Javen Cook, Clinton junior running back, behind Clinton’s massively efficient offensive line, hammered Newberry for 235 yards on the road Friday, as the Red Devils took The Battle of the Belt, 23-14.
The Belt is provided by Clinton-Newberry Natural Gas Authority, retained by Clinton for a second consecutive season and part of a four-game Red Devil win streak in this rivalry that dates to the 1920s.
Cook carried the ball 22 times for Clinton, scoring one touchdown. The Red Devils threw only when necessary – 4 of 6 passing for 35 yards – as they hammered out 369 yards rushing on 47 carries. Clinton’s defense held Newberry, which averaged more than 40 points in each of its first two games, both wins, to just 252 total yards and 14 points. The Bulldogs were 1 of 8 conversions on 3rd down and hurt themselves with 12 penalties costing them 128 yards (Clinton was flagged 8 times).
Both teams are 2-1 in the pre-region season.
Clinton is the #4 team in State AA. Newberry is the #10 team in State AAA.
“They hit us in the mouth in the first half. We responded in the second half,” Clinton Football Head Coach Corey Fountain said (it was 7-6 Newberry at halftime).
Now facing two tough road games, Fountain said. “We’ve got to take that momentum on the road to Chapman in Inman. We’ve got to prepare, you’ve got to prepare like a champion every single day, and that’s what we’ve got to drill into these kids’ heads. Don’t get the big head because you won this game. Celebrate tonight and preparation begins on Sunday for these kids with film. We’re excited to have the opportunity to go to Chapman and we’re excited to have the opportunity to go to Daniel. It doesn’t get any easier and that’s the type of challenge we like as Red Devils.”
With 8:58 left to play and Clinton nursing its 9-point lead, Newberry drove to a 4th and 2 at the Clinton 20-yard line. A 3rd down stop by Brett Young and the defense and a 4th down stop by Mason Tinsley gave Clinton the ball back, at the 4:47 mark. That gave Cook the chance to salt the game away with a 25-yard run to the Newberry 15, and Clinton ran out the game clock, eventually in the victory formation.
Lukas Kuykendall, returning from injury, boosted Clinton to 23 points with a 28-yard 4th quarter field goal. Kason Copeland scored for Clinton with 56 seconds left in the first half, followed by Cook’s 49-yard scoring run and DJ Clark’s 47-yard scoring run that pushed Clinton to 20 points. Newberry ran back the kickoff after the Cook score, going up 14-12; but Austin Boyd’s interception with under 4 minutes to play in the 3rd quarter stopped a Newberry drive.
The home-standing Bulldogs had averaged more than 40 points in each of their wins over Union County and Mid-Carolina. The Red Devils got back to the positive side after a home loss to Woodruff and a home win over Laurens, in the cross-county rivalry.
For Clinton, after road games at Chapman and Daniel, Union County will come into Wilder Stadium for the Sept. 27 Homecoming game.
