The Clay County Tigers jumped out to a 24-0 first quarter lead and coasted to season opening 56-14 victory over the Pineville Mountain Lions at Union Commonwealth University on Friday night.
The home game for Pineville was played there as part of the ongoing renovations at Pineville’s Bill Adams Stadium.
However, it was the Tigers who looked more comfortable on Union’s campus, striking for points while the young Lions had trouble finding their early season footing.
Clay received the opening kickoff and marched the ball down field in seven play, covering 75 yards with Jaiden Woods scoring from 34 yards out. Aiden Carr added the two-point conversion to stake the Tigers to an 8-0 advantage.
After the Lions turned the ball over on a fumble, the Tigers struck quickly on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Cody Sizemore to Aiden Wagers. Woods added the conversion to increase the Clay advantage to 16-0.
On the opening play of the next Lion possession, Wagers intercepted a Zakary Brown pass and rumbled 55 yards for the pick six. Wagers added the conversion to make the score 24-0 Tigers.
Pineville responded with the first sustained drive of the night, covering 61 yards on six plays. Brown scrambled 20 yards on fourth down to find the end zone.
The conversion failed as the Lions cut the advantage to 24-6.
Clay took the opening play of its following series and scored on a 32-yard run from Carr. Woods added the conversion again to make the score 32-6. After Clay forced a Lion punt, the Pineville defense responded with a quick three and out of its own highlighted by two Landon Robbins sacks. The Clay snap was errant on the punt attempt and went through the end zone for a Pineville safety to cut the lead to 32-8.
The Lions responded with the best drive of the night, marching 54 yards on eight plays. Pineville found the end zone on a 24-yards pass from Brown to Kaiden Robbins to cut the lead to 32-14.
Clay responded on its next play with a 61-yard scamper from Trenton Reid for a score. Woods added the conversion to increase the Tiger advantage to 40-14 at the half.
After a three and out by the Lion offense, Clay quickly scored again on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Sizemore to Woods. Sizemore added the conversion toss to Woods to increase the Tiger lead to 48-14.
The Tigers closed the scoring with a 75-yard gallop from Carr, who also added the conversion run.
Pineville (0-1) returns to action at Union on Friday night against Rockcastle County at 7:30 p.m.
Clay County 32 8 16 0 — 56
Pineville 6 8 0 0 — 14
CC- Woods 34 run (Carr run)
CC- Wagers 7 pass from Sizemore (Woods run)
CC- Wagers 55 interception return (Wagers pass from Sizemore)
P- Brown 20 run (conversion failed)
CC- Carr 32 run (Woods run)
P- Safety
P- K. Robbins 24 pass from Brown (conversion failed)
CC- Reid 61 run (Woods run)
CC- Woods 31 pass from Sizemore (Little run)
CC- Carr 75 run (Carr run)
