Senior quarterback Jaylen Mbakwe threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more as Clay-Chalkville ran roughshod over arch-rival Pinson Valley with a 41-0 rout in a Class 6A, Region 6 contest.

Mbakwe’s night started quietly as the Alabama commit opened the game 0-for-3 on the Cougars’ first three possessions. But the Clay-Chalkville offense rallied and Mbakwe finished the night 13-for-21 for 256 yards with a pair of touchdown passes — one for 45 yards and one for 42 — to wideout Mario Craver and a 17-yarder to Taurus Chambers.

Mbakwe also scored twice on the ground, a 2-yard burst up the middle to put the Class 6A second-ranked Cougars (3-0, 2-0) up 14-0 in the second quarter and a 21-yarder with 8:16 left in the game to push the score to 34-0.

For Pinson Valley (1-2, 0-2), it was a long night filled with penalties. The Indians had more than double the number of penalties (18) than first downs (7) for the game.

“It’s just execution,” said Clay-Chalkville head coach Drew Gilmer. “We missed on a couple of deep shots early. They weren’t off too bad, but we just missed. We didn’t capitalize on some big plays or scoring possessions that we could have. But in the second half our guys made adjustments.”

The Cougars defense forced six three-and-outs while limiting Pinson Valley quarterback Keyone Posey to 12-for-26 passing for 109 yards. The Cougars’ Rod Ivy forced the game’s lone turnover, intercepting Posey and killing an Indians drive in the third quarter.

“Coming in here and starting behind the sticks was hard. First and fifteen, first and twenty,” said Pinson Valley head coach Gentrell Eatman. “We just had a lot of penalties. The referees threw a lot of flags …. that’s the main thing. Starting behind the sticks a lot really hurt us and then keeping our defense out on the field too long.”

This is Clay-Chalkville’s third straight victory over Pinson Valley in a rivalry game between two 6A schools separated by about three miles. The players know one another well, with senior defensive back Tevis Metcalf transferring to Clay-Chalkville from Pinson Valley for his senior year. He’s a team captain for the Cougars.

“Coming from Pinson over here … I never really knew these guys (because of the rivalry),” Metcalf said. “I never really talked to them, but the culture they have here, if you are a hard worker you’re going to play and you’re going to be a leader.”

— Play of the Game: Clay-Chalkville’s Aaron Osley broke a 60-yard touchdown run on the Cougars’ third possession of the game to snap a scoreless tie and give Clay-Chalkville the edge it needed.

–By The Numbers: Osley had 99 yards and a score on six carries in the first half. He ended the night with 132 yards and a TD. Clay-Chalkville also racked up its share of penalties with eight, but also totaled 18 first downs for the game.

Game ball:  Mbakwe’s five-TD performance was the offensive explosion the Cougars were hoping for.

—Coachspeak: “Assuming we did everything they (the referees) said we did, that’s the main thing, starting behind the sticks so much.” — Eatman

—They Said it: “It’s just all coming together as a team and bonding and listening to what the coaches are telling us. We’re learning and growing and playing together as an offense.” — Mbakwe

“At practice my coach always teaches me to push through two, turn back to the quarterback. I got my eyes back to the quarterback and got my eyes on the ball.” — Ivy

“He sets the tone for our entire program, for our community, for our school. He’s a guy that everyone looks up to. He leads in the right way, and he’s a heck of an athlete and a competitor. He’s a winner, and winners follow winners.” — Gilmer on the importance of Mbakwe to the Cougars’ success

—Next Week: Clay-Chalkville travels to Center Point while Pinson Valley hosts Oxford.