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Folks in South Cumberland have known about the Clay boys — Dylan and Garrett — for years. Didn’t see much of them, mind you, even when they were in the backyard playing with their own kids.
Mom: Was that Dylan or Garrett?
Dad: Not sure.
Mom: Those Clay kids sure can run.
Dad: Sounds like it.
And so it was on Saturday, as the rest of Cumberland, or at least Cumberland football fans who had never seen (or heard) Dylan and Garrett Clay run the football or run to the football, found out: Those Clay kids sure can run — fast and hard.
Touchdown Twins? Literally.
In Fort Hill’s explosive 47-21 Homecoming victory over Allegany, in which the Sentinels reeled off 34 unanswered points, Dylan Clay, from either his halfback position or after taking a direct snap in the Wildcat formation, diced the Campers for 126 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while his twin Garrett Clay ran over, through and around the Allegany defense for 97 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries in being named co-Offensive Player of the Game along with his brother.
The wreckage the Brothers Clay inflicted upon the Campers, however, wasn’t limited to their carrying the football. Garrett came up with a big interception and returned it 18 yards with 1:44 left in the first half to set up the touchdown (scored by Dylan) that put Fort Hill ahead, 14-13. Dylan played a big role with his blocking in the Sentinels’ first touchdown, an 81-yard kickoff return by Jaron Watkins that tied the score at 7-7.
“At first I bobbled it,” Watkins said. “Then Dylan Clay helped me make it through the middle. Once I got to the middle (Alco) just couldn’t catch me. They were no match for our speed.”
Not that Fort Hill needed a wake-up call, but after falling behind 7-0 on a great ball-control drive by the Campers, Watkins’ return injected the Sentinels with a charge that, much to Allegany’s dismay, would not wear off for the rest of the day.
“Jaron’s kickoff return set the tone,” Garrett Clay said. “He’s a playmaker.”
“He’s a big play waiting to happen,” said Dylan.
“He really is,” added Garrett for good measure.
These guys are tight. They enjoy each other’s company, they love seeing each other succeed and they support one another. They complement each other perfectly, it would seem, in just about every respect:
Garrett: “A lot of hard work paid off for us today. It’s an honor to be recognized this way as a junior. Our coaches made great adjustments at the half and our line was just great.”
Dylan: “It is an honor, but our line is the reason we had success.”
Garrett: Line, line, line, line. Those are tough guys up there.”
What of this Wildcat formation?
Garrett: “We love the Wildcat.”
Dylan: “They had no answer for it.”
Garrett: Everybody does their jobs. Work hard and stick to it every play.”
Dylan: “It’s repetition in practice.”
Garrett: “Lots of long practices but we have to continue to work hard and play like we did today. We’ve played hard against 4A teams and I think that will help us.”
Dylan: “Game by game. Stay focused.”
I’ve never been one to start an argument with the United State Marines, who sponsor Great American Rivalries, and honored Dylan Clay as Player of the Game. For me, however, one brother was as impressive as the other one was in so many different capacities Saturday afternoon. They have different games, yet they do so many of the same things, such as getting to the corner, turning the corner and then running to the end zone the way a thirsty man runs for water.
Of course, folks in South Cumberland have known this for years. Or at least they’ve heard it.
Mike Burke is sports editor of the Cumberland Times-News. Write to him at mburke@times-news.com
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