Red Devils bombard Barnwell 35-6 for state title

By John Clayton | December 12, 2024 |

Barnwell WR Kahzeer Wesley (0) is upended by Clinton DB Chris Boyd (7) during the Red Devils’ Class 2A state championship victory Thursday afternoon.

Photo gallery at end of story

Red Devils win 9th state title, first since 2009

Defense, big plays spur victory

ORANGEBURG – Clinton won the ninth state championship in the history of the Red Devil football program Thursday afternoon with a 35-6 victory over Barnwell at South Carolina State’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

The Red Devils turned in a dominating defensive performance in the Class 2A state championship game, holding the Warhorses to 35 yards rushing and dual-threat all-state quarterback Cam Austin to 120 yards 15 of 35 passing and 37 yards on the ground.

Barnwell’s only score came on a 90-yard kickoff return by Jordan Peeples that answered a 77-yard touchdown scamper by Clinton senior quarterback Tushawan Richardson. and cut the Red Devils’ lead to 8-6 early in the first quarter.

“(Defensive Coordinator Ethan) Campbell had them ready to go,” Clinton head coach Corey Fountain said of his team’s defensive performance. “He probably watched 40 hours of film this past week, and the preparation he puts into our defense is unprecedented, and our kids buy into that. You’ve got to have kids that want to work like that – want to prepare. Everybody wants to win a championship, but not everybody wants to prepare like a champion. This group of seniors and our coaching staff buy into that mentality.”

After averaging 30 points per game coming into the state finals, the Warhorses (13-2) never moved into the red zone against Clinton.

The Red Devils (12-2) led 15-6 after the first quarter thanks to a 27-yard touchdown run by D.J. Clark.
Clinton scored on three explosive plays – plays of 20 yards of more – adding a 29-yard pass from Richardson to Devin Swindler with 4:57 left in the third quarter that extended the Red Devils’ lead to 28-6.

Clinton head coach Corey Fountain gets a Gatorade bath as the Red Devils celebrated their Class 2A state title win over Barnwell Thursday.

Sophomore running back Rhett Gilliam added scoring runs of 5 and 8 yards in the second half as Clinton continued to pull away and roll rushing totals.

The Red Devils rushed for 311 yards on 55 attempts, averaging 5.7 yards per carry against a Barnwell defense that allowed 10 points per game during the regular season.

Gilliam finished with 11 carries for 49 yards, and leading rusher Javen Cook rushed for 87 yards on 20 carries.
Richardson’s long touchdown run in the first quarter propelled him to 107 yards rushing on seven carries.

“This is my last go-around, and it really just feels amazing to capture the main goal at the end of the year,” Richardson said.

The Warhorses were seeking their fourth state championship, but left without the trophy for the seventh time. Barnwell lost to Abbeville in back-to-back state finals in 2017 and 2018.

Clinton won its first state championship since 2009, ending a 15-year absence from the state finals

“It feels unreal,” said defensive captain and linebacker Brett Young. “I feel like I’m dreaming because this is stuff we’ve talked about for so long and to see it finally become a reality is something you can’t explain.”

SCORING SUMMARY