All eyes on Clark for WM defense

All eyes on Clark for WM defense

Blytheville back gashed Blue Devils in 2015

WM School District The West Memphis Blue Devils still can't get rid of the one big mental visual from last year's game at Blytheville.

Chickasaw burner Demekko Clark's backside was all the Blue Devils saw all night in a 23-14 loss at Haley Field.

On Friday night, the Blue Devils return to the scene where they'll try to erase that memory by picking up their second win of the season.

'(Clark's) been in the forefront of our minds all week,' said Blue Devil head coach Billy Elmore.

'I think he's stronger than he was last year. He's still just as fast. He bounces off tacklers this year better than last year. He's good.

There's no question he's good.'

Clark, an all-state selection last year, rushed for 1,999 yards in 2015 and had a school-record 431 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns against Greene County Tech.

Clark, a mid-level Division 1 prospect who was courted by the University of Memphis last spring, bench presses 365 pounds and was clocked at 4.43 at the Nike Dallas Combine in April.

Against West Memphis last year, Clark caught a swing pass and outran Blue Devil defenders 72 yards for one touchdown and he iced the game in the fourth quarter with a 65yard TD.

After beating Forrest City 41-6 in last season's opening game, Elmore admits his squad took Blytheville too lightly.

'I think our biggest problem last year (at Blytheville) was our mental approach,' Elmore stated. 'After hammering Forrest City pretty good the week before, I think we thought we were the Dallas Cowboys. We got shown real quick that we weren't.' The Blue Devils rushed for 298 yards on the Chicks, but five turnovers were their downfall. Plus, the club threw 19 times but only for 56 yards.

This week it all sets up similarly.

The Blue Devils clocked Forrest City 42-20 last week and the Chicks revved up its offense in the opener in blasting Osceola 41-6.

'We've got to be more concerned with how we play,' said Elmore. 'We want to get out of Blytheville 2-0. I think our whole mental approach will be different this year. If we take care of that I think we'll be OK. It'll be just a matter of execution for us.'

AWM returns all the running backs who rushed for 166 second-half yards against the Chicks.

Martavious Thomas, who scored two firsthalf touchdowns last week against Forrest City, churned out 88 first-half yards against the Chicks last year, but he didn't play in the second half due to an ankle sprain.

His replacement, Jonathan Craig, teamed with Devonte Dean to rush for the 166 second-half yardage. All three of those backs will get plenty of touches at Haley Field on Friday night.

By Billy Woods