Daryl Polk + No. 8 Gladewater Roll To 66-14 Bi-District Victory Over Nevada Community

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Despite playing without its top two rushers, the eighth-ranked Gladewater Bears made quick work of their first-round playoff opponent Thursday night.

Gladewater erupted for 29 points in a span of 3:10 in the first half of its 66-14 rout of Nevada Community in their Class 4A Division II Region II bi-district playoff at a chilly Sam Parker Field.

The Bears (10-1), who played the entire second half with reserves, advanced to the area round where they will meet the winner of tomorrow's contest between Shepherd and Fairfield. Nevada Community, the fourth-place team from District 5-4A, concluded the season at 3-7.

Already leading 8-0 late in the opening quarter, Gladewater scored 22 points in just 1:01 and then picked up another touchdowns just 26 seconds into the second quarter for a commanding 37-0 lead. The Bears added two more scores before the half was finished, coasting into the locker room with a 52-0 cushion.

With starting tailback James Reese and fullback Justice Centers sitting this one out, senior fullback Daryl Polk stole the show by rushing for 184 yards and four touchdowns on only 10 carries -- all in the first half. Junior Marcello Jackson added 120 yards and a touchdown on only three attempts as 10 Gladewater ball carriers combined to rush for 478 yards.

Gladewater's defense also did a number on Nevada Community by forcing five turnovers, the biggest of which came during the first-quarter scoring barrage.

Community quarterback Jordan Graham, who passed for 251 yards and a touchdown on 17 of 42 completions, dropped back to pass in his own end zone. A pressuring Daylon Mack forced a fumble that Gladewater teammate Eric Abston pounced on in the end zone for a touchdown and a 22-0 Bears lead.

Mack, a Texas A&M commit, also blocked a punt, ran in a pair of two-point conversions and completed a pass for another two-pointer.

Senior Daylon Gordon and sophomore Austin Hawley came down with first-half interceptions for Gladewater. Gordon returned his interception 54 yards to the Community, which set up Polk's 16-yard touchdown run on the very next play, which pushed Gladewater's lead to 29-0 with 1:33 to play in the opening quarter.

Community put together a solid drive on the ensuing possession, but Collin Croft fumbled just before crossing the Gladewater goal line, and the ball bounced out of bounds for a touchback.

Gladewater responded four plays later when Polk's third rushing touchdown of the night -- a 36-yard rumble -- pushed the Bears' lead to 37-0 with 11:24 showing on the second-quarter clock.

Polk later added a 42-yard scoring run, and Jackson plowed in from 2 yards out to push Gladewater's halftime lead to 52 points.

Bears sophomore running back Darnell McKnight got the scoring spree started with a 3-yard touchdown run that capped Gladewater's second drive of the game. Mack ran in the two-point conversion, and the Bears grabbed an 8-0 lead about five minutes into the opening period.

The Bears scored again on the first play of their next drive on a Polk 52-yard run.

Gladewater lost the first of three fumbles on the night on its next series, but Mack's forced fumble in the end zone and Abston's recovery gave Gladewater a 22-0 lead with 2:34 remaining in the first.

No. 8 Gladewater 66, Nevada Community 14

Class 4A Division II
Region II Bi-District Playoff

At Sam Parker Field, Mount Pleasant

Community              0     0     7     7    --    14
Gladewater            29   23     7     7    --    66

First Quarter
GLA--Darnell McKnight 3 run (Daylon Mack), 7:13.
GLA--Daryl Polk 52 run (McKnight run), 2:34.
GLA--Eric Abston 0 fumble return (Fernando Serrano kick), 2:20.
GLA--Polk 16 run (run failed), 1:33.
Second Quarter
GLA--Polk 36 run (Mack run), 11:24.
GLA--Polk 42 run (Cameron Calloway pass from Mack), 8:15.
GLA--Marcello Jackson 2 run (Serrano kick), 5:05.
Third Quarter
GLA--Bailey Glenn 13 pass from Gabe Monk (Serrano kick), 10:22.
NC--Tay Madkins 13 pass from Jordan Graham (Jackson Kane kick), :04.
Fourth Quarter
GLA--Clint Starling 20 run (Serrano kick), 6:31.
NC--Dillon McCormick 30 run (Kane kick), 4:30.

                                          NC                    GLA
First Downs                          16                       25
Total Yards                         398                     588
Rushes-Yards                25-147               50-478
Passing Yards                     251                    110
Comp.-Att.-Int.             17-42-2                6-14-0
Punts-Avg.                      4-34.0                1-41.0
Fumbles-Lost                       3-3                     4-3
Penalties-Yards                   5-54                    1-5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Nevada Community, Collin Croft 9-51, Jordan Graham 9-41, Dillon McCormick 5-40, Tay Madkins 1-19, Team 1-(-4). Gladewater, Daryl Polk 10-184, Marcello Jackson 3-120, Clint Starling 8-63, Darnell McKnight 7-33, Bryston Oliver 7-29, Terry Floyd 2-16, Isaiah Davis 5-15, Dadrian Strickland 4-15, Gabe Monk 3-4, Nick Canaguier 1-(-1).
PASSING--Nevada Community, Graham 17-42-2--251. Gladewater, Canaguier 5-10-0--97, Monk 1-4-0--13..
RECEIVING--Nevada Community, Dakota Ebarb 4-62, Tommy Heard 4-52, Madkins 3-80, Croft 2-25, Justin Graham 1-13, Brandon Hollien 1-7, Connor McClendon 1-7, McCormick 1-5. Gladewater, Cameron Calloway 3-78, Bailey Glenn 2-26, Starling 1-6.