in six games this season, an average of 228.8 yards per contest.
This group has a knack for jumping the gun. Most of the time it works out in their favor, as they have tallied 23 turnovers already in six outings, a turnover margin of +14. Nonetheless, the high intensity style of play can sometimes backfire, resulting in missed tackles or blown coverages that lead to big plays.
The greatest asset that this football team possesses is the ability to control its own fate. As the weeks have gone by, more and more anticipation has surrounded the Oct. 18 matchup in at Billy Henderson Stadium against Gainesville and the nation’s No. 1-rated quarterback, Deshaun Watson.
This game becomes the season’s ultimatum – win, and ascend to the top flight in AAAAA, or lose, and hope to salvage the year with a playoff run.
After watching Watson and the Red Elephants face off vs. Apalachee three weeks back, I can assure you that they are as good as advertised.
The GHS senior signal-caller makes every throw look effortless, his chemistry with primary receivers, junior Rodney Lackey and senior Jay Gaudlock, is impeccable. Throw in the ground attack from junior running back Michael Byrd, and you have the offensive powerhouse that is the “Big Red.”
This game will come down to who can control the tempo. If Watson can get in a rhythm and pick apart the Gladiator defense, Clarke Central will be in for a long night. On the other hand, if the CCHS defense can force the Red Elephants into some mistakes and force stops, we could be in for a ball game.
Combine that latter scenario with a high quality, turnover-free performance from Johnson, and Clarke Central could very well leave “Death Valley” victorious.
This clash of Northeast Georgia titans will have major implications on not only Region 8-AAAAA, but on the entire AAAAA class as well.
On October 18, we will all find out who’ll be on top.
