Clark rolls to easy victory over Bowman

HAMMOND | In what was supposed to be a statement game for Bowman in its first-ever meeting with Times No. 9 Clark, the only statements were made by Micah Rooke, Cameron Copeland and the Pioneers' defense, which excelled when the situation called for it.

Rooke threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns, helping Clark roll to a 56-6 win on the Pioneers' Homecoming night.

"I had a nice, big smile," Rooke said. "We wanted to match Bowman's intensity. We knew they were going to come out and play their best against us. Our offense really got rolling (tonight)."

After leaning heavily on its running game in the first half, Clark showed off its passing game as Rooke tossed touchdowns to receiver Alex Evanich on consecutive possessions to give the Pioneers a 49-0 lead.

"We knew (Bowman) watched film from last week and knew we had a running game (with Cameron), so they came in trying to stop Cameron, which opened up the pass a lot," Rooke said. "That really opened up the pass, and my line and receivers did a great job."

With the Pioneers holding a 28-0 lead late in the second half, Rooke threw a strike to sophomore running back Jerald Morgan, who darted down the field for a 53-yard touchdown to give the Pioneers a commanding 35-0 lead after the ensuing PAT.

Clark (5-1) wasted no time in shoving a heavy dose of Copeland down the throats of the Eagles. Copeland rushed for first-half touchdowns of 9, 35 and 2 yards.

Copeland finished with 11 carries for 98 yards and three TDs, adding four catches for 64 yards.

Bowman's (4-2) lone score of the game came on a 52-yard pass from quarterback Daron Gamble to receiver Willie Vinson late in the third quarter.

"Defensively, we have some stuff to work on, but they do a good job," Clark coach Dave Verta said. "We bend a lot, but we don't break. We're going to get better."

Bowman was unable to establish the run, something coach Andre Kelly knew needed to happen if the Eagles were to be successful.

"I knew Clark was going to try to stop the run," Kelly said. "We went to a spread (offense), but guys didn't make plays. We dropped some key passes, and Clark just made more plays than we did."

PREP FOOTBALL

No. 9 Clark 56, Bowman 6

Micah Rooke passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns for the Pioneers.