CONCORD, Calif. – In a game that wasn’t finalized until Saturday afternoon, No. 3 Clayton Valley produced an offense and defensive masterpiece in a 48-0 win over visiting No. 13 Benicia Monday night.
“We came in as brothers, as a team, we really worked hard and didn’t take this game off,” said Clayton Valley senior quarterback Brenden Bush. “We played it like it was our last game.”
In a game that was hastily arranged after both teams' opponents cancelled their scheduled games this weekend, Clayton Valley (3-1) took control from the opening kickoff, and they kicked off. Uglies co-head coach Tim Murphy has more tricks up his sleeve than a carnival magician and he used one right away with an onside kickoff that was recovered by Joey Mourad.
“We saw that on film,” said Murphy, who despite the short notice, prepared well along with co-head coach Nick Tisa.
The Ugly Eagles proceeded to march down the field, but turned it over on downs after 11 plays at the Benicia 10. However, although the drive didn't result in points, it was an omen of things to come.
After holding Benicia to minus-6 yards on its first drive, the Ugly Eagles started their second drive at the Panthers 44 and scored on an eight-play drive, culminated on a 6-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Micah Avery. After junior Cody Demartini ran in the 2-point conversion, it was 8-0 Clayton Valley.
On the ensuing possession, Benicia (2-1) had its best series. The Panthers got the ball at their own 34 and ran 15 plays. But the last two resulted in bad snaps that cost them 37 yards of field position and they turned it over at the 50-yard line for a highly unusual 15-play, 7-yard drive.
Clayton Valley drove it down to the Benicia 13, but once again turned it over on downs. However on the very next Benicia, play quarterback Tyson Wallace fumbled and Angel Gonzalez recovered for the Uglies at the Panthers' 12. Five plays later, senior running back Rahsaan Woodland II - who had 13 of the first 14 Ugly Eagles touches on offense = took it in from four yards out. Bush ran in the 2-point conversion and it was 16-0 Clayton Valley.
“Rahsaan is a really humble guy,” said Bush. “He blocks, he runs, he runs routes, he does everything really good and I’m really proud of him.”
Woodland finished with 23 carries for 119 yards and the one touchdown.
“Just feed me, just feed me. I need it all. I need it all,” Woodland said about getting so many early touches.
“He can do it. He’s a workhorse,” added Murphy.
On the next Benicia series, a sack by Clayton Valley senior tackle Jared Palega helped create another minus-9 yard drive for the Panthers and the Uglies took advantage.
After getting the ball on downs at their own 10 with less than two minutes left in the half, Clayton Valley drove 90 yards in six plays, culminating in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Bush to senior Tariq Adams with six seconds left. Bush ran in the 2-point conversion and the Ugly Eagles had a 24-0 halftime lead. On the drive, Bush also had a 30-yard keeper and just prior to the touchdown pass he had a 23-yard completion to Demartini.
While the game started with a successful onside kick by Clayton Valley, the start of the second half was even more scintillating when Avery, after fumbling the kickoff, recovered to dance down the left sideline and outrace defenders for a 93-yard return that made it 30-0.
After a Benicia three-and-out, a 10-play, 74-yard drive by Clayton Valley ended when Bush was sacked and fumbled. But on the very next play, a tipped pass was intercepted by senior Niko Bohler, and the Uglies were back in business. Five plays later, junior running back Nicholas Khashabi scored on a 1-yard run to make it 36-0 with 4:12 left in the third quarter. From there, Murphy and Tisa pulled the starters.
The game went to a running clock in the fourth quarter but the Ugly Eagles still weren’t finished. Khashabi scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run, and then, on the final play of the game, and after senior Danilo Gonzalez recovered a fumble, junior reserve Emilio Strange ran 67 yards to paydirt. The game ended when sophomore reserve quarterback Mason Lovett took a knee on the conversion as time expired.
As he has been all season, Bush was efficient and finished 7-of-10 passing for 103 yards and the one touchdown. He also rushed for 44 yards.
Khashabi was the second-leading rusher with 12 carries for 71 yards and the two scores.
Clayton Valley outgained Benicia by a whopping 428-65 margin, with the visitors only able to muster 30 yards of total offense in three quarters. Clayton Valley forced three turnovers, two fumble recoveries and an interception, and registered two sacks.
“We were worried about their speed so we didn’t want to give up the big plays,” Murphy said. “We felt we could drive and I think we did a pretty good job of doing that.”
The bottom line is Clayton Valley totally dominated the contest from start to finish in a game in which many analysts had felt Benicia would be more competitive.
Next up for Clayton Valley is a rematch from the abbreviated season with Monterey Trail on the road in Elk Grove. The Ugly Eagles will be looking to avenge a 24-13 home loss.
Benicia is still one of the top teams in Division III in the NCS and they have to put this game against Division I power Clayton Valley behind them and prepare for another road game in neighboring Vallejo at Jesse Bethel.
