Sweet Water falls to Clarke in Champions Challenge exhibition
SW RB Xavier Lucy (7) breaks in the clear for a first down.
Thursday night’s affair may not have counted but it definitely mattered as Sweet Water and Clarke County tangled in the final preseason tuneup for both squads. Class 4A Clarke County took the contest 20-14 as Sweet Water head coach Pat Thompson faced off with former colleague Stacy Luker in the AHSAA Champions Challenge exhibition.
Jacory Brown steamrolls through the Clarke county line, before a host of defenders being him down.
Clarke opened the scoring when senior signal-caller Javion Ivory connected with Caleb Taite for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 8:20 remaining in the first quarter.
Sweet Water briefly took the lead with 1:18 to go in the opening frame when Braiden Broussard found his older brother Chance Broussard for a 6-yard touchdown strike. Jacory Brown added the exra point for the 7-6 SWHS advantage.
The Bulldogs of Clarke County fired back rather quickly as Ivory broke free for a 70-yard touchdown sprint, scoring with 12 seconds remaining in the quarter for the 12-7 CCHS lead. Luker’s bunch added to the advantage with 3:09 to go in the third quarter when Ivory punched it in from a yard out. He then hit NaVontae Johnson on a two-point conversion pass for the 20-7 lead.
Braylone Rodgers (3) reaches high to pull down an interception, stopping a Clarke Co. late second quarter drive.
Sweet Water changed the scoreboard for the final time with 7:45 to go in the game when Jaylin Dixon scored from 29 yards out. Brown added the point-after to set the final margin.
Clarke outgained Sweet Water 240-209 in total offense, using 10 less plays to do so. Sweet Water tallied 203 of its yards on the ground while Clarke had 164.
Sweet Water struggled with ball control, losing three fumbles on the night. Clarke’s lone turnover was an interception.
Dixon lead all rushers with 86 yards on eight attempts. Brown added 50 yards on 14 carries. Ivory paced Clarke with 83 yards on eight attempts.
Braylone Rodgers had an interception to highlight the night for the Sweet Water defense.
Sweet Water defenders Braiden Broussard (2), JahDarius McIntosh (55) and Willie Lewis (57) bring down Clarke County QB.