ELIZABETHTOWN — Josiah McLaurin ran for two touchdowns, caught a pass for another and returned a punt for a score Friday night as Clinton routed East Bladen 55-7 in a Southeastern Athletic Conference football game at Lenon Fisher Stadium.
The Dark Horses piled up 436 yards on 45 plays (9.7 yards per play) and held East Bladen to 131 total yards that included a 77 yard run by Masion Brooks in the third quarter for the Eagles’ lone score.
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Clinton improved to 2-0 in the SAC, 5-1 overall and remained on track for a showdown against St. Pauls (2-0, 4-1) on Oct. 14 in a game that likely will decide the league title. St. Pauls shut out Red Springs 42-0 on Friday.
East Bladen fell to 0-2 in league play, 1-5 overall. The Eagles are scheduled to play at county rival West Bladen (0-1, 1-4) next Friday.
Brooks carried the ball 14 times for 144 yards and the touchdown. The run came on the first play from scrimmage following McLaurin’s 50-yard punt return midway through the third quarter that gave Clinton a 48-0 lead and started the running clock.
Brooks, a junior who also plays defense, took the ball off left tackle from the Eagles’ 23 and broke into the clear, outrunning the Clinton secondary to the end zone. Blaine Pope’s conversion kick made it 48-7.
Clinton scored on five of its six possessions in the first half in building a 35-0 advantage. The lone blip came late in the first quarter when Jacob Baggett missed a 21-yard field goal attempt.
McLaurin capped an 11-play, 85-yard drive on the opening possession with a 1-yard run for the only score of the first quarter.
Amaris Williams ran for two touchdowns in the second quarter for the Dark Horses. Quarterback Nydarion Blackwell tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the second half.
McLaurin rushed for 128 yards on 10 carries and Robinson had 95 yards on 10 carries for Clinton. Blackwell was 6 of 8 passing for 77 yards and scoring passes to McLaurin and Alexander Evans.
SCORING SUMMARY
Clinton 7-28-13-7—55
East Bladen 0- 0- 7-0—7
C – Josiah McLaurin 1 run (Jacob Baggett kick)
C – Amaris Williams 1 run (McLaurin run)
C – Josiah Robinson 25 run (Robinson run)
C – Williams 20 run (Baggett kick)
C- McLaurin 16 pass from Nydarion Blackwell (kick failed)
C – McLaurin 50 punt return (Baggett kick)
E – Masion Brooks 77 run (Blaine Pope kick)
C – Alexander Evans 21 pass from Blackwell (Baggett kick)
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