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Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Henry Clay crushes Lafayette 47-10

regular-season result reversed

Henry Clay quarterback Jerry Williams, best known for his fleet feet, showed a strong, accurate arm in leading the Blue Devils to a 47-10 victory over long-time city rival Lafayette in the first round of the Class 6A football playoffs Friday night.

Williams completed 12 of 14 passes for 296 yards and six touchdowns as No. 14 Henry Clay avenged a 12-9 loss to the Generals during the regular season.

The Devils advance to play at Bryan Station next week.

Lafayette lost its seventh consecutive playoff game since 2003.

Henry Clay got off to a bumbling start against the Generals. It fumbled away its first two possessions and fell behind 10-0 in the first three minutes.

Then Williams and his buddies got their pass-and-catch game going, which was a surprise to Lafayette.

"They came out and did something they hadn't done all year — they threw the ball really well," Generals Coach Rob Sayre said.

To say the least.

Williams, who had nine touchdown passes in the first 10 games this season, was firing them all over the place Friday night.

"Jerry must've had Wheaties to eat, because his arm was electric tonight," said Branden Johnson, who had four catches for 135 yards and three TDs.

Williams said he didn't realize he had six TD passes. "I'm just glad my teammates caught the ball," he said.

The first score came on a short shovel toss that Tyrelle Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior, took 67 yards.

"That got us going," Williams said. "Tyrelle made a big play and got us all hyped up."

A perfect 30-yard strike to Branden Johnson gave Henry Clay a 14-10 halftime lead.

Williams rang up three scoring passes in the third quarter. Branden Johnson caught a 37-yarder and a 55-yarder, and Carwell Gardner hauled in a 24-yarder to make it 34-10.

Williams' last TD pass went 38 yards to Blake Green and capped Henry Clay's 47-0 blitz.

Devils Coach Sam Simpson, sporting one of the uglier mohawk haircuts in the history of high school football, said the offensive line deserved a lot of the credit for giving Williams time to throw.

He also praised the running game — Bo Brooks had 71 yards and Vinny Miller had 56 — that helped open up the passing attack.

"Once we got Lafayette committed to the box, Jerry was able to do some things," Simpson said.

Henry Clay finished with 469 total yards, and that's not counting 103 yards in two punt returns by Miller.

The Devils' defense was outstanding after the opening minutes. It blanked Lafayette over the last 45 minutes.

Slade Klinksiek and Shan Howell led in tackles.

Eric Shaw finished his career with the Generals with a gutsy performance. He had a 62-yard TD run on the second play of the game, and finished with 112 yards rushing, 92 yards receiving, 19 yards on kickoff returns, and led the Lafayette defense in tackles.

The Generals still lead the rivalry with Henry Clay 33-30-2.

Lafayette 10 0 0 0—10

Henry Clay 7 7 20 13—47

L—Eric Shaw 62 run (Matt Green kick). L—Green 25 field goal. HC—Tyrelle Johnson 67 pass from Jerry Williams (A.J. Yewell kick). HC—Branden Johnson 30 pass from JWilliams (Yewell kick). HC—Branden Johnson 37 pass from Williams (Yewell kick). HC—Branden Johnson 55 pass from Williams (kick failed). HC—Carwell Gardner 26 pass from Williams (Yewell kick). HC—Anthony Lindsey 1 run (Yewell kick). HC—Blake Green 38 pass from Williams (Yewell kick).

Records--Lafayette 6-5; Henry Clay 9-2.