Here’s a nice article on the Head Coach and Athletic Director of the Clark Cougars, Lloyd Alexander.  A former teammate gives his opinion on what makes Clark football a success.

Mr. Fundamental

A nice article on the sacommunities northwest website about Marshall football player Anthony Puente.  A success at the high school level, he also gives credit for part of his success to one of our own, Head basketball Coach Steve Sylestine.  You can read about it here.

Cougars end season in playoffs

With what seemed like the entire East Central community watching, the Hornets defeated the Clark Cougars volleyball team in the first round of the 2009 5A playoffs.  The Cougars scored the first point of the match but that would be their only lead, falling 14-25, 17-25 and 16-25.  This was the 25th straight year the Cougars have made it to the playoffs.  Special recognition goes to this year’s Seniors – Vanessa Casanova, Claire Webster, Katlin Mazzocco, Kayla Jarzombek, Liz Bergman and Stephanie Peña.  Congratulations, you’ll be missed and good luck next year.

The Cougars are coached by Kristen Daniell.

PHOTOS from envisionfilmvideo.com

Meredith, Kat and Kim

We already know about Clark athletes’ success on the field.  What you may not know is about the many students who give back time through volunteer efforts off the field.  The collaboration of parents, students and Clark clubs have accumulated over 500 volunteer hours working various concession assignments this fall.  Thanks to our supportive parents for setting a positive impact on our kids. Student athletes from football, volleyball, JV softball, baseball, AVID, choir, tennis, track, swimming, JV cheer, top cats, golf, as well as former and future Cougars all have given their time. The result is revenues from all of our sport concession sales will go directly to benefit and support Clark Athletes, totaling thousands of dollars.

Thanks to all who volunteered and keep up the good work!

For the past 24 years, the Clark Cougar varsity volleyball team has made it to the playoffs.  Don’t miss what is to be a good one as Clark takes on #6 East Central at Blossom Athletic at 6pm.  Last year, Clark won the match against the Hornets in a five game set.  Support these girls who’ve fought hard to make it to this point and show up and be loud.

Headed to Regionals!

It was an exciting day at the District 28-5A meet for the Clark Cross Country teams.  The girls kicked off the bright cool morning by finishing 3rd in a close race, only 8 points behind O’Connor, who was only 1 point behind the winner Brandeis.  Among the top finishers were Shantel Swift (12:22) 2nd and Glynnis Meade (12:26) 3rd – well done!  Shaneve Swift (13:20), Mel Schwartz (13:30), and Katherine Ritchie (13:42) finished in the remaining scoring spots, and Stacey Wilkens (13:46) and Toria Seifert (14:04) rounded out the team.

#25 T. Glasgow has 3 100+ yd. games

The Clark Cougar varsity football team got their Halloween scare early courtesy the Taft Raiders but were eventually treated to a 23-15 win and at least a share of the District 28-5A title.

On the opening drive, Taft took a page out of the Clark playbook and drove 72 yards for the first score of the game, giving them a 7-0 lead and taking seven and a half minutes off the clock.  On the first Clark possession, a turnover on the second play was one of only five offensive plays in the 1st quarter by Clark,  including a punt.

The second quarter was a thriller by itself.  Glenn Bonner delivered a crushing sack, a Hayden Greenbauer punt that was clearly out of bounds on the Taft 2 yd. line wasn’t near as clear to the referee standing inches from it who called a touch back, a Clark defensive stop was negated by an unsportsmanlike penalty, and the offense went back to good ol’ smash mouth football behind Greenbauer and Tevin Glasgow.  The drive ended as time ran out on a field goal attempt.  At the half, Taft still led 7-0.

