Clayton outlasts C.B. Aycock in Pikeville

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on August 31, 2008 10:49 AM

• Print
• Email

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock started out well.

But, in the end, the Golden Falcons wondered what could have been.

Three turnovers erased a one-touchdown advantage and Clayton workhorse Juwan Williams proved too much to handle in a 33-28 loss Friday evening at Hardy-Talton Stadium.

C.B. Aycock (0-2 overall) marched 80 yards on 17 plays on its first possession of the game. Zack Poole's 3-yard touchdown run and Kaleb Robinson's extra-point put the Golden Falcons in front 7-0.

Williams' 29-yard run set up Anthony Hinton's 16-yard score, but Clayton bobbled the snap on its PAT. Early in the second quarter, the Comets moved in front 12-7 when Adrian Smith scooped up Williams' fumble and raced 42 yards to the end zone.

The Golden Falcons turned good field position into points on their next drive.

Tyheim Pitt rumbled 35 yards for a touchdown on a fourth-and-short play with a little less than six minutes left in the half. Robinson's PAT put Aycock back in front 14-12.

Pitt paced the Golden Falcons offense with 67 yards on eight carries.

"Our offense was much better this week against a big, physical Clayton team," said Aycock assistant coach Jay Westbrook. "They executed much better, our blocking was better. We're coming."

Hinton's 58-yard run on Clayton's next possession set up four consecutive runs by Williams. His final carry resulted in a score from 4 yards out. The two-point conversion attempt failed but the Comets led 18-14.

Shepard Whitfield returned the following kickoff to the Clayton 35-yard line with just over three minutes left before halftime. But the Comets intercepted Aycock quarterback Craig Murdock on the second play from scrimmage.

Williams found the end zone again from a yard out midway through the third quarter after the Comets recovered a fumbled snap on a punt attempt at the Aycock 1-yard line. Clayton tacked on the two-point conversion, which stretched its lead to 26-14. A bruising 6-foot-1, 230-pound senior, Williams finished with 163 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.

"It's hard for us because we don't have the big back," said Westbrook. "That's something we haven't seen. A big, hard-nosed running back and a big, physical offensive line did give us some problems. He's a good back. He's one of the better backs we'll see."

The Golden Falcons responded with an 11-play drive that culminated with David Gurganus' leaping 9-yard touchdown grab from Murdock. Robinson's PAT sliced the deficit to 26-21.

Aycock appeared to be in business when Smith fumbled the ensuing kickoff on a reverse attempt with Hinton. Josh Dixon recovered for the Golden Falcons at the Comets 14-yard line. The Clayton defense stiffened and forced an incomplete fourth-down pass from Murdock, which ended the possession.

Hinton's 33-yard rushing touchdown capped an 11-play drive that melted over six valuable minutes off the clock. The PAT extended Clayton's advantage to 33-21 with less than 3 1/2 minutes to play.

Murdock kept the Golden Falcons alive with a 21-yard touchdown run just over a minute later, but it would prove to be Aycock's last gasp. The Comets recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

"We had our opportunities," said Westbrook. "We played ourselves into the game. Just a couple of breaks here or there and that's football. A fumble bounces their way and they pick it up and score.

"How many times do you see that? Our guys fought to the end and we were there for four quarters."

The Golden Falcons host Greene Central at 7:30 p.m. next Friday.

Clayton 6 12 8 7 -- 33

C.B. Aycock 7 7 7 7 -- 28

First quarter

CBA -- Poole 3 run (Robinson kick); 4:14

CL -- Hinton 16 run (run failed); 2:01

Second quarter

CL -- Smith 42 run (run failed); 11:07

CBA -- Pitt 35 run (Robinson kick); 5:52

CL -- Williams 4 run (pass failed); 3:18

Third quarter

CL -- Williams 1 run (Ferguson run); 6:19

CBA -- Murdock 9 pass Gurganus (Robinson kick); 43.2

Fourth quarter

CL -- Hinton 33 run (kick good); 3:18

CBA -- Murdock 21 run (Robinson kick); 2:15

CBA Clayton

First Downs 10 ` 11

Rushes-yds 39-177 40-330

Passing-yds 39 0

Total yards 216 330

C-A-I 5-12-1 0-1-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-1

Penalties-yds 4-20 8-55

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Clayton -- Juwan Williams 23-163, 2 TDs; Anthony Hinton 9-129, 2 TDs; Adrian Smith 3-39, TD; Montrelle Sanders 1-8; Chris Ferguson 3-(-7), team rush 1-(-2). C.B. Aycock -- Tyheim Pitt 8-67, TD; Deven Sanders 11-54; Craig Murdock 15-39, TD; Shepard Whitfield 3-11; Zack Poole 1-3, TD; Dominique Young 1-3.

PASSING -- Clayton -- Chris Ferguson 0-1-0. C.B. Aycock -- Craig Murdock 5-12-1, 39, TD.

RECEIVING -- C.B. Aycock -- David Gurganus 3-21, TD; Pitt 2-18.