In comeback, Sandy Creek wins state AAAA title

“We’re in the record books,’’ Rodney Walker told Chip as the two shook hands after the game, with Sandy Creek players chanting and celebrating in the locker room. “And you've got a lot of guts. I wouldn’t have thrown the ball.’’

But it was the passing game that turned things around.

Clarke held a 9-7 third-quarter lead and had a time-of-possession advantage of 24:11 to 11:49, but Davis -- who has committed to Louisville -- got hot, and things quickly unraveled for the Gladiators, the Cinderella team of the state playoffs.

With 10:52 left, Davis scored on a 72-yard scoring strike from Bell, who found his ace receiver wide open just past midfield. Bell (6-of-14 for 188 yards) then passed to Alex Chisum for a two-point conversion to make it 15-9.

Moments later, Clarke faced a fourth-and-1 at its 36 and chose to go for it. Quarterback Martay Mattox (6-of-23 passing, 127 yards) was stopped a foot short on a sneak. On the next play, Bell hit Davis in stride for a 37-yard score that made it 22-9.

“I can do damage against one-on-one [coverage], and they kept playing me that way,’’ Davis said. “We took advantage of it all the way to the end zone.’’

Davis finished with five receptions for 182 yards, including 147 in the second half.

Now desperate, Clarke attempted a fourth-and-long on its next possession, and Sandy Creek piled on a 21-yard run by Rajion Neal, who finished with 166 yards rushing on 19 carries.

“We just needed a big play to spark us,’’ Chip Walker said of the fourth-quarter comeback. “That first drive [of the game], we looked pretty darn good. But we hit a lull.’’

Clarke then drove for its only touchdown with 1:41 left on a 1-yard run by Mattox.

Sandy Creek opened the game with a quick 80-yard drive and a 7-0 lead. It took five plays, with Neal, who is committed to Mississippi State, scoring from 31 yards.

Clarke Central chipped away with field goals of 30, 25 and 36 yards by Adam Erickson. Two came after drives that each ate about 6 minutes on the clock, but the other was set up when Jordan Pierce stripped Neal of the ball on a kick return and recovered at the Sandy Creek 22. It was the only turnover of the game.

Clarke Central, playing in its first final since 1992, finished 12-2. Sandy Creek, the first of Fayette’s five high schools to play in a championship game, ended 14-1.

Clarke Central 0-6-3-6 – 15

Sandy Creek 7-0-0-22 – 29

S – Rajion Neal 31 run (Zack Lopez kick)

C – Adam Erickson 30 FG

C – Erickson 25 FG

C – Erickson 36 FG

S – Jarrett Davis 72 pass from Ronnie Bell (pass good)

S – Davis 37 pass from Bell (Lopez kick)

S – Neal 21 run (Lopez kick)

C – Martay Mattox 1 run (run failed)