The 3rd qtr. was a treat for Cougar fans.  Hayden Greenbauer hit Jacob Garcia in stride 41 yds. downfield for a 82 yd. touchdown pass.    With 32 seconds left in the quarter, Greenbauer bootlegged another 30 yds. for the next Clark score, giving the Cougars a 14-7 lead.  Following a Webb Williams kickoff, the Taft receiver was met in the end zone by Ryan Flournoy and Daniel Durke (that’s pronounced DIRK!, Mr. NISD announcer) for a safety, giving the Cougars a 16-7 lead going into the 4th. (continue reading…)

Taft QB #10 meets R. Quintanilla

While the offense scored the points, it was the defense that had the biggest impact in a football game that the Cougars won 21-0 over the Raiders.

Sean Campbell gave the Cougars an early lead with a fourth and goal rush midway through the 1st quarter.  Defensive back Chris Hudnell made the first of several great plays by the defense with an interception at the end of the 1st.

In the 2nd quarter, Rene Quintanilla continued a great defensive game with a sack of Taft for a big loss.  Nathan Barrientez also stepped up by blocking a Taft punt later in the quarter.  Tired of watching the defense have fun, the offense scored with another 5 yd. run by Campbell to make the score 14-0 Cougars.  That TD was set up by a Campbell to Brandon Yates pass for a big gain and a Brian Socha run for a good amount of real estate.

In the 4th qtr, a Troy Ogletree to Yates connection for 24 yds. resulted in the final TD for the Cougars.  The defense wasn’t through, however.  Taft got as close as the 4 yd. line before  being turned back by the defense.  Safety Chris Miller also made a great read on an attempted halfback pass by Taft, knocking down the ball at the last minute away from the intended receiver.  Quintanilla delivered another crushing sack, Barrientez also had one and Kweku Larbie also had a great defensive game as well as Jesse Huron.

Both the Freshman A and B teams completed a victorious Thursday sweep over Taft.

PHOTOS by envisionfilmvideo.com

PHOTOS by jupiterhill.com

In the second installment of the Cougar Bowl, the Clark Sophomore football team took care of business under the lights on a cool night, getting a 34-6 win over the NB Canyon Cougars.

This game, the Clark sophs wasted no time in scoring. On the first offensive play for NB Canyon, Aaron Rodriguez (#25) stripped the ball from the receiver and Clark recovered. Three plays later, Quaterback Nick Coons (#7) scored on a 2 yard sneak. On the ensuing kick off, Clark recovered another Canyon fumble, and on 4th and 2, Coons ran 12 yards on another sneak for the second score.

The defense took over, forcing a punt to give the ball back to the offense. Then, it was time for the “Cho Cho” show. Charles Quichocho (#34) account for almost all of the yardage on the next drive with two receptions and runs up the middle. With the usual great blocking by the offensive line, Quichocho scored on a 10 yard run.

After a Canyon score, Clark took over and executed a perfect 38 yard double pass from Coons to Rogelio Lamar (#36) and then from Lamar to a wide open Jeremy Sanchez (#82).

With the offense having so much success, the defense decided to get in on the act. Malcolm Eatman (#41), as he did in the previous meeting, blitzed and stripped the ball from the Canyon quarterback and Mariano Rendon (#31) intercepted the ball and ran 32 yards for the final score.

Looking to complete a perfect season, the Clark sophs put their 9-0 record on the line in their season finale at Smithson Valley next Thursday.

-Steven R. Rodriguez

In their final game of the regular season, the Clark Cougar volleyball team delivered a 3-0 shutout to the Holmes Huskies. Their regular season record ends at 20-17 and 12-4 in District 28-5A, a record that places them third in the district and headed to the playoffs.

Kayci Murphy led the Cougars with 14 assists, Katlin Mazzocco served 4 aces, Vanessa Casanova dug out 19 serves, Marcella Arellano had 10 kills and Tarah Wood owned the net with 4 blocks.

Next up for the ladies is a practice game this weekend and then playoffs will be November 2nd. Their opponent will be the runner up of a Friday evening playoff in District 27-5A.

Congratulations,ladies, on a successful season and good luck in the playoffs!