Sky’s the limit in Yellowjackets’ victory

CLINTON 49, HARDING ACADEMY 27

SEARCY — Sky Davidson asked a friend a question after Clinton’s 49-27 victory over Harding Academy on Friday night at First Security Stadium.

“Did you see the show?” Davidson said.

The Yellowjackets’ senior running back was the main attraction in their 2-3A Conference opener.

Davidson rushed for 209 yards and 4 touchdowns on 20 carries. He scored on runs of 1 yard, 7, 18 and 60 yards as Clinton, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s No. 2-ranked team in Class 3A, recorded its 16 victory in its past 17 games since the start of the 2017 season.

“We put all of our heart out here,” Davidson said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game.

“Harding is a pretty tough school. We were prepared and we were glad we got the results.”

Clinton (4-0, 1-0 2-3A) piled up 485 yards, including 431 on the ground. The Yellowjackets scored on seven of their eight drives, with the one non-scoring drive ending in a punt in the fourth quarter.

Coach Chris Dufrene credited the offensive line for the Yellowjackets’ rushing performance.

“The offensive line, they were big tonight,” Dufrene said. “We ran behind them boys. They got after it. I loved it.”

Senior fullback Caleb Bowman also rushed for 122 yards and 1 touchdown on 15 carries.

Junior quarterback Weston Amos, who sprained his ankle in the third quarter but returned late in the fourth quarter, rushed for 52 yards and 1 touchdown on 7 carries and completed his only two passes for 54 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown.

Harding Academy Coach Neil Evans came away impressed with Clinton’s offensive balance.

“That’s the sign of a good team,” he said. “You can’t key on one guy.

“They can have 15-play drives. They can throw it efficiently enough. The quarterback is dangerous when he runs. They have weapons all over the field.”

Senior quarterback Davis Morgan completed 21 of 38 passes for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead Harding Academy (2-2, 0-1).

Clinton led 34-14 at halftime, with the Yellowjackets outgaining the Wildcats 310111.

On the first play of the game, Amos found junior wide receiver Austin Drake for a 45-yard touchdown to give the Yellowjackets a 7-0 lead with 11:48 left in the first quarter.

The Wildcats tied the game at 7-7 with 8:24 left in the first quarter on sophomore backup quarterback Caden Sipe’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Morgan.

Davidson’s 1-yard run gave Clinton a 14-7 lead with 3:21 left in the first quarter, but Harding Academy came right back as junior wide receiver Stone Sheffield returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14 at the 3:08 mark.

From there, it was all Clinton.

Bowman scored from 12 yards out with 10:12 left in the first half for a 21-14 lead.

Amos had a 2-yard touchdown run and Davidson scored from 7 yards out with 1:20 left in the first half to extend the Yellowjackets’ lead to 34-14.

Davidson picked up his third touchdown in the third quarter, this one from 18 yards out, for a 42-14 advantage at the 2:58 mark.

Harding Academy pulled within 42-27 with 8:38 left with two touchdown passes by Morgan — a 5-yard pass to junior Connor McGaha and a 7-yarder to sophomore Adam Fager.

Davidson’s fourth touchdown, a 60-yarder, capped the Yellowjackets’ victory with 1:19 remaining.