Neon Deon : Clay making most of opportunities on both sides of ball

Farmington sophomore Deon Clay (26) tackles an Ozark player Friday, Sept. 11, during the first half of play at
Farmington.
Farmington sophomore Deon Clay (26) tackles an Ozark player Friday, Sept. 11, during the first half of play at Farmington.

— Deon Clay didn't have to wait long for his time to shine.

Farmington's super sophomore is seeing plenty of the spotlight early in his Cardinal career. Clay's performance forFarmington so far suggests that a bright future lies ahead if he maintains this pace.

Clay (6-0, 210), who lines up at fullback andstarts at middle/outside linebacker on defense, accounted for 124 yards of total offense and two touchdowns on just four touches in the Cards' 46-0 pummeling of Marshall last week. He also registered an interception that nearly went for a third score.

"He was our leading tackler two weeks ago and our leading rusher last week," Farmington coach Mike Adams said. "He's a very talented guy. He's a sophomore and he's still learning. He will make a great play and then blow an assignment but he's so talented athletically that he's still fast enough to make up for his mistakes. He's the youngest kid in his class and we've got to have patience with him. But he's got good strength and has great work ethic and we expect him to continued improving."

So far that tolerance is paying big dividends for Farmington. Clay snared consecutive completions on Farmington's opening touchdown drive, one for 35 yards to set up first and goal and the other a six-yard touchdown reception.

"He's a guy who can do so many things for us," Adams said. "He's got the best hands on the team so we use him a lot to catch the ball out of the backfield. He's a very strong runner and he's real tough to bring down."

Clay's six-yard score gavethe Cards a 6-0 edge early and his 35-yarder transpired on a play dubbed "11 bubble."

"I was bubbling out to the outside and my receivers just cracked outside," Clay said. "Then I just followed my linemen."

Clay's 76-yard bolt shoved Farmington ahead, 13-0, on a play called 34 trap. Clay rumbled through traffic and scurried past the pursuit.

"I saw the line executed their blocks real well on that play," Clay said. "The hole was huge and I saw it and just busted through as fast as I could. I didn't have much time to think, just run. I had to juke alittle but then I found the open field and turned it on."

Clay wasn't finished. He picked off a Marshall pass and narrowly missed paydirt on the return. His pick set up another Cardinal touchdown.

"He just has that instinct to get to the ball," Adams said. "He may line up in the wrong spot but he's going to get to thefootball in a hurry. He's a great talent to have."

Clay's versatility doesn't end there. Farmington also utilizes him in the Wildcat formation. Clay was the starting quarterback at Farmington Junior High last season and he used that experience to rumble in for a two-point conversion against Siloam Springs via the Wildcatpackage. Clay's conversion cut the deficit to 10-8 with 7:05 left in the second quarter.

He doesn't just run it out of the Wildcat. Clay exhibited his ability to pass against Siloam Springs when he heaved a 30-yard touchdown pass to starting quarterback Chance Hyslip. An ineligible-receiver-downfield penalty, though,negated the score, which would have given Farmington the lead before halftime.

"I used to play a little quarterback and I hope to get more chances to do that," Clay said. "I can do a lot of different things to help the team win. My goal is to win a state championship before I graduate. I hope I can help make that happen."

Sports, Pages 7, 8 on 09/23/2009

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