Clarke Central rolls Cedar Shoals with new QB, 6th consecutive crosstown showdown win

Senior quarterback Hezekiah Millender is exactly what the Clarke Central High football team needs this year. And he was a key part of the Gladiators' sixth consecutive win over Cedar Shoals, 42-3.

The three-star recruit from Goodyear, Ariz., who already has eight college offers under his belt and interest blooming from across the nation, is simply that good. He said he moved here in January looking for more eyes to turn his way and build his recruitment portfolio. Georgia football is definitely its own unique beast, but not so different from Arizona, he said — both swelteringly hot states rich with competitive nature.

The rivalry sure lived up to the hype, though.

"I'm happy to be a Gladiator," Millender said, grinning. "We know what happened last year, and we all know where we want to be this year. It's all happening naturally. We'll hang out, work out, play the game and have fun."

He has an arm, the accuracy, the ability to call shots and find his guys in like senior running back Corey Watkins Jr. in the backfield clearly.

And he can also run the ball. A quality that's important in quarterbacks, the ability to dodge and weave when people like Watkins Jr. are locked up by defenders — though, for Watkins Jr., that's rarely a problem in itself.

During his junior year at Desert Edge, he completed 158 of 238 passing attempts for 2,448 yards and 26 touchdowns, leading his team to their classification's state championship game.

"Most of the time, well, he hadn't been tackled," coach David Perno said. "I knew that dynamic was pretty special, and he showed it tonight. He's elusive. ... I think he's just got to read a little better and make some throws instead of running it all the time.

In the first half on Thursday evening of the annual Classic City Championship, Millender connected with his teammates five different times, and rushed once himself, putting the Gladiators up 42-3 by halftime over their cross-town rival Cedar Shoals.

Watkins Jr. was two of those scores in the second quarter, as was sophomore wide receiver La'gracion Little — the electric rookie was said to have been invited to a Georgia camp this summer. Senior tight end Xayvion Berry and junior tight end Jamir Hall were also highlights, each scoring in the first quarter.

"He makes my job easier, it's amazing," Watkins Jr. said. "They knew they had more pressure (tonight) because they couldn't just worry about me, they also had to worry about him. ... He's always ready to work, he's always down. If someone doesn't know the play, he always speaks up. He's not afraid to speak up."

There's still lessons to be learned, a groove to be found, as Perno pointed out, but tonight's showing is a tally in the pro column for the rejuvenated red and gold.

Next week, Clarke Central will host Oconee County and Cedar Shoals will travel to Monroe Area.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Clarke Central rolls Cedar Shoals with new QB, 6th consecutive crosstown showdown win