Yates - Saldaña - Kern

Three varsity Clark Cougar student athletes committed to play at the next level at the 2012 Signing Day ceremonies at Clark High School.  QB Josh Kern and WR Brandon Yates from football and Briana Saldaña from soccer all made their college plans official in front of coaches, family and friends.

Josh Kern, recruited early on by the University of Arizona and others, will be playing for new head coach Rich Rodriguez and the Wildcats this fall.  Brandon Yates’ fans will be able to watch him locally as he goes on the field for The University of the Incarnate Word and Briana Saldaña, after visiting LSU and Arizona State, will tear through opponents as a Concordia Tornado.

Josh is the son of Tres and Pam Kern.  Brandon is the son of Rhonda Brockett.  Both were coached by AD/Head Coach Steve McGhee.  Briana is the daughter of Arturo and Rae Saldaña and coached by Diana Driggers.

Congrats to these Clark Cougars!

envision! PHOTOS

LB Magaro steals treat from puppies

The Clark Cougars varsity football team showed the Holmes Huskies the district dog house, winning 24-7 in an important victory.  In jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row, the Cougars are now one win away from post season play with a final game against the O’Connor Panthers.

Josh Kern once again took charge and used both his feet and arm in leading the Cougar offense.  Kweku Larbie went over 1000 rushing yds. for the season and had two TDs, Brandon Yates had a great reception and an even better punt return setting up the first score for Clark and Ty Williams added a 30 yd. field goal in the 4th to make it a two possession game for the Huskies.

The defense played strong with big efforts from Colton Magaro, Nate Barrientez, Ryan Rogers, Tri-Rice (note to announcers – that’s “Tri-Reese”) Van Buren, Jeremy Sanchez, Logan Hanna and a spectacular interception from Chris Miller that sealed the puppies fate.

Currently in a three way tie for the 4th playoff position with O’Connor and Stevens, the Cougars can take care of business and control their playoff path with a victory in next week’s game.

GREAT GAME COUGARS!

• Express News “article”
• Express News boxscore
• envision PHOTOS

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.

• Express News article
• Express News Boxscore
• envision! Photos

#14 C. Miller strips ball for Clark points

In a game that looked eerily like last year, the Clark Cougars varsity football team lost to the brandees broncos, 34-20.  The Cougars started the 1st half strong, capitalizing on brandees mistakes for points but created their own mistakes in the 2nd half to go home without a “W”.  Again, the Cougars looked improved from the game before, looking stronger as they get into the heart of district playoff positioning.

 1st Quarter

The Cougars started the game with a three and out possession but a brandees fumble on the punt gave Clark an opportunity in the red zone on the 20 yd. line.  On 2nd down and 23, Josh Kern found Brandon Yates for 22 yds.  On the next play, Kweku Larbie punched it in for the score.  Cougars 7 – brandees 0.  Following the kickoff, the broncos could have been renamed the butterfingers as they fumbled the first three snaps burying them deep in their own territory.  The last was caused by Chris Miller and recovered by ? setting up the Cougars on the 15 yd. line. Ty Williams hit a 26 yd. field goal to give the Cougars a 10-0 lead with 5:24 left in the 1st half.  The “my little ponies” finally put points on the board to end the first half Clark 10, brandees 7.

(continue reading…)

Tri-Rice Van Buren rams Marshall

The Clark Cougars varsity football team had a great night against the Marshall Rams, winning 33-14 in District 27-5A action.  The game didn’t start that way, however, as Clark was surprised with either a bad kickoff or an onside kick.  Instead of starting their first offensive drive, the Cougar defense took the field and what would be an omen for the Rams the rest of the evening, gave the ball back to the Clark offense.

1st quarter

A rolling punt gave the Cougars a start on their own 1 yard line.  Josh Kern ran for 5 yds. and then on 2nd down, Kern found Brandon Yates for a 26 yd. reception.  Two plays later, Kern ran 55 yds. around the right side of the line, setting Clark up at the Marshall 10.  And three plays later Kern powered his way in for the first score of the night giving Clark a 6-0 lead.  At the 5:05 mark, Mekeba Henderson delivered a bone-jarring sack, resulting in a 3-and-out situation for the Rams.  A Kweku Larbie run, a Manny Menezes reception and another Larbie rush quickly put the Cougars at the 26 yd. line.  On 4th and 8 from the 24, Kern this time found Larbie as a receiver, and the Cougars led 13-0 with a minute left in the 1st quarter.

