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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Running Back Zac McCray #5 punches the ball straight down the center of the Pinson Valley Defense at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Mayor Charles Webster and ABC 33/40 James Spann enjoy the pre game festivities before a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley color guard members at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley dance team members at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley band members at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Cheerleaders at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville band members at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville students at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville players prepare to run onto the field at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Head Coach Drew Gilmer reviews a play with his Quarterback Kamari McClellan #1 at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville players prepare to run onto the field at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Receiver Jaylen Mbakwe #9 leads his team onto the field at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville players signal a turnover to the crowd at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Quarterback Kamari McClellan #1 thows a deep pass for a touchdown to Receiver Mario Craver #4 at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Running Back Rodreckus Johnson #13 fights for extra yardage at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Defensive Back Deion Gunn #8 intercepts the ball at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Defensive Back Deion Gunn #8 intercepts the ball at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville receiver Jabari Staples #17 leaps to tackle Pinson Valley receiver Amare Thomas #1 at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Defensive Linemen Devin Finley #97 celabrates a turnover at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Linebacker Matthew Yafondo #7 sacks Pinson Valley Quarterback Keywone Posey #8 at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Linebacker Matthew Yafondo #7 hits Pinson Valley Quarterback Keywone Posey #8 right as he releases the ball at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Linemen Adrian Spivey #64 blocks at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Line Backer DJ Barber #6 tackles the Pinson Valley Running Back at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Receiver Mario Craver #4 is upset that a pass interfearence was not called on Pinson Valley Defensive Back Hayden Siddle #22 at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley Lineman Zi'keith Springfeild #35 leads his team onto the field at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Running Back Rodreckus Johnson #13 dives toward the end zone at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville receiver Mario Byrd #2 inches toward the end zone avoiding Pinson Vally’s Amare Thomas #1 at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley students section at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley band members at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Clay-Chalkville Cheerleaders at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Clay-Chalkville vs. Pinson Valley Football
Jefferson County Deputies Parsons and Bagley keep the peace at a game between Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Pinson Valley High School, Willie Adams Stadium in Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
PINSON — Maybe the pregame wind that shook the trees surrounding Willie Adams Stadium swept away the offenses.
Top-ranked Clay-Chalkville High School clawed its way to a 14-12 win at No. 6 Pinson Valley on Friday in a Class 6A, Region 6 game that featured interceptions, fumbles and a whole lot of rain drops.
“It’s a big region win for us,” said Clay-Chalkville head coach Drew Gilmer. “Not the way we drew it up and not the way we wanted to play, but a win is a win. We’ll take it and enjoy it tonight. When things didn’t go our way, they just kept fighting and found a way to win.”
The game was scoreless nearly until halftime. Cougars quarterback Kamari McClellan connected on a 52-yard pass with Mario Craver for the game’s first points. A Rodreckus Johnson two-point conversion gave Clay-Chalkville (4-0, 2-0 in region) an 8-0 lead.
Pinson Valley (1-2, 0-1) answered on the ensuing drive, capping an eight-play, 61-yard drive with a touchdown pass of 9 yards from Keywone Posey to T.J. Metcalf. A failed two-point try left the game at 8-6 at halftime.
Johnson broke free for a 58-yard run in the rain early in the third quarter, giving Clay-Chalkville a 14-6 advantage after a failed two-point try. Again, the Indians responded. A fumbled snap on a punt resulted in punter Damien Gonzalez running for a first down. Several plays later, Posey found the end zone on a 28-yard run. The point-after was blocked.
Pinson Valley, trailing 14-12, failed to gain a first down on each of its final four drives.
“We’ve got to finish drives and we’ve got to be able to put them away if we get the opportunity,” said Pinson Valley head coach Lee Guess. “And of course with as many turnovers we had, we’ll never beat a good team. I think that’s the one thing we’ve got to focus on, fixing us.”
Each team turned the ball over three times. The Indians lost two fumbles — including the opening kickoff — and threw one interception. Fumbles were recovered by D.J. Barber and Randell Cole. Clay’s one interception was made by Deion Gunn. McClellan was picked off three times in the first half, twice by Amare Thomas and once by Tevis Metcalf.
“We’ve got to play a lot better,” Gilmer said. “We’ve got to clean up our mistakes. On the offensive side we didn’t play good at all.”
Guess said the same about cleaning things up offensively.
“I don’t expect us to win with three or four turnovers,” he said. “We don’t deserve to win. And if we can’t control ourselves and make good decisions, we’re never going to be able to make it down the road.”
The Cougars finished with 270 yards of total offense. Johnson rushed 21 times for 139 yards and a score. McClellan completed 7-of-19 passes for 94 yards, one touchdown and the three interceptions. Craver caught three passes for 67 yards and a score.
The Indians managed just 175 total yards, 109 of which came through the air. Posey finished 13-of-27 passing. Taurus Chambers led the ground game with 38 yards on 14 carries.
The Indians hit the road for Oxford next week in another Region 6 game, while Clay-Chalkville plays host to region foe Center Point.
“I think our guys are ready,” Guess said. “We’ve just got to clean up our side. Clay’s going to clean up what they clean up.”
