Clayton, Wahconah Pass by Drury
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Despite being held to just 83 yards rushing, Wahconah was able to pick up the slack in the passing game with 240 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-6 road win over Drury on Saturday.
"I think [Drury's] scheme and their size did a good job against our run," Wahconah coach Gary Campbell said. "That defensive end Justice Marable played a good game, and the rest of their defensive line played well and gave us all we could handle up there. But when that happens, as in any sport, you got to have a yin and a yang and we have that.
"And that's where Nick [Clayton] and our receivers give us that, so that's the good thing about our crew this year is that if you want to concentrate and stop the run, fine. Then we can go to the passing game and loosen you up that way."
Clayton hooked up with five different receivers on the day for 240 yards on nine completions for an impressive average of 27 yards per completion -- all in the first half.
"They were taking away the run so our receivers made some plays and were able to execute," Clayton said. "I've been playing with these guys forever and in practice we work on it all the time so it just adds up."
Clayton's four touchdowns came on completions of 59, 77, 10, and 34 yards. On the first play of the game Clayton rolled right and found Evan Garvey wide open in the flat. Garvey hauled in the 5-yard pass and took it another 54 yards to pay dirt to give Wahconah an immediate 8-0 lead. Then early in the second quarter up 16-0, Wahconah faced third and 19 from its own 23-yard line but were not fazed as Clayton found Ryan Washburn deep down the right sideline for an 77-yard score to make it 22-0.
After forcing Drury to a three and out on their next possession, a bad snap over the Blue Devil punter's head set up Wahconah on the Drury 10-yard line. Clayton then tossed a short shovel pass to Matt Salvatore who rumbled the rest of the way to extend the lead to 28-0. But Clayton wasn't done as he connected again with Washburn with just 46 seconds remaining before half for a 34-yard score giving the visitors a commanding 36-0 lead at the break.
Washburn finished the game with four of Wahconah's nine catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
"The offensive line gave Nick a lot of time back there and so that gives me time to run disciplined routes," Washburn said. "When I have the time to run those disciplined routes it is hard for the defense to cover me out there. We got to have balance out there and we showed that today."
Wahconah running back Tyler Cataldi did the heavy lifting for Wahconah as he finished with 12 carries for 48 yards while teammate Quinn Caesar picked up 25 yards on eight attempts.
Campbell said the key to getting the run game back would be in going back to basics.
"Whenever you don't do well you have to take steps back," he said. "It even starts with stance and the lineman. Knowing your alignment, assignment, and get off. What are we doing and how are we doing it. So we got to get back to basics on that. I think we will be fine, it's just that when you play good quality opponents you've got to have both games working on all cylinders. Today, passing game was flying and that's awesome.
Drury was able to get itself on the scoreboard late in the game when their offense changed tunes and went into five wide formation to start throwing the ball down the field. Quarterback Nate Stump found wideout Justin Girard for a nine yard game and then hooked up with wing back Kirby Bryce for a 29-yard connection.
Then Stump took over with his legs as he wiggled his way for a 9-yard gain on third down before sneaking in from two yards out for the Blue Devil's lone score of the afternoon.
Drury coach Bill Bryce said the Blue Devils' success against Wahconah's run was by design.
"Well that was our goal," Bryce said. "We went in and I actually made the statement to the guys that we are going to load the box and stop the run and make them beat us with the pass and if they beat us with the pass we have to tip our hat and they did that."
Next week Drury will head to Pittsfield to take on Taconic while Wahconah heads south to face Lee on Friday night.