By Erik Harris
CLAY — Top-ranked Clay-Chalkville is set to host Muscle Shoals in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs Friday night, and it’s a classic case of something having to give.
Under the direction of first-year starting quarterback Tyrell Pigrome, the Cougars (11-0) enter the Class 6A round of 16 boasting the sharpest offense in the state, averaging 53 points per contest. Just ask Scottsboro about that.
The Wildcats got an up-close look at Pigrome and his friends Friday when it fell 85-50. It was the most points scored in a single game in Clay-Chalkville High School history.
Clay-Chalkville senior cornerback Kam Prewitt breaks up a pass last week against Scottsboro.
photo by Ron Burkett
“I feel like if we play to the best of our abilities, I don’t think anybody can stop us,” said junior wide receiver T.J. Simmons.
But there are few prouder defenses than the one coached by Scott Basden. Basden, in his seventh season as head coach, has Muscle Shoals (8-2) yielding 17.2 points per game. Since allowing 39 points to Florence in Week 2, Muscle Shoals has one shutout and has held six opponents to 20 points or less.
“(Basden) does a great job up there and the last time they were at Clay-Chalkville, they beat us in the spring game, beat the dog out of us,” Clay-Chalkville head coach Jerry Hood said. “Obviously they’re a great team.”
That proud unit is sure to be put to the test in Cougar Stadium, where the hosts are 4-1 in postseason play over the last three years. Clay-Chalkville has averaged more than 52 points per outing through that five-game stretch.
The Trojans are coming off an impressive 42-20 win over Minor last week. Junior quarterback Landon Smothers accounted for four touchdowns (two rushing, two passing) in the playoff opener. Running back Carlos Davis ran for 122 yards with a 9.4 yards-per-carry average.
Keeping those two contained could be a problem for the Cougars, who surrendered the second-most points in school history last week to an eighth-grade quarterback.
“If we would’ve stunk on offense, we’d be taking up pads,” Hood said.
The defending Class 5A runner-up might be playing its best offensive and defensive football of the season. It will need all three phases to be clean in order to pull the upset.
As overwhelming as Clay-Chalkville’s offense can be, its special teams can be just as significant. It blocked two Scottsboro punts last week, returning one of them for a score. For Muscle Shoals to have a chance, that can’t happen.
Whoever wins this matchup will be led to the winner of Southside-Gadsden at Decatur in the third round.
