Poway High’s Clifford gets repeat honor for outstanding play against Ramona

After each Poway High football game, a player is honored for outstanding play by being awarded “The Rock.”

Poway’s James Clifford was singled out for his performance against Ramona a week ago, after catching a pair of touchdown passes and collecting two sacks on defense.

He took it home and put it on a trophy shelf where he has two others from last year.

A rock? Coach Brandon Harris explains.

“Before home games, the players go past a big rock on the edge of the field and we all touch it for good luck,” said Harris. “Members of the cheer squad came up with the idea of awarding a smaller rock to an outstanding player each week. It’s a badge of honor.”

That Clifford won the rock multiple times was no surprise to Harris, who guided the Titans to the section Division 2 title a year ago and heads into tomorrow night’s game at home against San Marcos with a 2-0 record.

“I’ve been coaching this game for a while and the only player I can compare to Cliff (that’s what Harris calls him) is Zach Miller when he was at Desert Vista High (in Tempe, Ariz.),” the coach said. “Zach had a motor that never stopped and it took him to Arizona State and then a career in the NFL.

“That’s the way Cliff plays — all out, 100 percent. Zach was only 6-4 while Cliff is 6-7, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Cliff has similar success. He’s right there. Zach wasn’t getting any offers until Miami came after him (when Miami was a powerhouse) and once that happened, everyone wanted him.

“The thing is, James plays both ways at tight end and defensive end, and I can’t tell you where he fits best.”

Neither can Clifford, although he admits favoring tight end — slightly.

“I like going out running a route and catching the ball,” said Clifford, who has caught a pair of touchdowns in each of the wins against Scripps Ranch and Ramona, earning Poway the No. 8 ranking in the section according to the Union-Tribune.

“Usually, I just get into the end zone and there aren’t many defensive backs who can defend 6-7. The quarterback throws the ball up and I catch it. I did catch a two-point conversion once to win a game — that was special.”

Mind you, Clifford is also a tenacious blocker as well as an almost unstoppable left side rusher on defense who uses his 4.7 speed in the 40 and gigantic wingspan to reach the quarterback before he’s expecting it.

Asked which side of the ball he thinks Clifford is best, Harris says, “the Titan side of the ball. He’s just a terror out there.”

Clifford is fielding college offers and, as a Mormon, his dream school would be BYU, but he may also skip a couple of years to go on a mission like his brother David, who is in Indiana.

“He’s very competitive but he’s not a rah-rah kid,” Harris said. “It’s a mistake to think he’s not into it because he’s quiet but he’s ready on every play. It’s no accident players who have success come prepared.

“Whether he’s a tight end or defensive end, he can pick his own path. I suspect if he plays defensive end he’ll put on some weight, but he wouldn’t need to do that at tight end. The thing is he does whatever is asked of him.

“I remember one play that I had our film guy run over and over and over. Cliff lined up and with a jackknife move he was on the quarterback in two steps. I called that the million-dollar play. He just swallowed up that quarterback.”

Clifford, who carries a 4.01 GPA, says the Titans are way ahead of last year when they won the section Division 2 title with a late surge.

“It took us a while to get used to new coach but once we were comfortable, we put it together. We already had the background starting this year,” said Clifford, who plays the guitar as a form of relaxation. “As for my size, I’ve always been the tallest in my grade. I remember in third grade I was taller than my teacher.”

Basically, Clifford is a solid player, and he has “The Rock” awards to prove it.