It's crunch time for Clay, Racine Park
Prep roundup
Carlo Kumpula
The Daily Press
Thursday, September 21st, 2006 10:07:06 AM
What a difference a year makes.
After rushing for 259 yards on just 19 carries and scoring on blistering runs of 70 and 65 yards in a 28-9 state-title win over Wisconsin Rapids last November, Racine Park's John Clay was touted as perhaps the greatest running back in state history.
And he was only a junior.
So a month ago, when I picked up this year's copy of The Sporting News/School Sports High School Football magazine, I wasn't too surprised to find a feature story on him. What surprised me a bit, though, is that the publication rated him as the fourth-best high school player in the country. In the country! That sort of hype is usually reserved for quarterbacks from California, wide receivers from Washington, D.C., and running backs from Florida. Even at 6-2 and 220 pounds with sprinter's speed, Clay was in rarefied air.
Then came the new season. After an opening-night win over traditional state power Oak Creek, Park has fallen on hard times and Clay's stat line has been dropping fast. In the Oak Creek game he ran for 186 yards and scored three touchdowns, a nice warm-up; but since then it's been a downward spiral. In consecutive losses to Kenosha Bradford, Burlington, and Franklin, Clay has gained a total of just 317 yards and has scored, uh, exactly zero touchdowns. Hardly the kind of stuff that had Wisconsin, Nebraska, Ohio State, Tennessee, Iowa, and others lining up for autographs last fall.
What's the problem? According to Racine-area pundits, the Panthers have three serious issues. First, Clay's ankle seems to be bothering him; perhaps a remnant of the injury that sidelined him for nearly three games last year. Second, with the exception of 6-5, 300-pound Matt Simmons, much of Park's offensive line is inexperienced, and even a man-child like John Clay can't run through holes that don't exist. Most significant, though, seems to be a lack of discipline, both on and off the field. In each of their three losses the Panthers have been heavily penalized, especially for holding, and often on some of Clay's best runs. Even worse, Clay himself along with several other starters sat out part of the Bradford game for missing practice. Is that senior leadership?
As we approach week five and the mid-way point of the season, it's obviously crunch time for Park. Coach Dennis Thompson and his staff, along with Clay, Simmons, defensive back Jesse Hamilton, and quarterback Tom Bodnar had better get the ship righted, or the Panthers won't be watching just this year's title game from the bleachers, they'll miss the whole playoff show.
