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LINEVILLE, Ala. — The Valley High Rams went on the road on Friday to take on one of the top teams not just in Region 4 but in all of Class 5A. The Clay Central Volunteers were as good as their billing, winning the game by a score of 48-0.

Clay Central scored a touchdown every time they had the ball in the first half, and Valley punted it on almost every possession. That resulted in a 34-0 halftime lead for the Volunteers. They added two more scores in the second half, one on a long touchdown pass from their backup quarterback and the final score on a pick six.

On Clay Central’s first possession, the Volunteers went 56 yards and scored on an eight-yard run by Ladanian Boyd. J.T. Wilkerson’s PAT made it 7-0 with 8:22 left in the first quarter.

After stopping Valley’s offense to a three-and-out, Clay Central had the ball in great field position, on the Valley 36, following a good punt return by Tyler Boyd. From there, quarterback Deshon Givens led them the rest of the way for their second score of the game. A five-yard run by Jamari Whetstone with 3:06 left in the period had the hosts with a two-touchdown lead.

Clay Central’s defense held Valley to another three-and-out, forcing yet another Xander Newton punt. This time they would drive the ball 68 yards for their third score, getting points on a 31-yard pass from Givens to Jaden Battle. Wilkerson’s third extra point made the score 21-0 in favor of the Volunteers.

Valley started to show some life when Tylin Carrell ran the ensuing kickoff back to midfield. It was the Rams’ best field position of the game so far. On first down from there, quarterback Gavin Goss connected with wideout Zan Woody on a pass play all the way to the Clay Central five-yard-line. The Rams looked to be in business, but it just wasn’t their night.

On first-and-goal they lost yardage back to the 10. A three-yard run by Carrell and two incomplete passes later and the ball went back to the home team.

That would be as close to scoring as Valley would come all night long.

Clay County took over on their seven and marched it 93 yards to make it 27-0.

The scoring play was a 48-yard run around right end by Givens at the 5:52 mark the the second quarter. Wilkerson missed the PAT, but Clay Central’s growing lead was making Valley’s chances of having just a close game looking bleak.

The Volunteers got their final score of the first half on a 60-yard drive. Some of their backup players were already in the game, and they ran the offense about as well as the starters.

They had about the best clock management any coaching staff could hope for. They scored a touchdown on a short run off the right side of the line by Boyd with just two seconds left in the half. Wilkerson made the PAT this time to extend the lead to 34-0 at intermission.

Both teams played lots of younger players after intermission. Valley played much better on defense, but the game’s outcome had long been decided.

Clay Central made it 41-o late in the third quarter on a long pass from backup quarterback Wilkerson (the kicker) to Whetstone.

Valley turned the ball over on a fumble on the kickoff, but to their credit, the defense held Clay Central out of the end zone. They got their final score of the game on an interception return. Zion Newell ran it in to add the final score with 9:33 left in the game.

There’s one consolation for Valley about this game – they probably won’t have to play anyone else as good as Clay Central for the rest of the year.

Valley has an open date next Friday before taking on Region foe Marbury the following week at Ram Stadium. Marbury was blasted Friday night by Beauregard.