(continue reading…)

Another 100+ for Larbie

The Clark Cougar varsity football team crushed the Taft Raiders 48-13 in their opening District 27-5A game.  The scoring came often and through a variety of ways, beginning with the opening drive.

Lots of Larbie was served up to the Raider defense as Kweku Larbie found plenty of room to run.  Alex Hunter was on the receiving end of one of Josh Kern’s three passing TD’s for the evening and Clark was on top 6-0 with only three minutes off the 1st quarter clock.  On the following kickoff, Taft fumbled the ball, setting up the next Cougar score.  This time Larbie got the payoff with a 5 yd. run to the endzone and a little over a minute after the Cougars’ first touchdown, the Cougars owned a 13-0 lead in the 1st.  A quick three and out for Taft gave the ball back to the Cougars and Larbie rushed for his 2nd TD of the night from 3 yds out to finish the Cougar drive and make it a 20-0 game with a little over 7 minutes gone in the 1st quarter.

Manny Menezes set up the next score for Clark with a nice 20 yd. rush to the Taft 3 yd. line.  Josh Kern’s 1 yd. dive gave the Cougars a 27-0 advantage with 7:37 left on the 2nd qtr.  Taft added a touchdown before the half  and the teams went to the locker rooms with Clark 27 – Taft 7.

The pace slowed down in the 3rd quarter although no one told the Clark defense.  Daniel Orhiunu delivered an 8 yd. sack that killed a Taft drive to the end zone.  Chris Miller recovered a Taft fumble later in the quarter that set up a Kern to Brandon Yates connection for 29 yds., giving the Cougars a 34-7 lead at the end of the 3rd. (continue reading…)

Eatman reacts to interception

The second game of the 2011 campaign looked far better, in parts, than the first but mistakes cost the Clark Cougars another chance at posting their first win.  At Orem Stadium, #8 Alamo Heights defeated Clark 24-17.

The night was not without some much improved play and several highlights.  The Cougars opening drive, with the offensive line of Logan Hanna, Blake DeHart, William DeHart, Stuart Cram, Brendon Harr and Alex Hunter, pushed the Mules around, giving Kweku Larbie some big holes to run through.  That drive, however, stalled and Alamo Heights took over and drove the length of the field, settling for a field goal at the 5:05 mark of the 1st quarter.  When Clark got the ball back, an Alamo Heights interception with less than a minute left gave the Clark defense a chance to step up.  Taking the challenge, a tipped pass by Malcolm Eatman, then Brian Socha landed in the hands of Malcolm Eatman.  On the next play, however, a hard hit by an Alamo Heights defender sent the pigskin bouncing to the turf and was picked up by the Mules for a 52 yd. return for a touchdown.  At the beginning of the 2nd quarter, Clark was down 10-0.   (continue reading…)

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.

• Express News article
• Express News boxscore
• envision! PHOTOS
• jupiterhill PHOTOS

Kern leads the Cougars

…and we’re glad he is.  Senior QB Josh Kern, headed to the University of Arizona as one of their top recruits, has unfinished business on the high school field.  The Express News’ Lorne Chan profiles Kern in this front page article.

Head Coach Steve McGhee has 'em ready

Focused, ready, and looking for revenge.  That best describes the 2011 Clark Cougars varsity football team’s attitude going into this year’s Gucci Bowl, the annual San Antonio high school football season kick off game.  The Cougars are looking to avenge last year’s loss to the Churchill Chargers.  Churchill, rated as high as #2 in district 26-5A and #8 in San Antonio, brings a new offensive leader in projected starting junior QB Blake Reeve.  They also return an experienced defense who led their district in 2010.

The Cougars are expected to light it up behind Arizona commit senior QB Josh Kern.   A classic Clark beefed up offensive line with plenty of DeHart aim to Cram the Chargers defensive front.  The Cougars, picked as a “possible” playoff contender in 27-5A (although the Express News sees it differently – in a good way), aim to make the prognosticators pay.

Game time is – LOOK AT THE CLOCK ON THE RIGHT – and will be televised for the 3rd consecutive year on Thursday Night Lights on My35 television.  You can also follow us on twitter for live updates.

If you can’t wait to start cheering, show up at the Back in Black Pep Rally Wednesday evening at Clark.

BEAT CHURCHILL! Thursday, August 25 Farris Stadium, 7:00pm

For more information, here’s what they’re saying:

Clark Cougars:

• Express News
• WOAI TV
• 5ATexasFootball.com
• KSAT TV

Churchill Chargers:

• Express News
• KSAT  TV
• 5ATexasFootball.com