CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Early in the first quarter Friday night, Cleveland receiver Camden Bell caught a 10-yard pass for a first down. The play was harmless enough, but the story was not the play but who threw the pass — Chad Voytik.
The quarterback who went down with a gruesome compound fracture in his finger two weeks earlier threw for 152 yards and two touchdowns in the Blue Raiders’ 42-0 victory over Walker Valley at Raider Field.
Voytik finished 8-for-10, while back Jamarcus Mobley ran for 180 yards and two scores for Cleveland (4-3, 3-0), which maintained its lead in District 5-AAA.
“It felt right to be out there again,” Voytik said. “I really thought I was going to be a no-go for the rest of the year, but I was confident going into the game and knew I was going to be able to perform like I can.”
Said Cleveland coach E.K. Slaughter: “He got his stitches out Sunday and was throwing that day. He went through practice and was doing everything.
“There was no way I was going to keep him out.”
Cleveland’s defense was exceptional, holding the Mustangs to 114 yards of total offense. Walker Valley tailback Kelvin Wells Jr. — the area’s leading rusher with more than 1,100 yards — was limited to 87 yards, 60 of which came in the second half with the mercy rule in effect.
“Walker Valley is a talented team with a talented back, so this was a big test for our defense,” Slaughter said. “That team has been scoring points, so to shut them out is big. We stopped the run and shut them down at critical times.”
The Raiders defense made its presence felt early, blocking a punt that Juan Bobe took 48 yards for a touchdown. The Raiders also had an interception and recovered three fumbles.
Cleveland’s offensive line paved holes for Mobley and Nakerston Rogers. Rogers finished with 71 second-half yards and the game’s final touchdown.
“I thought the physicality of the line was important,” Slaughter said. “As much as they blitz, we knew we needed to run and were able to get some holes doing so.”
B.J. Davis was the team leader in receptions, with six catches for 129 yards and two scores.
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