Just like that, Spring Valley runs away from Clark

There was a brief moment at Spring Valley when winless Clark appeared it might make a game of it with the undefeated Grizzlies.

It took a mere 13 seconds for Jacques Adams to put an end to that Friday night.

On the first play after a Charger touchdown trimmed Spring Valley’s lead to 14-7, Adams took a handoff and raced 80 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-7, and the Grizzlies never looked back on the way to a 56-21 romp.

Adams, who rushed for 143 yards and scored three times in two quarters, said the long scoring run was not a surprise.

“We were thinking score,” Adams said. “We had excellent blocking by the linemen, then the receivers did their blocking and I just took it up the field for the touchdown.”

A touchdown reception by Adams with 46 seconds left in the half all but sealed the win for Spring Valley (3-0, 1-0 Southwest Division). Adams hauled in an Anton Stallworth shovel pass at the line of scrimmage and was surrounded by four Clark defenders. Adams managed to break free of the pile and race 25 yards to the end zone to make it 35-7.

“I just broke all the tackles and stayed low,” said Adams. “In my mind I just kept saying 'stay up, stay up.’ ”

Spring Valley rushed for 386 yards and averaged 12 yards per carry. Grizzlies coach Kelly Murphy said the key was the play in the trenches.

“The offensive line dictates whether or not we are going to win or lose a ball game; They did a great job tonight,” said Murphy. “They got some good holes. The running backs all had pretty good holes to run thorough.”

T.J. Allen, who relieved Adams in the third quarter, rushed for 122 yards on four carries. Allen had a 60-yard scamper that set up Mike Mehling’s 20-yard TD run, then scored himself on a 65-yard sprint to make it 49-7.

Mike Mehling recovered an offensive fumble for a score and had a 20-yard touchdown run for Spring Valley, and Keenan Sanders had a 71-yard touchdown run.

Mike Caster and Carlo Paredes each recovered a fumble and Alex Lopez had an interception to lead the Grizzlies defense.

For Clark (0-4, 0-1) Aaron Arlt rushed for 111 yards and a score on 14 carries, and Andre Clay had 98 yards on 13 carries. That included 5-yard touchdown run with 7:13 left in the second quarter that made it 14-7 and appeared to give Clark hope.

Then Adams and the Grizzlies rolled to victory.

“I think they played really well overall,” said Murphy. “I think we came out and executed. The reason we executed is because we practiced well this week. Minus a few mistakes early, we got it going.”