JACKSONVILLE - Hunting to find the right recipe for that breakthrough first victory, the Clay High Blue Devils traveled into Jacksonville to take on the 4-1 University Christian (UC) Fighting Christians.

The Blue Devil defense would hold UC to a shutout through the first quarter and all through the second with only :07 seconds on the clock until halftime. The Fighting Christians would find an open receiver in the corner to go up 8-0 at the half, and continue on to a 27-8 victory.

“We just can’t make mistakes” said Clay Head Coach John Stilianou, now at 0-6. “It’s not necessarily the other team we’re playing, it’s going to be about us. Whatever it is, we are just not quite dialed into that yet.”

“We’re out here to play Football and that’s what we’re going to do," said Stilianou. "Football is nothing more than a tool for life. Life is the same way. If you have a breath, if there is any way, if there is any hope, if you have anything left, you have to fight.”

Receiving the ball to open the game, it was a mixture of running backs Al’Querious Ray, Chris Goldstein, and Keyjuan Davis that drove the ball down the field when Ray appeared to score, only to get called back on a holding penalty.

Using an unbalanced line and Wildcat look, Ray again appeared to score, only to be called back again by a penalty.

“The team is a representation of the coach," said Stilianou. "I teach my guys to never point fingers, and I’m never going to point fingers.”

After another penalty, Clay got the ball to an 11 yard line and goal to go, and attempted a field goal. The 28 yard attempt was blocked and the Christians would take over on downs.

The Blue Devils looked strong defensively as they killed the first Fighting Christians drive on a fumble recovery with :59 seconds in the first quarter. The return drive would get Clay into position to attempt another field goal from the 13. The kick fell short keeping both teams skunked until late in the second quarter. After both teams traded drives resulting in punts, UC scored on a fade pass to the right corner to go up 6-0. A two-point conversion pass over the middle put Clay down 8-0 going into the half.

In the third quarter, it was more Blue Devil miscues that handed the Fighting Christians more free yards with a facemask call on a first down pass allowing the score to go up 14-0 after missing the point after kick attempt.

“This football game comes down to about five plays," said Stilianou. "You make those five plays, and you usually win. If you don’t, you end up on the other end. Tonight, we could have been up 14 or 21-0.”

Clay later scored off a punt when UC’s Ja’won Grey picked up the ball and ran back into the endzone, only to be faced with Chris Davis, Deklan Dougherty, Hunter Beasley, Jonathan Rouw, and Jayden Bryan, taking a safety.

An interception returned for a score pushed the game to 20-2. Enter David Ford at quarterback, who put his team on his arm, marching the ball down the field with receptions by Michael Kenny lll and Reid Waugh, runs by Chris Goldstein, and another pass to Jaylin Copeland, getting the ball to the Christian’s 20 yard line with 1:00 to play. Staying in the air to the trio and marching, with :19 ticks left, a touch pass to the back corner to Jaylin Copeland earned Clay their touchdown.

“You’re not going to see these kids quit," said Stilianou."You see who is out here, and they want to be out here. If we are still breathing and there is time, that is our mentality. We’re going to fight, we’re going to find a way to win, find a way to score.”