Clarke Central High School starting quarterback Lucian Anderson III evades a Cedar Shoals High School defender during the Gladiators’ 40-0 defeat of the Jaguars. Anderson accounted for the game’s first three scores with three rushing touchdowns, but he gave credit to the Gladiators’ defense for their shutout. “The defense was working their butts off all week in practice and it really paid off tonight,” Anderson said. “I’m proud of them.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
The CCHS varsity football team defeated Cedar Shoals High School by a score of 40-0 in the 56th Classic City Championship on Aug. 18 in Billy Henderson Stadium.
The outcome of the 56th Classic City Championship was resolved in a resounding manner when the Clarke Central High School Gladiators defeated Cedar Shoals High School 40-0.
The Gladiators entered the game off a 14-28 scrimmage loss to North Oconee High School on Aug. 5, but they dispelled fears of a similar outcome against their crosstown rivals with quarterback Lucian Anderson III, a senior, running in two short touchdowns on the Gladiators’ first two drives.
“I felt pretty good with (my running game),” Anderson said. “I made some mistakes, I saw some things that I missed, I misread some things, but that happens in football. You have to play through it.”
Anderson and his teammates held a 14-0 lead heading into the second half, and tacked on 26 more points, with a touchdown each from Anderson, junior and linebacker Kendrick Curry, and sophomore and running back Corey Watkins Jr. before junior and defensive back Leon Tate ran back an interception to round off the scoring.
“We played good in the first quarter, struggled in the second, but we came out in the second half and played close to our identity,” head varsity football coach David Perno said. “I really enjoyed watching that third quarter.”
“We played good in the first quarter, struggled in the second, but we came out in the second half and played close to our identity. I really enjoyed watching that third quarter.”
— David Perno,
head varsity football coach
Not to be outdone by their prolific offense, the Gladiators’ defense shut out the Jaguars, which was a point of pride for Perno.
“The defense was outstanding,” Perno said. “(CCHS senior and cornerback Malachi McNeill) went down, our best corner, so we had to play three quarters basically without him and it’s gonna be a while that he gets back, so the defense really stepped up.”
However, the game was marred by several stoppages due to fights between each school’s fans and players, culminating in a fourth-quarter brawl featuring ejections on both sides.
“We don’t take it lightly at all (and) I think everybody can understand that these are serious incidents,” Associate Principal of Operations Cindi Lowe said. “As we learn more and confirm more about any incidents that occurred that involved our students, or possibly other students at other schools, there will certainly be the appropriate response.”
Clarke Central High School running back Jadayvion Atkins, a senior, escapes from multiple Cedar Shoals High School football players on a fake running play. The Gladiators beat their crosstown rivals 40-0, and towards the end of the game, tempers began to fray. “I mean, that happens when you’re beating a team so bad,” Anderson said. “They get mad, they’re gonna find any way to try to get underneath your skin. We just gotta be prepared for that and we just got to hold ourselves back so we don’t get ourselves in trouble.” Photo gallery by Lucas Donnelly and Aza Khan
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While the role of CCHS players in the altercations has yet to be determined, Perno believes his team remained disciplined.
“Every little skirmish that happened was on their sideline,” Perno said. “I was really proud of all our guys not leaving the sidelines and not creating any more issues.”
Although the headlines might be about the game’s outcome or on-field skirmishes, Anderson isn’t dwelling on the past with next Friday’s trip to Oconee High School looming on the horizon.
“We just really got to meet their physicality this year. If we meet their physicality, I guarantee it will be a game,” Anderson said. “We just got to execute everything we do and we’ll be fine.”
Photos by Lucas Donnelly
Photos by Aza Khan
Story by Wyatt Meyer
