Clayton High School football grinds out an opening-night road win over Wake Forest

A season ago, Clayton made sure everyone knew it was serious about contending for a deep playoff run with an emphatic season-opening win over another team expected to be in that same conversation: Wake Forest.

Friday, the Comets did it again, with a new cast of characters. After going ahead with five minutes to play in the second quarter on a fumble return for a touchdown — the defense doing the job again for Clayton — the Comets shut down Wake Forest in the second, scored twice more and ran off with a 36-21 road win.

Aiden Smalls, a junior transfer from Cardinal Gibbons with multiple college offers — including N.C. State, Duke and Coastal Carolina — has taken over at quarterback for Clayton this season, while Kavon Simmons — a Duke commit — is again at the helm at Wake Forest.

Clayton will take its 1-0 record into its home-opener against Holly Springs next weekend, while Wake Forest will look to rebound against the stout defense of South Garner on the road.

It’s worth noting Wake Forest ran off six consecutive wins after its opening loss to Clayton a year ago, while the Comets dropped their next contest before reeling off seven in a row.