Receiver splits defenders, sparks Prescott runaway
PRESCOTT 45, CLINTON 27
CLINTON — One nifty move was all Prescott needed to grab the momentum in Friday’s Class 3A second-round playoff game at Jim Tumlison Field.
Senior wide receiver Cameron Cox pulled down a high pass at the 15 and then outmaneuvered two Yellowjacket defenders into the end zone with 8 seconds left in the first half to send the Curley Wolves on their way to a 45-27 victory.
Cox’s touchdown reception was a 34-yarder which broke a 14-14 tie and came on a thirdand-7 play. He caught the ball near the right sideline, but when he made a move back toward the middle of the field, he slipped past the defenders.
“I thought about trying to get out of bounds,” Cox said. “But I saw an opening and I cut back and made it into the end zone.”
Prescott Coach Tommy Poole was having none of the senior’s explanation.
“He’s a playmaker for us,” Poole said. “The quarterback made a great play on the throw and the receiver made a great play to get into the end zone. … I can assure you he didn’t think of going out of bounds. I know him. He was going to try to score.”
Prescott (11-1) will play McGehee in next week’s quarterfinals.
Cox’s touchdown set off a landslide that Clinton couldn’t slow down. Prescott took the second-half kickoff and marched 55 yards in 11 plays to increase its lead to 28-14. A 37-yard field goal by Luis Rabadan put Prescott up 31-14 with 4:32 remaining.
Clinton (11-1) was never any closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
“The first drive of the second half was a very important drive for us,” Poole said. “It was one we had to have to win the game. We had guys step up. The offense executed when we needed them to. He made first downs and kept drives alive. That’s what you have to do to beat a fine team like Clinton.”
Prescott quarterback Ryan Johnson ran 21 times for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 103 yards and he also had one of Prescott’s three interceptions. Johnson’s touchdown runs went for 4, 26 and 3 yards.
Sophomore Alex George scored on runs of 2 and 34 yards. He finished with 81 yards on 13 carries.
Clinton quarterback Weston Amos led the Yellowjackets with 86 yards on 12 carries. He also completed 5 of 12 passes for 39 yards. Sky Davidson (14 carries, 64 yards) and Caleb Bowman (7 carries, 51 yards) scored on runs of 1 and 7 yards, respectively.
The Yellowjackets added a late touchdown on a 23-yard halfback pass from Ryley McDonald to Nathan Ross.
Johnson, who ran for 107 yards on 12 carries in the first half, accounted for all three of Prescott’s first-half touchdowns, running for two scores before the pass to Cox.