CLAY, Alabama -- Quarterback Barry White threw for three touchdown passes in the second half to help #3 Pinson Valley to a 31-7 win over #6 Clay-Chalkville on Jerry Hood Field at Clay-Chalkville High School Friday night. The Pinson Valley defense held Clay-Chalkville out of the end zone for three quarters go on and get the big Class 6A, Region 6 win.
With the Pinson Valley win, they hold a six game winning streak over Clay-Chalkville. "This was a huge win for us, anytime you can get a win against Clay-Chalkville, it is a huge win," said Indians head coach Bo Nix. "We played hard together and everyone played well. I was proud the way we played tonight. It was a total team effort. This was a total effort. Defensively, we made a lot of tackles and put pressure on their quarterback. We gave them a lot of looks and executed our game plan."
Pinson Valley (3-1, 2-0) scored first in the game. With 7:39 in the second quarter, Chris Ruiz-Soto kicked a 16-yard field goal to open up the scoring. The Indians had chances for a touchdown but the Cougars defense came to the challenge and held the Indians to the field goal and a 3-0 lead for Pinson Valley.
After the Pinson Valley field goal, the Cougars had the ball and on their first play Tomas Wesley scored on a pick-six for the Indians and Pinson Valley took a quick 10-0 lead. The ball came off a Cougars receiver and shot up in the air and Wesley caught it in full stride for the Indians score. Both teams struggled on offense in the first half and Pinson Valley took a 10-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Pinson Valley offense started to get it going. With 7:17 left in the third quarter, a White to Ga'Quincy McKinstry hooked up on a 3-yard touchdown pass right at the right side goal line. With the score, the Indians took a 17-0 lead. With 2:10 left in the third quarter, a White to Jaquel Fells touchdown pass play of 24-yards gave the Indians a 24-0 lead. Fells broke a few tackles to scamper 24-yards for the touchdown.
With 1:04 left in the third quarter, again White go to Keyonteze Johnson on a 57-yard touchdown play for Pinson Valley. With the score, the Indians go up big at 31-0 late in the third quarter. To start the fourth quarter, the Cougars tried to go deep but Jamari Dailey picked off a Clay-Chalkville pass and the Indians defense had it dialed up on the night. Clay-Chalkville had a good punt return after a 3-and-out by the Cougars defense so with 9:33 left in the game Khalib Johnson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to end the scoring at 31-7. "They outplayed us, out coached us, hats off to them," said Cougars head coach Drew Gilmore. "They wipped us on the one-on-one matchups. They played man on us on the outside but he couldn't do anything with it so that helped them load the box and we aren't able to run it so it made for a long night."
The Pinson Valley secondary played well all night long. With the Wesley pick six, Jamari Dailey had a interception in the second half. Markel Dailey and Amon Scarbrough were huge on taking away the Cougars deep threat and wide receiver Tristan Jones for most of the night.
WR Jamichael Thompson (Clay-Chalkville) and RB Jay Sharp (Pinson Valley) were out with injury and hopefully their return will be soon for both teams.
Up next, Pinson Valley with host Oxford while Clay-Chalkville will host Gardendale.
