By Joshua Huff, sports editor
CLAY — Clay-Chalkville’s five-game winning streak collides with a Helena team that enters the contest this Friday in the opening round of the 2019 AHSAA high school football playoffs riding an eight-game winning streak.
“They’re a great ball team,” Clay-Chalkville head coach Gilmer said of Helena. “We’re going to have our work cut out for us. They’re very well coached. They play hard. They do a great job, so it’s going to be a tough one for us.”
Helena, the Class 6A, Region 5 champions, ran roughshod throughout the region this season. With a 6-0 record in Region 5, Helena was tested just twice in region play in close games against Homewood (28-24) and Chelsea (31-28). In the remaining four region games, Helena outscored its opponents 184-68.
The Huskies will now host their first Class 6A playoff game in program history. The postseason appearance is only the third such for the Huskies. Helena’s first playoff appearance came in 2014. It last made the playoffs in 2015.
Helena has relied on an offense that averages nearly 39 points per game. The Huskies have scored 60 points or more in a game twice this season. Helena was held to a season low 21 points in a victory over Calera to conclude the region season; however, the Huskies allowed just three points in that game.
Behind a stout defense, Helena allows just 18 points per game. The Huskies have allowed 14 points or less in four games this season.
That Huskies defense will now be tasked with stymieing a Clay-Chalkville offense led by all-purpose quarterback Damoine Ward. Since consecutive region losses to open Region 6, the Cougars have ticked off five consecutive wins with its lowest point total during that span being 24 points (against Huffman).
Throughout this season, the Cougars have averaged 30 points per game. Defensively, Clay-Chalkville has given up 19 points per game.
In the first round of the playoffs, Clay-Chalkville has tallied a 13-6 record dating back to 1998. The Cougars are 8-1 in the first round since 2010 with their lone loss coming against Ramsay in 2016. Clay-Chalkville has played in eight away first-round games. In those contests, the Cougars are 3-5.
Helena is just 1-2 overall in the playoffs.
CLAY—CHALKVILLE
Record: 8-2
Points Scored: 297
Scoring Average: 29.7
Points Allowed: 195
Defense Average: 19.5
Opponent’s Record: 50-49
Region Record: 4-2
Away Record: 6-0
HELENA
Record: 9-1
Points Scored: 387
Scoring Average: 38.7
Points Allowed: 179
Defense Average: 17.9
Opponent’s Record: 40-60
Region Record: 6-0
Home Record: 5-0
