SEL, Clarkdale face off Thursday
By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
Sept. 11, 2002
Contrasting styles will meet on Thursday night when Clarkdale heads over the hills to visit backyard rival Southeast Lauderdale. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Tiger Field.
Clarkdale will be trying to go 3-0 for the first time in nearly a generation. Southeast comes in at 1-1 after suffering five turnovers in a 13-7 loss to rival Northeast Lauderdale last week.
The conflicting styles, though, is what makes this an interesting treat for area prep fans for a Thursday night. Southeast will try to speed up the game with a spread offense. Clarkdale will try to slow it down with a running game offense that has showed a lot of spark in the initial two games.
The other main concern for Hathorn is the step up in competition. Southeast plays in a highly competitive Division 5-3A. The Bulldogs feasted on small 1A fare in the first two games, outscoring their foes 82 to 12.
The immediate challenge is Southeast's size up front to go with its skilled players.
Southeast head coach Dwane Taylor, whose Tigers whipped Clarkdale 42-14 last year, is expecting a tough battle from the Bulldogs.
The turnovers against Northeast, Taylor said, could all be traced back to one thing blocking.
Harper did get the Tigers in position to score. He hit Rod Baskin on a 65-yard pass to set up a one-yard TD run on a quarterback sneak. He also had a 28-yard pass to game-breaker Andy Landrum.
Hathorn is impressed with both Landrum and Harper.
Clarkdale will have to rely on its offensive line to open spaces for playmakers Kevin Mathews and Quinn Moffite. Mathews had 120 yards rushing in last week's 41-0 romp over West Lincoln. Moffite had 39 rushing and 39 more receiving including a touchdown from quarterback Justin Culpepper. Mathews has four rushing TD this season while Moffite has two overall.
The unit consists of tackles Thomas Joiner and Henry Stringfellow, guards Jared Culpepper and Jeremy Street, center Cedric Houston and tight end Adam Box.
The Bulldogs defense is paced by junior linebacker Alvin Moffite who made a team high 110 tackles last season and Quinton Walker who returned a fumble back for a defensive touchdown.
