Clark has big night in blowout win
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AKRON, Ohio - It has been a smooth transition so far for Ohio State quarterback commit Danny Clark after transferring to Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban in the off-season. Clark and Hoban improved to 5-0 on Friday night with a convincing 48-7 win over Walsh Jesuit.
"This win was different for us than any other one," said Clark. "Of course we had a big win last week versus (Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary) but I've only been here a little bit and I know what our relationship is like with Walsh and it isn't too friendly. To come out here and get a win for the seniors and the people in the stands, it really means a lot. We were hitting on all cylinders."
Clark used his arm strength on Friday night to cut through the windy conditions. After sailing one over the middle early in the game, he found a groove late in the first quarter and never looked back.
"It was definitely whipping when we first got out here," Clark said of the windy conditions. "I was just trying to rely on my mechanics and throw as tight of a spiral as I could. I think one or two balls sailed on me early and I was pretty mad so I was over on the sideline trying to get it right. I just relied on my mechanics to make sure I was getting the ball flying through the air the right way."
Clark finished with 208 yards (200 in the first half) and three touchdowns, capping off one of his best individual performances of his high school career so far.
"I definitely thought it was one of my best games," he said. "Our line was blocking hard and Todd (Sibley) was running his butt off. When you have a running back who does that, it opens up the pass so much more. It was just a great game."
While Clark's number one focus is on his teammates and winning a state championship, he continues to be a key part of the Ohio State recruiting process. A five-star wide recceiver prospect remains his biggest priority right now in his role as a recruiter.
"We're still trying to get Trevon," he said. "We're still trying to get Grimes."
Givler's Take:
I've watched Danny Clark throw the ball a lot over the past three years. In camp settings, in 7-on-7's and in games. This was the best I can remember him throwing the football. The conditions were far from ideal on Friday night, it was cold and very windy, and Clark's ball really cut through the wind.
Clark made quick and smart decisions throughout the night and then delivered the football with zip and accuracy. His maturation process was most evident on a beautifully designed and setup screen pass where he manipulated the defense with a look into the flats before dropping the ball over the middle to wide receiver Jonah Morris who did the rest.
His red zone accuracy was also improved, as his three-yard touchdown pass into a tight window was among his best throws of the game. Very encouraging performance for the 2017 signal caller.
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