An impending rain storm never wrecked havoc Friday evening in Clinton, but nine Clinton High running backs unfortunately did just that to the Newberry High football team as their 60 rushing attempts turned into 374 yards, leading the Red Devils to a 28-0 shut-out win over the Bulldogs.

Time was of the essence the entire evening for Newberry as the Bulldogs would have the ball offensively the entire evening for just 15:10, including a combined total of 9:21 in the final three quarters of play.

Tyrone Neal returned the Clinton opening kickoff 31 yards to his own 40-yard line.

The Bulldogs, however, would lose 8 yards in two plays before Kenny Cook stripped a Bulldog of the Brandon Ahrens’ pass for the interception.

CHS kept the ball on the ground nine straight plays as their 67-yard scoring drive ended with a 2-yard scamper by Taviouzie Booker. The PAT attempt was wide at the 6:10 mark.

While the Newberry High Blue Brigade was playing the opening theme of ’Sports Center’; ironically, Kerry Workman made a leaping one-handed interception two plays later, which was easily worthy of being one of the “Top Ten Plays of The Day” on the ESPN show. The grab even brought gasps of “wow,” “whoa” and “woo” from the Clinton faithful.

Moving the ball in six rushing plays to the Clinton 8-yard line, Newberry attempted to convert a 26-yard field goal.

Joseph Foster’s attempt was wide to the right on the second play of the second quarter.

After Clinton punted for its only time of the evening, NHS was forced to punt after a three-and-out. Sean Campos-McJunkins would recover the fumbled punt reception.

Not garnering any yardage in three plays, the Bulldogs sent in Chad Davis to attempt a 39-yard field goal after a time-out with 5:48 left in the first half.

The attempt was no good as Newberry would see the ball offensively only 10 more plays until there was just 5:11 left in the game.

A three-and-out forced Newberry to punt but Nicholas Gallman would recover the fumbled punt reception, as his 5-yard return put his Bulldogs at the Clinton 10-yard line.

“Our best offensive weapon the entire night was our punter,” said Newberry head coach Sam Baird. Chad Davis, a freshman, averaged 41 yards a kick, including a 51-yarder. High kicks and excellent hang time allowed the punting team ample time to make it down to the Red Devil fielding the kick all five times.

Two plays later, the Bulldogs fumbled over to the Red Devils just three yards from the end zone on their final offensive play of the night.

Clinton would run out the final 3:12 of the game with five straight rushing plays.

Despite the loss to an “awfully good” Clinton team, Coach Baird saw some “bright spots” during the evening and told the team afterwards that “there isn’t anything we can’t fix as long as you’re willing to work hard at practice.”

Newberry will host Broome this Friday at 7:30 p.m. to open their 2009 home season.