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.

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The Clark Sophomore football team is undefeated at 8-0 and has outscored their opponents 186-34. The main reasons for those numbers are the offensive and defensive lines. Whether it’s opening large holes for the running backs or the defensive forcing turnovers or punts to get the ball back for the offense, these two lines have been consistent all season.

It’s true the skilled positions get the headlines, but if anyone knows football, everything starts and ends with the two lines.

All season, the offensive line of William Carter (#54), Stuart Cram (#60), Cade Crozier (#56), Blake DeHart (#64), Kyle Magaro (#63) and Zachery Pieper (#53) have opened up holes big enough to drive a truck through.

On the defensive side, Stuart Cram (#60), Rogelio Lamar (#36), Jose “Manny” Martinez (#90), Charles “Cho Cho” Quichocho (#34), Mariano Rendon (#31) and Makeba Henderson (#5) have made numerous behind the line tackles and harassed quarterbacks.

The hard work done in the summer and in practice every week is paying off. These linemen, combined with the JV team, appear to be adding to the Clark tradition of dominant lines for the next couple of years.

Next week, we’ll spotlight the JV lines that have been doing the same en route to a 7-1 record.

-Steven Rodriquez