Cameron Clem Scores All Five Touchdowns and Jerry Bui Adds the PAT

By Brandon Stephens

(Murphy) – – When you decide you want to run a touchdown ask Murphy Sophomore running back Cameron Clem about his technique and do it that way.  Five times in the first have Clem zigged and zagged and juked Andrews Wildcat (4-and-4, and 1-and-3, Fourth in Conference) defenders to get to Touchdown Town.  Icing on the cake for the Murphy Bulldogs (8-and-1, 4-and-0, First in Conference) is Junior kicker Jerry Bui hitting the Point-After-Touchdown field goal (PAT).

Who didn’t suspect the Murphy versus Andrews football game would be hard hitting and competitive.  For the last decade, or so, this game has been smash-mouth, competitive, and dramatic.  Murphy, riding a seven-game winning streaking going into the game, is the favored team to win.  The game had a shaky start for both teams.  During the initial possession, Murphy Center Carson Phillips and Brady Grant had a miscue on the snap, which resulted in a loose ball rolling on the ground recovered by Andrews.  Taking a relative short field position, Andrews fumbles the ball in Wildcat territory, which is recovered by Murphy.

The Cameron Clem Collection

Famous paintings, literature anthologies, fine china, and video of Cameron Clem on the touchdown run come to mind of things you may want to value.  After the football comes to a rest the Bulldogs hand off to Clem for a series of touchdown runs.  Cameron ran for approximately 165 yards on touchdown rushing alone.  The touchdowns came like clockwork over the first quarter.

1. 8:32 First Quarter – 12-yard carry for touchdown. Jerry Bui hits the PAT.
2. 2:10 First Quarter – 45-yard carry for touchdown. Jerry Bui hits the PAT.
3. 10:32 Second Quarter – 37-yard carry for touchdown. Jerry Bui hits the PAT.
4. 7:28 Second Quarter – 68-yard carry for touchdown. Jerry Bui hits the PAT.
5. 2:05 Second Quarter – Three-yard carry for touchdown. Jerry Bui hits the PAT.

Defense

Murphy Junior quarterback Brady Grant and Andrews Senior quarterback Braxton Rickett had their moments of positive momentum and frustration.  Andrews defenders Colton Rose, William Wood, and Holden Todd made a few plays difficult with quarterback hurries on Grant that botched at least four plays in short field position.  Grant was also hurried to toss an interception.

Swing it the other way and the Murphy defense is credited with a shutout.  More than once Braxton Rickett, Senior running backs Eli Aguilar and Landon Greene, Junior running back LaDannien Rattler, and Sophomore running back Kelby Waldroup met resistance in the back field from Murphy’s defense.  Key to the stops are the usual men in black and gold, Junior linebacker Brody Orton, Senior linebacker Kadence (Barracuda) Leatherwood, Junior lineman Janthony Gooden, lineman Landin Lape, and Senior lineman Charlie Graves.  Either a tackle for loss or a group tackle was made on many of Andrews’ offensive rushing schemes.  Graves almost picked the ball off for a fourth game this season.  Officials flagged the play before Chuck could make the run for the end zone.  The Bulldog defense limited Andrews to 71 rushing yards and 13 passing yards of offense (84 yards of total offense).

Finishing out strong is the goal for the Murphy Bulldogs says Head Coach Joseph Watson.

What’s next for the Wildcats and Bulldogs

Smoky Mountain Conference Championship is in reach for the Murphy Bulldogs.  This coming Friday (November 1^st) the Bulldogs will host the Cherokee Braves (6-and-3, 3-and-1, 3^rd in the SMC).  Cherokee defeated the Swain County Maroon Devils (0-and-8, 0-and-4, 6^th place in SMC) 27-to-14 at Cherokee High’s Kinsland Stadium.  Brave’s Senior running back Brandon Santiago had a stellar night against Swain County with 138 yards rushing on 18 carries (8 yards per carry) and three touchdowns.  Cherokee used five different running backs to move the ball 212 yards on 35 plays.  Friday’s game will be the 49^th meeting between Murphy and Cherokee with the Bulldogs leading the series 44-to-4.  The last time Cherokee defeated Murphy was in 2007 in a 27-to-21 game.  Cherokee had a 40-to-19 win over Murphy in 2006.

Andrews Wildcats will host the Hayesville Yellow Jackets (2-and-7, 1-and-3, 5^th place in the SMC).  Friday night’s game will be the second meeting this season between these two teams.  Andrews defeated Hayesville on September 6^th 7-to-2 in Andrews.  The first meeting was considered a non-SMC game.  Friday night Hayesville suffered a 28-to-6 loss to the Robbinsville Black Knights (4-and-3, 3-and-1, 2^nd in the SMC).  Passing seemed to work best for the Yellow Jackets moving the ball on 14 passes completed out of 24 attempts between Senior quarterback Tate Roberts and Sophomore quarterback Lance Coker (161 yards off pass receptions total).

Stay connected to Team FYN Sports for more information on these and other games in the SMC.

##