LAUREL —
Before the season, the South Jones coaching staff figured sophomore Greg Clark would be able to step in from time to time and allow talented senior running back Alex McGruder to get a breather on the sideline from time to time.
But McGruder suffered an ankle injury in the season opener against Taylorsville that prevented him from playing last Friday against Perry Central.
As it turned out, Clark provided the impetus the Braves needed in a 19-14 victory.
In his first high school start, the 5-foot-9, 160-pound Clark rushed 31 times for 178 yards and two touchdowns. His longest run was a 37-yard touchdown up the middle. He later scored from 10 yards out.
For his performance, Clark was selected as the Laurel Leader-Call Player of the Week.
“Thirty-one rushes is a lot of work. We’re pleased he was very durable,” said South Jones head coach Cecil Hicks. “He carried the load for us Friday night.”
“I felt like I wanted to prove myself,” Clark said. “I saw the hole open (on the first score) and went through it and then cut to my left. I just ran fast. I had good blocking.”
Against Taylorsville, Clark carried 12 times for 27 yards in the 20-3 loss.
Hicks said the coaching staff had no idea Clark would bust out like he did.
“We had no idea. We saw some flashes of it in junior varsity, so we were pleasantly surprised Friday night,” Hicks said.
Hicks said he would find Clark a spot for the remainder of the season. The Braves (1-1) host 2-0 and 5A power West Jones on Friday.
“He’s going to play,” Hicks said. “You’ve got to have more than one weapon in there if they can play, He’s definitely earned the right to be out there.”
* Other notable efforts last week:
*Sylva-Bay’s Cody Prewitt: 37 carries, 361 yards and 5 TDs;
*Heidelberg Academy’s Tommy Fries: 101 yards rushing, 3 INTs, 32-yard fumble return for touchdown;
*Laurel QB Dontreal Pruitt: 10-18, passing for 160 yards, 1 touchdown;
*West Jones QB Ben Stevens: 11-17, 121 yards, TD ;
* WJ DT Dain Poore had 7 tackles and a 31-yard INT return for a score.
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South Jones running back Greg Clark (1) runs to daylight Friday against Perry Central. Photo/Erin Hicks
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