CLINTON — While it took nearly 50 years for a team to defeat Clinton in five consecutive seasons … it would take almost 90 years for the Red Devils to lose to one opponent in the same time frame by at least 11 points in each meeting.

Newberry High’s 49-21 victory Friday evening at Wilder Stadium enabled them to become the first team since Woodruff (1965-70) to win in five straight years over Clinton, while Greenville won by at least 11 points in each of their five victories from 1925-30.

Mr. Football of South Carolina finalist Amir Abrams of Newberry rushed for four touchdowns as he now has 88 touchdowns and 5,371 yards for his career.

Clinton became Newberry’s fourth opponent to win the coin toss, but would not score after receiving the initial kick-off.

Before the Clinton fans had even gotten fully settled in, Newberry was already putting its first of seven touchdowns on the night in the books as Abrams ended a 75-yard drive on six straight rushing plays with a scamper from seven yards out.

Ulises Benitez was perfect on all seven of his PAT kick attempts on the night as Newberry had a 7-0 lead with still 7:39 left in the first quarter.

The first pass in the game’s 19 plays was a 35-yard touchdown pass by Clinton with 1:56 left in the first quarter.

The PAT was missed as Newberry would never trial in the game’s final 43:39.

The last five plays of the first quarter (and the first five plays of the second) saw Newberry keep the ball on the ground each time with Abrams getting the call the final three times as his 14-yard run ended a 79-yard drive.

Newberry now led 14-6 with 9:54 left in the first half.

A 24-yard punt and a Clinton penalty after a Red Devil three-and-out placed Newberry just 44 yards from another potential score.

Abrams got the call all three times as he put this third touchdown of the night on the board from 37 yards out for the 21-6 advantage at the 7:30 mark of the first half.

Clinton was forced to punt after two sacks and an incomplete pass with four minutes left in the second quarter.

Newberry’s second pass of the entire game went to a wide-open Jaleel Gilliam as his 36-yard reception went into the end zone for the 28-6 score with 1:55 left in the second quarter.

Clinton had 104 yards of first half offense to Newberry’s 233.

With no sort of momentum on their side, Clinton was hoping to hold Newberry from scoring for a fifth straight possession to begin the second half.

Fielding the third quarter kick-off at his own 28, Gilliam was not even challenged on his 72-yard return for the 35-6 score just 43 seconds into the second half.

Recovering a Newberry fumble, Clinton would score for the first time in 21:45 with a five-yard run.

The two-point conversion run was good with just over four minutes left in the third quarter.

Newberry fielded the on-side kick at mid-field as Abrams scored his fourth touchdown of the evening five plays later from 10 yards out with 1:41 to go in the third.

Clinton marched straight down the field in eight plays to end a 66-yard drive with a one-yard run for the touchdown with 10:29 left in the game.

With Zay Chalmers leading the helm, Newberry would stay on the field on a fourth-and-three from the Clinton 32.

Going to the air, Chalmers’ pass to Rae Wilmore ended up in the end zone to end the scoring by both teams with 1:40 left in the contest.

The 49 Newberry points were the most points the Bulldogs has scored against Clinton in the 90 games series.

Clinton won the time-of-possession battle 27:40 to 20:20.

The Red Devils ran 63 offensive plays garnering 271 yards, including 168 on the ground.

Abrams had 24 carries for 195 yards, Goodman (3-43), KT Robinson (4-37), Rae Wilmore (2-13), Marcus Moore (1-5) and Asaris Good had two rushes for 13 yards.

Zymere Epps, Gilliam, and Wilmore each had a lone reception with nine, 36, and 32 yards respectively.

This will be a quick week for Newberry (8-0, 3-0 Region 3-AAA) as they will travel to top-ranked Chapman in Inman this Thursday.

The region title and being the top overall seed in the upcoming upper-state playoffs are all but guaranteed to the winner.

By Wilson Senn

For The Newberry Observer