Buying Clay-Chalkville in the Week Seven Stock Watch

The Cougars are clawing their way to the top of the HSFB100.

Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, AL) will move to No. 16 from No. 25 in the national rankings Monday after an impressive performance in defeating previously-ranked No. 50 Shades Valley (Birmingham, AL) this weekend.

The victory that helps to solidify the team as tops in Alabama and locks it in as the favorite to claim Class 6A — which should easily prove to be the best playoff bracket in the state.

It also is a jumping off point for the Sunday Stock Watch.

The new feature from NationalHSFootball.com takes the place of HSFB100 Rankings Preview but will contain similar elements and as National Week Seven of the high school football season wraps up there were results that stood out more than others.

Clay-Chalkville played a complete game in bettering what was the No. 3 team in the state.

It totaled 537 yards in the contest — which is nearly 70 more than its season average — of which 267 came on the ground.

In scoring 59 points it also went above what it normally puts on the opposition by nine.

Quarterback Tyrell Pigrome completed 14 of 22 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 122 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Running back Terrelle West contributed with 84 yards on the ground on 17 touches to go with 83 receiving yards on three catches.

Defensively the Cougars keyed on Shades Valley quarterback RaShad Louie only allowing him 6 yards on 10 carries after the three-year starter had averaged over 100 on the ground this season.

Clay-Chalkville coach Jerry Hood told AL.com reporter Jeff Sentell (follow on Twitter) that he knew running back Keith Mixon would get his yards but keeping the quarterback contained was a must.

“We really thought (Louie) was the key to the game,” Hood said. “We all know about Mixon. He’s going to get his. He’s too good. But if you look at it when they have won big is when Louie pulls it out of the back door and he can fall in behind that big line and he can just take off. That gets them going.”

Clay-Chalkville won the second half 31-7 after entering the break at 28-20. It turned the game on a interception returned for a touchdown and extended the lead when Mixon was pulled as he fought nausea.

The Cougars will take on Woodlawn (Birmingham, AL) next week with a tough test at Hewitt-Trussville (AL) on Halloween the week before the playoffs.

With Spanish Fort (AL), Saraland (AL), Opelika (AL), Shades Valley and several other quality programs entering the Alabama playoffs there is still plenty of strength of schedule to add if the Cougars can remain focused and finish the march to a state title.

Here is the rest of the Sunday Stock Watch:

Paramus Catholic (Paramus, NJ) — An obvious team to mention in this spot as the Paladins knocked off previously-ranked No. 1 Don Bosco (Ramsey, NJ) in a game that lived up to its billing, 21-14. The defensive line may be one of the Top 10 in the country and it frees up the backend of the defense to play aggressive as it is always getting pressure on the opposition. Offensively the team was streaky but effective in the victory. As the season plays out a potential showdown with St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, NJ) and a potential rematch with Don Bosco would be major strength of schedule points.

Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, TN) — As is the case with many high school football players and teams the Eagles got caught in its own hype earlier in the season when it was first ranked in the HSFB100. The team came out flat versus a rival team and lost after breaking into the national poll three weeks ago. After dismantling McCallie (Chattanooga, TN) this week the team is getting re-ranked. It still has a road trip to Baylor (Chattanooga, TN) as well as an away game with Ensworth (Nashville, TN) — of which both are losable games — plus the Tennessee 1-AA playoffs. Its spot it far from secure but if the team can run the table it will keep moving up.

Trinity (Euless, TX) — After scuffling its way through the opening weeks of the season with inconsistent offensive play and turnovers the Trojans have started to look more like the team that started the season near the Top 25. The move up the rankings may be a bit premature as the next two games are against Southlake Carroll (TX) and Coppell (TX) but with the Trojans playing well the last two weeks it gets the bump.

Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills, CA) — A week after loading the bus and going all in with Alemany — moving the team from the 60s into the 20s when it throttled Chaminade (West Hills, CA) — we are jumping off just as fast after losing 40-27 at the hands of Bishop Amat (La Puente, CA). The Mission League is looking like the little brother to the Trinity League in California and after Chaminade lost again this week within the league it is a safer approach to let this settle itself outside of the HSFB100. Bishop Alemany may have gotten a little over its skis as multiple other polls were also joining in the adulation. The Warriors have Serra (Gardena, CA), Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA), and Crespi (Encino, CA) to close the season and then the Pac-5 playoffs if it qualifies.

Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, AZ) — We don’t quite know what to make of The Pride as it fell again this week to Brophy (Phoenix, AZ). Do-it-all running back Paul Lucas played — though he was noticeably limited from his injury that kept him out of the loss to Hamilton (Chandler, AZ) — but the problem didn’t appear to be the offense but the defense. When fully healthy, Mountain Pointe gave up 42 points in a win over Chandler (AZ) and then 30 to Hamilton and 31 to Brophy in two losses. The team is staying as the No. 4 team in the state and clinging to the HSFB100 because of its upside and what we saw when it was able to go full. The No. 94 ranking is a generous placement and one that will be monitored closely through the playoffs.

Dorman (Roebuck, SC) — Another generous drop was given to Dorman as it will stop its freefall from No. 32 at No. 95 come Monday. The Cavaliers lost a rivalry game to Spartanburg (SC) the week before it went on a bye, 35-28. Theoretically there wasn’t a loss of focus or a trap game and that the team just got beat. We had been high on Spartanburg this season so maybe the Vikings are coming together at the right point and had the number of Dorman. South Carolina is shaping up to be very interesting in the 4A-Division I bracket and the offense of Dorman can keep it as a threat to win.

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