Kweku Larbie

Roger Lamar

In the immortal words of Super Dave, “it’s a great day to be a Clark Cougar”.  Recently, before the assemblage of graduating seniors and the 2012 Cougar Football team, the CTFC handed out the 10th Lloyd Alexander Scholarship to Kweku Larbie and the 1st ever David Dalkowitz Scholarship to Roger Lamar.  It is the first year we have been able to award two scholarship (mostly due to the generosity of George Gaiser Jr ’83, who you know will get at least one Shameless Plug of the Week this season for his company, BUILDEM Construction).

Larbie will attend Alabama State this fall and Lamar has signed up at Incarnate Word.  This makes our 10th and 11th scholarships awarded as we set to turn a decade old this year and turn our sights on growing the CTFC and its scholarships over the coming years.

Congratulations to Kweku and Roger! Remember, Tradition Never Graduates!

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!!

Over 1000 yds. so far...

Senior running back Kweku Larbie talks with Pat Turner about his season and the thrill of being a Cougar running back in this article.

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.

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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…)

Menezes steals one

After a week off the gridiron, the Clark Cougar football team came roaring back, demolishing the Holmes Huskies 56-27 in a homecoming victory.  The win keeps the Cougars in the playoff hunt with a must-win game against O’Connor next week.

Holmes’ first possession ended early when they were stopped on a 4th and 8 attempt from the Clark 37 yd. line.  The Cougars drove to the five where Deandre Holmes scored giving the Cougars a 7-0 lead.  The Cougars’ second score came after a 4th and 2 effort by the Huskies.  On the next play, Josh Kern bullied his way for 37 yds. for a 14-0 lead.  And once again, the Huskies were stopped on a 4th down attempt.  Hunter Anderson pounded his way to the end zone giving Clark a 21-0 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.

The 2nd quarter wasn’t much better for the Huskies.  Manny Menezes picked off a Holmes pass, returning the ball for 36 yds., setting up a Kern to Ansley Benjamin 12 yd. TD reception.  The score came with 14 seconds off the clock at the start of the quarter.  The final Cougar score of the half  came when Josh Kern ran for his second TD at the 4:18 mark.  Holmes would score with :35 seconds left before the half.  The teams went to the locker room with Clark up 35-7 at the half.

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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