Coverage by LUCIA BERMUDEZ – Co-Editor-in-Chief
Gallery by ZOE PETERSON – Visuals Staffer
Gallery by ANEESA CONINE-NAKANO – Co-Editor-in-Chief
The Clarke Central High School varsity football team acquired their second win of the regular season, coming up with a 42-14 win against Gainesville High School on Sept. 1.
In the third game of the regular season, the Clarke Central High School varsity football team hosted Gainesville High School at Billy Henderson Stadium on Sept. 1.
With both teams holding a 1-1 record before Sept. 1, the game was anticipated to be a close match. However, with Gainesville’s starting quarterback out for the game, the Glads pulled ahead with a final lead of 28 points.
“We knew they had a tough dilemma,” CCHS head football coach David Perno said. “Their star quarterback was out so we knew they were gonna have a tough time scoring against us.”
The Glads were the first to score as CCHS varsity senior quarterback Jack Mangel passed to senior wide receiver Trey Johnson 23 yards out for the touchdown early in the second quarter. The Glads scored again as Mangel passed to senior wide receiver Marquise Smith in the back of the end zone bringing the score to 14-0 with 4:23 minutes left in the second quarter.
Gainesville fought back as senior wide receiver Jarred Rosser scored a touchdown 9:38 minutes into the third quarter, bringing the score up to 14-7, Glads.
After a nine-yard touchdown, capping off an 80-yard drive, CCHS sophomore running back O’Brien Barnett broke through the GHS defenders for a touchdown with 4:20 minutes left in the third quarter, giving the Glads a 21-7 lead.
With 11:45 left to play in the fourth quarter, CCHS senior center back Kapres Forbes picked up the ball for a return and scored his second return touchdown in two weeks. The Glads continued gaining steam as CCHS senior Brandon Allen came up with the scoop and scores, bringing the Glads to a 35-7 lead with 10:59 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
With 9:35 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Gainesville brought the score to 35-14 by scoring off a speed option pitch from the 11 yard line. The Glads hit back with 5:43 minutes left to play as CCHS junior running back Jonathan Sewell scored a seven-yard touchdown, bringing the final score to 42-14, Glads.
“I was proud of our guys. It’s really good to win like this leading into an off week so that’s going to be positive,” Perno said. “We were fortunate that (Gainesville) dropped a couple interceptions and had a bad turnover coming out of the half, but we got a few of our own tonight. We won the turnover battle, so that was huge for us.”
The Glads’ season record now stands at 2-1. Though the team does not play this upcoming week, the Glads will take on North Oconee High School on Sept. 15.
“(This win) feels great,” senior Kapres Forbes said. “We’ve been working hard and doing what the coaches say, and (I hope to) keep working hard like we do in practice and translate it onto the field.”
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