October 31, 2009

Story and Photographs by Greg Maupin

SHELBYVILLE - .The Shelbyville Golden Eagles will travel to Clinton (9-0) for the first round of the TSSAA Class 5A State Playoffs. The Eagles were selected as a wild card from District 8-AAA and will face the undefeated and number one seed Dragons .

Clinton went 7-0 in District 3 and remain undefeated overall going into the playoffs. The undefeated season is the school's first since 1992 and the first District title since 1997. Clinton averages 34.5 points per game and limits their opponent to 15.7 points per game. The Dragons rushed the ball 486 times for 2240 yards. In the air, Clinton is 94 of 171 for 1507 yards.

Clinton features a talented senior quarterback in Darian Stone who finished the regular season with no interceptions. He completed 101 of 183 passes for 1684 yards and 17 touchdowns. In addition to his passing abilities, Stone also carried the ball 90 times for 571 yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns. He is also a force on defense as he picked off two interceptions in the Dragon's win over Anderson County.

Besides Stone, Clinton also features a strong running back in Weston Hazelhurst. The senior ran 156 times for 1309 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. He was sidelined during the game against Oak Ridge with a sprained knee and did not play against Anderson County this past Friday. Whether or not he will play Friday night against Shelbyville is still questionable.

When Stone or Hazelhurst are not touching the ball, Clinton finds several targets including (#3) junior running back Dee Shannon, (#42) senior tight end Joel Chapman, (#6) freshman wide receiver Camion Patrick, and (#4) senior wide receiver Nick Frazier.

Chapman is the team's leading receiver with 23 receptions on the year for 302 yards and four touchdowns. Frazier, Blake Williams, and Hazelhurst each have 14 receptions accounting for 671 yards and four touchdowns.

On defense, the Dragons are extremely strong as they try to put pressure on the opponent's quarterback and limit the opponent's running game.On the year, Clinton has recovered six fumbles, sacked the quarterback thirty-eight times, and intercepted the ball six times. In addition, the Dragons have blocked two field goals.

Clinton's defense forced six turnovers and had six quarterback sacks in the final game of the season vs. Anderson County. (#33) Corey Washington was responsible for three of the team's sacks while Stone and twins Blake and Bradley Williams were responsible for 5 interceptions.

Hazelhurst is the teams leading defensive player leading the team with 68 tackles. He is extremely effective at stopping the running game. Brandon Washington is the team sack leader with five quarterback sacks this season.

The Dragons originally won 10 games during the regular season and were 8-0 in the district, but the TSSAA vacated its season opening win over Knoxville Halls after discovering Ryan Sharpe was determined to be ineligible. Sharpe was a member of the 2008-2009 basketball team and the 2009 Clinton football team. The TSSAA ruled Sharpe had violated terms of his hardship eligibility by staying with someone other that his father in Clinton.His participation forced Clinton to vacate all wins in the 2008-2009 basketball season and the season opening football win in which Sharpe played. (See Story)

If you can't travel to the game, you can always listen live on WLIJ Radio (AM1580) and streamed live on ShelbyvilleSports.com.