The Clanton Middle School football team concluded an 8-0 season with a 28-6 win on Oct. 14 over Columbiana Middle School.

Columbiana began its first drive on its own 35-yard line. Cruz Edwards intercepted a pass and ran it to the Columbiana 40-yard line.

Clanton Middle wasted no time scoring. Richard Hillard ran the first play 35 yards to the Columbiana 5-yard line. On first-and-goal, Hillard finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Forrest Knight optioned to Hillard for the 2-point conversion, and Clanton led 8-0 with 4:51 left in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter after a Clanton fumble, Columbiana drove to the Clanton 24-yard line and fumbled the ball back to Clanton. Clanton’s next touchdown was set up by a 35-yard run by Michael Seaton, and Hillard scored on a 2-yard run. The point-after attempt was no good. With 5:01 remaining in the second, Clanton led 14-0.

Clanton’s third score was set up by a screen pass from Knight to Hillard for 38 yards, and a facemask penalty was added on to the yardage gained. On third and goal, Knight optioned to Hillard for a 5-yard touchdown run. Seaton ran in the PAT to make the score 22-0 with only 17 seconds remaining in the first half.

On the opening drive of the second half, Clanton drove down the field to a first-and-goal situation set up by two receptions by Chase Baker. Clanton was unable to score on the four plays from the Columbiana 5-yard line. Columbiana then had a 91-yard drive to score its only touchdown. The PAT failed and made the score 22-6 with 46 seconds left in the third quarter.

Clanton’s final score was set up on passes from Forrest Knight to Cameron Cummings and Hillard. Hillard finished the drive with a 3-yard run. This made the score 28-6 with 4:52 left to play in the fourth quarter.

Hilliard was the leading rusher with 125 yards on 10 carries. Seaton wasn’t far behind with 113 yards on nine rushes.

Knight completed eight passes in 12 attempts for 140 yards. Cummings (45 yards) and Baker (39) were Knight’s favorite receivers with three catches each.

Cummings and Vadall Morrow also had interceptions to go along with Edwards’.