Grafton overcame a lackluster first quarter with a stellar second to roll past Gloucester 38-9 in their Bay Rivers District game on Thursday at Bailey Field. The victory is the first in the BRD for new Clippers coach Corey Hairston, Warwick’s head coach the past 11 seasons.
Makale Barnett starred for the Clippers (1-2, 1-2 district), rushing for 152 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to a TD reception. That was one of three touchdown passes for sophomore Xzavieon Hendricks, who threw for 137 yards.
The Dukes (0-3, 0-3) controlled the first quarter, when their defense limited the Clippers to minus-2 yards on just six plays. Gloucester’s offense was good early as well, mounting a nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive on its first possession.
All-state kicker Corey Skay showed additional football talent on a 28-yard end-around on Gloucester’s first drive. Quarterback Brad Bellinger (120 yards rushing) capped the march with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Luis Seda to give the Dukes a 7-0 lead.
Skay almost stretched the lead to 10 points, his 49-yard field goal attempt barely missing on the first play of the second quarter. A Clippers’ Tsunami overwhelmed the Dukes the rest of the second quarter.
Makale Barnett’s 44-yard touchdown run for the Clippers tied the score at 7-7 with 8:21 left in the first half. Six plays after William Dickinson recovered a Gloucester fumble, Barnett ran 17 yards for a score to make it 14-7.
The Clippers scored quickly following Kaden Brown’s interception of a Bellinger pass. A play later Hendricks passed 45 yards to Ahmad Diggs to make it 21-7.
Bryden Biagas’ interception in the final minute gave the Clippers a chance to add more points prior to a fine performance by the Grafton Marching Band. Caleb Heretick did so with a 26-yard field goal as the Clippers led 24-7 ahead of music by Rihanna, Tchaikovsky and The Beatles.
Gloucester turnovers resumed with the second-half kickoff, which it fumbled away. Runs of 15 and 19 yards by Barnett set up his 14-yard touchdown reception via a Hendricks pass as Grafton led 31-7 early in the third quarter.
The second-half highlight for Gloucester was Kayden Lovett’s punt-block that went through the end zone for a safety to pull the Dukes to within 31-9 in the third quarter.
Hendricks’ third touchdown pass of the night, for 12 yards to Jshon Teague, gave the Clippers a 38-9 cushion and Hairston – who won 66 times as Warwick’s coach – was assured of his first Bay Rivers District victory.
