You could say that sophomore Quarterback Clay Games got his first real taste of high school football action in his first varsity start on August 17, 2018 when Elizabethtown hosted powerful Franklin –Simpson. The Wildcats were a big team up front and as they showed the KY football world when they won th 4-A State Title, their O-line and D-line caused problems for the Panthers all night long. The young passer could not have asked for a tougher introduction into the varsity football world. As a result, Games was forced to put the ball in the air to produce an offensive push and he would throw 39-times completing 14 for 137-yards in the 44-20 loss. I was told later on that was the most passes a quarterback had thrown during a Mark Brown coached team at Elizabethtown (not sure about all-time). It was the beginning of an 0-3 start for the Panthers, but as Games became more comfortable in the pocket the team went on a 6-0 run on the way to a 8-5 finish. The 6’3 athlete would have a great first season completing 105-passes for 1,600-yards and 18-touchdowns. He also saw his season come to an end as LaRue County spoiled their Final Four hopes with a 40-32 loss. To make matters worse, Games was injuried on the last play of the game and would miss basketball season.
Still, the tall talented athlete would come back strong the following year as Elizabethtown returned a strong team and went 9-3 scoring 457-points. Games had a marvelous junior season as a passer completing 90-of-137-passes for 1,552-yards and 23-sixes against just 6 to the wrong team and had proven that he had made the adjustment to the Mark Brown offense in his second season as well. He had proven that he had recovered fully from his injury and appeared on his way until another injury, this time in basketball sidelined him for the rest of the season. So far, Games appears to have recovered from that as well and should be ready to go come the start of the season.
With all the uncertainty of the season’s beginning along with the cancellation of all spring sports after the middle of March, it has been a strange journey for Clay Games. He most definitely has the physical tools to play college ball at some level, but because of the cancellation of football camps, the lack of exposure might hurt his chances of the even bigger picture of D-1 offers from scouts.
The 2020 Football season was a joy for Games and his new head coach Ross Brown. The Panthers rolled through an abreviated schedule leading the way as a No.1 team in Class 3-A. Their 8-0 record has really spotlighted an offense which has averaged 40-points a game and the quarterback has completed 89-of-141-passes for 1,401-yards and 20-touchdowns while throwing zero interceptions and a runningback game consisting of several backs and a defense which has been lights out and their journey to the Class A State Championship game was a trip that both he and the team took everyone from Elizabethtown with to Kroger Field in Lexington. Even their loss to powerful Ashland Blazer couldn’t completely stify the magical 2020 season.
For the young Quarterback, college life is the road ahead and certainly plenty of more adventure and success, but no matter what happens on of off the football team, Games should be able to handle it with confidence as he has proven that he’s a hard guy to keep down.
Which is why he is the 2020-2021 The Sporting Times Fall Co-Athlete of the Year.
