CLAYTON, N.C. — Second-half adjustments rarely turn out as neatly as the ones Clayton made on Friday night to stay undefeated and hand Southeast Raleigh its first loss.

The Comets turned its first four possessions of the second half — all but the final one, which ran out the clock — into points to take down Southeast Raleigh 36-13.

Clayton (6-0, 3-0) got two touchdowns apiece from running back Terris Hobbs and quarterback Aiden Smalls, who added one through the year late to get some much-needed cushion.

A 63-yard touchdown pass from Smalls to Damarius McKoy with 7:25 left made it 30-13 to make it a three-score game.

Smalls was 10-of-17 passing for 172 yards and one touchdown, and had 19 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns. McKoy had six receptions for 115 yards and one score.

Hobbs, filling in for the injured Noah Smith, had 20 carries for 82 yards.

Clayton led just 13-7 at halftime but reeled off three touchdowns and a field goal to put away the Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1). It also helped that the Comets defense held Southeast Raleigh to 4.8 yards per carry and 7-of-23 passing.

Southeast Raleigh, which hasn’t had a winning season since 2016, is off to its best start in years and will try to exceed last year’s win total next week.

The Bulldogs found the end zone with 1.9 seconds left in the first quarter on a 39-yard pass from Ty Powell to Marlon Allen and a 25-yard run by Damonte Adams IV with 9:02 left in the fourth.

The Comets entered the game ranked fifth in the 919 area code, while Southeast Raleigh was seventh.

SCORING SUMMARY

1Q
CLA — Aiden Smalls 1-yd TD run, XP blocked (6-0, 8:51)
CLA — Terris Hobbs 7-yd TD run, XP good (13-0, 2:31)
SER — Ty Powell 39-yard TD pass to Marlon Allen, XP good (13-7, 1.9)
3Q
CLA — Terris Hobbs 2-yd TD run, XP good (20-7, 6:31)
4Q
CLA — Chris Mejia 28-yard FG (23-7, 11:40)
SER — Damonte Adams IV 25-yard run (23-13, 9:02)
CLA — Aiden Smalls 63-yard TD pass to Damarius McKoy (30-13, 7:25)
CLA — Aiden Smalls 1-yard TD run, XP blocked (36-13, 1:32)

FINAL STATS

Passing: Clayton — Aiden Smalls (10-17 passing, 172 yards, 1 TD). Southeast Raleigh — Ty Powell (7-23 passing, 103 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).
Rushing: Clayton — Aiden Smalls (19 carries, 142 yards, 2 TDs); Terris Hobbs (20 carries, 82 yards, 2 TDs); Kaleil Hamilton (1 carry, 4 yards). Southeast Raleigh — Ty Powell (5 carries, 17 yards); James Adams IV (6 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD); Christian Freeman (8 carries, 24 yards); Damonte Garner (8 carries, 32 yards); Ian Lee (1 carry, 9 yards).
Receiving: Clayton — Damarius McKoy (6 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD); Tyler Campbell (1 reception, 9 yards); River Fiore (3 receptions, 48 yards). Southeast Raleigh — Marlon Allen (4 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD); Damonte Garner (2 receptions, 33 yards); Adam Saunders (1 reception, 10 yards).

Source: highschoolot.com