It has been a long time coming for Shyhiem Clark, but the planets have finally aligned for his optimal success. Clark, the son of Lorenzo Rivers and Ann (Terrial) Wilson, has been one of the main weapons in 2016 for the Pierce County Bears. Through the first four games, the 5’8”, 160-pound senior was one of the sparkplugs for a PCHS offense that averaged 38 points per game. Clark was the feature back through the first half of the season, with 53 carries for 390 yards (7.4 avg.) and seven touchdowns. He also had six catches for 58 yards (9.7 avg.) and one scoring grab.
“Shyhiem has made tremendous strides, just tremendous,” said PCHS head coach Sean Pender. “When he first came out for football, he was an undersized kid. He was kind of just out there because his brother was out there, and he was caught up in the wrong people. This summer, he decided to change his ways. He’s been dedicated and has been working extremely hard, and it started to show on the practice field. He has been practicing at 100 miles an hour and is easily the guy that has improved the most on our team from one year to the next.”
Clark first hit the gridiron as an eight-year-old in the Patterson recreation league. He recalled those teams as having had great success, including an all-star championship, while playing for coach Darrell Hunter. Clark then moved up to play for Pierce County Middle School in the seventh and eighth grades.
“I didn’t really get much playing time in middle school; I played a little bit of defense my eighth grade year,” Clark said. “I guess I just wasn’t all the way into football then the way I am now. I didn’t show it on the field. I didn’t show it to the coaches in a way where they could give me a starting position.”
By his sophomore season, Clark was poised to compete for backfield time with the JV, but a knee injury ultimately wrecked that season. After rehab, he pitched in as a scout team member at the end of the varsity season. “It hurt watching everybody else play while I had to stay on the sideline,” Clark said. “But that break was all about making me stronger and working harder.”
Coaches took notice, and opportunity soon knocked again for Clark. However, a violation of team rules resulted in his sitting out spring practice. He picked up a couple of jobs in the summer, but in doing so missed those workouts. Consequently, he was relegated to playing defense due to unfamiliarity with the newest offensive schemes.
“I played free safety, corner, and ranger (covering deep middle thirds),” Clark said. “I was mad because I really wanted to be on offense, but what really motivated me was when Coach (Kip) Burdette didn’t play me in the last couple of games. That’s when I really wanted to go harder.”
On defense, Clark tallied 16 solo tackles and 28 assists, including 1.5 tackles for loss with an interception for the Bears, who chalked up a 7-4 record in 2015. PCHS opted against holding spring drills in favor of picking up an extra fall scrimmage. Clark, though, was a mainstay during summer workouts this go-around.
“This summer I tried to come every day so I could make something of myself,” Clark said. “This is my last year, and I wanted to make my family proud. I was tired of getting in trouble. I put it in my mind to change and do whatever I could to make an impression on Coach Pender and let him know I’m ready to be a running back this year.”
Clark also worked hard in the weight room, where his max totals now include 230 pounds on the bench press, 340 in squats, and 230 on cleans. He also helps maintain his 4.6 speed as a member of the track team in the spring. Since eighth grade he has competed in the 100-meter, 200m, and 400m events as well as the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. That speed and power were evident through the early part of the Bears’ 2016 slate. He scored four touchdowns on the ground in the season opener against Bacon County and added three more a week later against Beach.
“Against Bacon, my adrenaline was pumping,” Clark said. “But if it weren’t for our line and our receivers blocking for me, I wouldn’t have scored. And I can’t forget about my mom the night before giving me a motivational speech and telling me to put God first. She always says that and also not to let the hype get to me. And my grandparents always bring God into it and tell me to put Him first.”
Family is of utmost importance to Clark, whose older siblings include two sisters, Shyquilla Rivers and Iesha Clark, and a brother, Lorenzo Clark, all of whom graduated from PCHS. Lorenzo Clark played football for PCHS two years ago and now wrestles at Brewton-Parker. Other family influences included an aunt, Beatrice Burton, along with a cousin, Michael, and grandparents Vivian and Fleming Milledge Sr.
“I asked Shyhiem if he thought I was a leader or a follower, and he said, ‘a leader,’” Fleming Milledge said. “And I said, ‘Well, that’s what I think of you.’ One thing I talk to Shyhiem about all the time is his temper. I say, ‘Think twice and speak once. Don’t just let things jump out of your mouth.’”
“I talk to him about temptation and tell him it’s easy to get off the right track but harder to get back on,” Vivian Milledge said. “Whenever he’s here, he is well mannered and loving, and he finds something to do. He’s kind to elderly people, too.”
With an eye on engineering, Clark also considers a career in masonry as an option in following in his grandfather’s footsteps. He credited countless hours as a brick laborer for his current physical state. “I didn’t have weight training until my 10th grade year,” Clark said. “I’d have to pile blocks, mix mortar, and stuff like that. When you’ve got to hand blocks up the scaffold, that’s a workout. That’s really how I got ripped.”
Clark, who attends Evergreen Church near Bristol, listed 1 John 4:4 and Philippians 4:13 among his favorite Bible verses. His mom remains foremost among his spiritual cheerleaders and credited one particular recitation with helping keep her son grounded in faith. Wilson said, “We have this thing at church that my pastor has our young people say: ‘I have potential. I can do whatever God says I can do. I can be whatever God says I can be. I can have whatever God says I can have. I’m a warrior. I’m a winner. I’m a champion. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’”
“Shy has stepped up as a leader in our position group. He leads all station work and is usually the one encouraging others to give better effort. His willingness to give maximum effort between the whistles makes him the ball player he is today.” – Brandon Jernigan, PCHS running backs and assistant head coach
“Shyhiem is the most improved player on our offensive unit from last year to this season. He had a great summer through all the padded camps and his transition from defense to offense. He has had to learn the offensive playbook and learn how to read blocks and take care of the football. Even though he is the ‘most improved’ I hope he still continues to strive for greatness this season and does not become satisfied at where he is at right now. – Garrett Grady, PCHS offensive coordinator
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Warrior – Winner – Champion
Written by John DuPont
Photo by Jennifer Carter Johnson
