Wolverines thwart Red Devils in battle of ranked teams

Clinton RB Zy Butler (18) breaks into the open field against Woodruff Friday night.

Woodruff defeated Clinton in a season opener for the second time in as many years Friday night, downing the Red Devils 21-13 at W.L. Varner Stadium.

The game revisited an old Class 3A rivalry between the Wolverines and Red Devils, but it was also a battle of ranked teams – Woodruff is No. 3 in Class 3A while Clinton is ranked atop Class 2A.

Woodruff (1-0) jumped out to a 15-0 lead after a scoreless first quarter. Quarterback Connor Davis scored on a 10-yard run with 11:54 left in the second quarter, and Aiden Gibson an NCAA Division I prospect at running back as a junior, scored on a 42-yard pass from Davis.

Clinton (0-1) missed to opportunities in the first quarter with drives starting at the Woodruff 21-yard-line following a blocked punt and at the Wolverines 28 following a short punt and a return.

Owen Glenn, making his first start at the varsity level for Clinton, threw an interception to set up Woodruff’s first score.

The Red Devils got on the board as Glenn overcame the interception, hitting running back Javen Cook on a 5-yard touchdown pass with one second left in the second quarter.
Woodruff answered on a late third-quarter possession, scoring on a 4-yard run by Jaylen Lyles.

Clinton’s Zy Butler cut Woodruff’s lead to 21-13 with an 11-yard run with 7:07 left in the game.
But the Red Devils could get no closer, and the Wolverines ran out the clock.
Clinton will travel to intracounty rival Laurens next Friday at K.C. Hanna Stadium.