By MONTE DUTTON

Every game becomes important for a football team ranked No. 2 in the state, but the Clinton Red Devils face their biggest challenge of the season to date when eighth-ranked Chapman (3-1) visits Wilder Stadium on Friday night.

Clinton (4-0) defeated the Panthers twice last season, in the regular season (49-19) and in the Class 3A playoffs (49-27).

Chapman won a state championship as recently as 20-19 and has gone 50-10 in the past five seasons, but the Red Devils have turned the tables on the Panthers in the past four meetings. Chapman won 24-8 in 2020 and 27-26 in ’21.

The potential tightness of this game can be demonstrated several ways. The only common opponent is Laurens, which Chapman defeated 48-3 last week and Clinton defeated 49-7 two weeks before that. The Panthers have collectively outscored its opponents, two of which are in Class 5A, 123-80. The Red Devils have steamrolled four opponents, two in 2A and two in 4A, by a combined score of 204-48. This is Clinton’s first meeting with another school in its own classification.

Junior quarterback Tushawan Richardson of Clinton has thrown three touchdown passes in each of the past two games, combining to complete 18/25 passes. The Red Devils have had two potent runners go down to injury, but the rushing attack has remained potent while using an assortment of rushers.

“It’s going to give teams something to prepare for not only the running the game but the passing game, as well,” said Clinton head coach Corey Fountain. “To be balanced is great.”

Chapman opened the season with a 57-34 victory over Clinton Region 4-3A rival Woodruff, then pulled a stunning 17-14 upset of powerful Byrnes. Boiling Springs then upended the Panthers, 29-7, and Chapman punished the Raiders last week.

The emergence of Chapman’s quarterback is not quite so surprising. Sturdy senior Coleman Gray has both passed and rushed for five touchdowns. Mathai Scott is the leading rusher (66 yds/game), and Shawn Cunningham the leading receiver (108).

Linebacker Reece Lynch averages 9.3 tackles and two sacks.

The challenge for Clinton’s defense is to prevent Gray and company from gobbling up yardage on big plays. The Red Devils defenders have been strong, giving up a touchdown apiece in the past three games and only allowing three late scores at Batesburg-Leesville after seizing a 50-7 advantage early in the third quarter.

“[Chapman] is planning to get us,” Fountain said. “It’s kind of turned into a rivalry game. We’ve got to be ready to play well again.”

Another key for Clinton is minimizing penalties, which have plagued the Red Devils.

Harry Cabaniss, formerly a head coach at Mauldin, is in his fourth season at Chapman, having compiled a record of 26-10. Fountain is 34-14 in five years with the Red Devils. He formerly served as head coach at Lamar.

Elsewhere, Laurens Academy (2-2) takes a win streak to Wardlaw (2-1) in Johnston. Laurens (0-4) visits Union County (0-4) and Clear Dot — I remain mystified at how there can be such a thing as a clear dot — pays a visit to Thornwell Charter (0-3).

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