By Erik Harris
CLAY — No. 1 Clay-Chalkville has won 17 of its last 18 games, dating back to last October. Now, with just one opponent standing between it and a spot in the Class 6 state championship game in Auburn, the Cougars (13-0) get a rare opportunity at revenge.
Clay-Chalkville’s lone blemish over that stretch came at the hands of Florence in the second round of the 2013 playoffs. On Friday night the No. 5 Flacons (11-2) hope to bring coach Jerry Hood’s season to an end once again in Cougar Stadium.
Both teams have lived up to their high ranking in postseason play, marching through the first three rounds with ease.
Clay-Chalkville junior quarterback Tyrell Pigrome scrambles against Scottsboro.
file photo by Ron Burkett
The Falcons, much like Clay-Chalkville, thrive defensively behind a big, athletic defensive front, which frees up second-level playmakers like Alabama commitment Keaton Anderson and Juwan Thompson.
Both linebackers will have their hands full trying to tackle those in the Cougar backfield. Art Smith, while replacing Terelle West, rushed 22 times for 211 yards and three scores last week on a tough Decatur defense.
Quarterback Tyrell Pigrome has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns in this his first season as a starter. The junior left last week’s game with a head injury, but is “good to go” moving forward, Hood said.
Can Florence’s defense do what no one else has done and beat Clay-Chalkville up front? That is the decisive question in this one.
If Pigrome and Smith have success on the ground and keep the Cougar offense ahead of schedule, Florence will become the 14th victim.
The Falcons may have the best front seven Pigrome has seen to date. If it can slow that devastating run game and force Pigrome, who is coming off his worst statistical game of the season, into passing situations, Florence might end the championship climb again.
