On Friday night Clarke Central High School’s 56-19 routing of Loganville High School showcased the Gladiators’ dominance behind key performances from quarterback Hezekiah Millender and running back Corey Watkins. Millender’s poise and athleticism from the opening drive were on full display, leading Clarke Central to an early lead and never looking back. With the win, Clarke Central solidified its first place standing in its region on Kids Night, which also featured the first-ever Clarke Central football team being honored.
Millender, a senior and Boise State commit, wasted no time getting the offense rolling. After Loganville forced a third-and-goal situation on Clarke Central’s first drive, Millender coolly rolled left and strode into the end zone for the game’s opening touchdown. His command of the offense was evident, orchestrating the group with pre-snap trickery, quick rollouts and sharp reads.
“I’m really a pass-first kind of guy,” Millender said. “ I feel like if the pass isn’t there my legs are dangerous, so I just ran the ball”.
Small but powerful, Watkins showcased his speed and agility, quickly cutting through Loganville’s defense. While a holding penalty negated a 40-yard touchdown run, Watkins continued to dictate the pace, dominating the ground game. His longest run of the night came on a 30-yard burst up the middle, setting the stage for Millender’s 41-yard touchdown. Millender repeatedly turned to his legs when passing options broke down, evading defenders and rarely getting brought down once he took off.
Loganville hit back with their star-quarterback Brody Hannah finding a smothered Tyler Breedlove on an endzone fade. They were unable to tie the game up though, after a false start on the extra point led to the second attempt being blocked.
Loganville’s struggles to close out games is a recurring theme this season. Despite moments of promise, their performance often felt like one step forward, two steps back. A perfect example came in the first quarter. After a bad snap left their punter scrambling, Clarke Central’s senior-linebacker Isaiah Jones blocked a punt, giving Clarke Central prime field position. However, on the very next play, Watkins fumbled after a couple of sharp cuts, essentially erasing the opportunity. Loganville failed to capitalize on the turnover and punted the ball right back, unable to build any momentum.
Clarke Central responded with Millender airing out a beautiful deep ball over the middle to put the gladiators up by eight with just over two minutes left in the second quarter. The Gladiators forced Loganville to a three-and-out and solidified their lead after tight end Xayvion Berry ran a nice route, stopped and accelerated back across the middle for a long touchdown catch.
Clarke Central opened the third quarter with an onside kick recovery, setting the tone for a dominant second half. Millender continued to shine, this time through the air, connecting with sophomore receiver Lagracion Little for a touchdown that showcased his precision and quick release. His tight spiral, composure and length in the pocket liken him to a quarterback like Miami-star Cam Ward as a comparison. As Clarke Central’s offense surged to 42 points, the game shifted to a running clock, cementing control and putting the game out of reach.
Loganville did have a bright spot, though, when Ayden Sarju returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the third quarter, but it was far too late to do any real damage to the scoreboard. Clarke Central responded with yet another touchdown scramble by Millender, who stepped up in the pocket and left defenders grasping at air. Loganville tacked on another score in the final quarter. Still, the Gladiators’ defense did its job throughout, preventing any real comeback.
Clarke Central’s decisive win demonstrated their offensive firepower and highlighted the depth and composure of a team hoping for a deep postseason run. Millender, in particular, looked like the Division I dual-threat quarterback he’s supposed to be, showing off his arm strength, football IQ and leadership.
“Always be hungry, never be satisfied,” Millender said postgame. “Come in, put points on the board, and do what we’re always going to do.”
Clarke Central now looks ahead to two region games, in which they are favorites to win but crucial for securing the region championship against Alcovy and Winder-Barrow, respectively.
