Austin Wells

Several Clark Cougars were recognized for their outstanding play during the fall sports season. Topping the list is cross country junior runner Austin Wells who was named to the Express News Super Team for Cross Country as well as the Area Team.

From Clark volleyball the 27-5A All district 1st team includes Jenn Garrett and Marcella Arellano. Named to the 2nd team is Abigail Glosup and Nicole Rehm.

27-5A 1st team offense football honors went to Manny Menezes. 2nd team offense honors to Kweku Larbie, Brandon Yates, Blake DeHart and Alex Hunter. The 2nd team defense includes Logan Hanna, Tri-Rice Van Buren and Malcolm Eatman.

CONGRATULATIONS COUGARS!!

C. Jones celebrates TD

The Clark Cougars varsity football team, in a must win game for a playoff berth, put it all together in defeating the Stevens Falcons 31-21.  It was a sweet homecoming victory.

The Cougars fell behind early but refused to lose after spotting the Falcons an early TD then coming back with two TDs of their own.  But the highlight of the night, perhaps the season thus far, came with just :43 seconds left in the first half .  Following a Stevens TD to make it 13-14 in the Falcons favor, Chase Jones returned the kickoff 83 yards to put Clark up 21-14 right before the half ended.

Clark added a Ty Williams 30 yd. field goal in the third quarter and Josh Kern scored his 2nd TD of the night in the 4th to give the Cougars a 31-21 win.  Stevens threatened late to make it interesting but the Cougar defense stuffed them at the Clark 1 yd. line to guarantee the win.  Kweku Larbie had 141 yds. rushing and Alex Hunter had 52 yds. receiving.

Being their night, defensive back Tri-Rice Van Buren, represented by his father Martin, was named this year’s homecoming king.   It was all good on a night when the players, coaches and fans could feel a victory in the air.  Clark is now 3-5 on the season and must win games against Holmes and O’Connor in order to guarantee a playoff position.

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Hunter runs for big gain

The Clark Cougar varsity season opener against the #8 Churchill Chargers didn’t go quite according to plan.  Despite some good things happening on the field, there were more that weren’t in the 38-14 Gucci Bowl loss.

Sr. QB Josh Kern’s 8 yd. pass to senior tight end Alex Hunter gave the Cougars hope, making the score 14-7 Churchill after two early miscues by the Cougars in the 1st quarter.  Manny Menezes followed the score up with a solid lick on the Churchill returner the kickoff return.  With Churchill driving, Brian Socha’s interception at the end of the quarter gave the Cougars another chance to score.  Churchill’s defense stiffened and Clark ended up without points.

Jr. QB Chase Jones entered the game in the 3rd quarter and orchestrated a drive midway through the 4th to give Clark it’s 2nd TD.

The Cougars get back to work this week and prepare for Alamo Heights next Friday at Orem Stadium.

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• jupiterhill PHOTOS

QB Josh Kern

With his first season as a starter behind him and a major college commitment in his pocket, Clark quarterback Josh Kern is ready to get the 2011 football season underway. Express News reporter Pat Turner files this profile on Kern.

PLEASE NOTE: Contrary to the report, Ryan Jones and Hunter Anderson are both graduating and will not be playing with Kern next season. Among others, Kern’s receivers will be Brandon Yates, Troy Ogletree, Chase Jones, Presley Miller and tight end Alex Hunter.

Both JV and freshmen teams took care of business and defeated the Warren Warriors on the gridiron.

In an extra long JV game, thanks to some unique clock management techniques by Warren students, Brian Socha started the scoring early.  On the Cougars 2nd offensive play from the Clark 13, Brian Socha blew past Warren for a 87 yd. run up the middle, virtually untouched thanks to some great blocking by the offensive line.  In the 2nd quarter, Sean Campbell turned a bootleg left into a 45 yd. TD to make it 14-0.  In the 3rd quarter, Alex Hunter added to the Warriors misery with a 2 yd. reception from Campbell to make it 21-0 and in the 4th, Kweku Larbie would represent the “2’s” with a score to make it 28-0.  Warren threatened late to score but a stiff defensive stand, that at one point was on the 1/2 yd. line, denied the Warriors a taste of the end zone and preserved the shutout for the Cougars.

The sophomores took on New Braunfels Canyon and won 28-6 including a defensive TD by Aaron Rodriguez.

The freshman A team beat Warren 14-8 and the B team gave the Warriors a beat down with a 30-0 victory.

PHOTOS from jupiterhill.com

Alex Nichols returns kickoff for TD

In one of the stranger games of the season, the Clark Cougar JV football whipped the John Jay Mustangs, 28-12.  The first half was relatively calm, as both teams turned the ball over, defense dominated and Jay was able to put together a drive ending in a TD with a failed extra point.  At the half, Jay led 6-0.

Then there was the second half.

Clark received the kickoff and returned it to midfield.  On the following play, Austin Wise pulled in a Sean Campbell pass and would rumble for a 30 yd. gain to the Jay 23.  Deandre Holmes would then find the end zone for the score and a Ty Williams PAT would give the Cougars a 7-6 lead early in the 3rd quarter.  On the next Jay possession, Renee Quintanilla would recover a fumble.  After three quarters, Clark would lead 7-6.

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