‘Next man up.’ Gritty Clark overcomes injuries to blow out West Jessamine
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Clark overcame key injuries to secure a 35-21 win over West Jessamine
- Third-string QB Carter Muzic led second-half offensive surge with big plays
- Clark prepares to face top-ranked rivals in Class 6A's demanding 8th District
It took a while for George Rogers Clark to adjust to not having Braylon Nester, its top rusher, for its home game against West Jessamine on Friday.
Nester, a junior, who has rushed for 610 yards and nine touchdowns this season, suffered an ankle injury in last week’s 35-21 loss to St. Francis DeSales in Columbus, Ohio.
Then, first-string quarterback Trey Davis went down during the Cardinals’ first offensive series against the Colts, suffering a shoulder injury that took him out of the game and took the air out of their attack as Clark got stuffed at the 1-yard-line to turn the ball over on downs.
Clark, ranked as Class 6A’s No. 10 team in the Sept. 24, Kentucky High School Football Media Poll, could only manage a 41-yard field goal by Levi Ross for a 3-0 lead at the half on homecoming night.
That prelude offered little hint to what became Clark’s 35-21 blowout victory as its defense stuffed the Colts drive after drive and the Cardinals’ offense exploded with huge plays to put away the game.
Third-string sophomore quarterback Carter Muzic had a 34-yard pass to Gunner Martin to set up the Cards’ first touchdown, a 4-yard run by Stryker Davidson, and a 31-yard pass to Haddon Cecil to set up another score in the fourth quarter, a 1-yard run by Zay Leavell.
Muzic took over under center when Davis went down because the injured Nester was also the backup QB.
“The coaches have prepared us for this moment,” Muzik said about his poise leading the offense in the second half. Muzik also plays safety for the defense. “It’s just a ‘next-man-up’ mentality whenever you get your name called.”
Clark’s offense began gashing the Colts in the second half. After one of its defense’s fourth down steps, Landon Belcher broke a 68-yard TD run on the next play to help put Clark up 15-0 with 4:49 left in the third quarter.
Another fourth down stop later, Davidson burst through the defense for a 67-yard score and a 23-0 lead with less than a minute left in the third quarter. He added a 25-yard touchdown run later.
Next, Clark hosts Henderson County ahead one of the toughest district schedules anyone in the state has to face.
Class 6A’s 8th District features No. 5 Frederick Douglass, No. 9 Madison Central and a dangerous Bryan Station that has a bye week leading into its Oct. 10 home game against Clark. The Defenders were 2023 Class 6A runner-up.
“It’s hard. It’s a juggernaut,” Clark coach Joe Chirico said. “Every team is really good.”
Clark is pretty good, too. This year’s team sports a throwback “CC” logo on one side of its helmets, harkening to the days of its 1990s teams that wore “Clark County” as its brand even though Clark County High School ceased to be when it consolidated with Winchester High in 1963.
Clark’s 1991 team is one of only a handful of “county” schools to win a football state championship in the KHSAA division for its largest school’s, then Class AAAA.
That pride and grit has been part of the reason the Cardinals are off to one of their best starts in years despite injuries to key players.
“The preacher talked about resilience before the game and it’s such a fitting deal,” Chirico said. “You get knocked down, you get up, you keep going, you keep fighting, keep playing, no matter what.”
This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM.
