“I was a huge fan of the Oklahoma Sooners because my dad grew up watching them and my favorite player of all time has to be DeMarco Murray. I copied my running style from him,” Clark said.

Not long after Murray moved on from the Sooners to the Dallas Cowboys, Clark started standing out in the local National Youth Sports football league.

His future Shadow Ridge coach, Bob Chappelle, was able to see him play from age 11.

“My son (Jack) is a junior and Michael and him played NYS together. I knew from back then that he was a hard-running kid. I was always worried that he wasn’t real big. He was a little thin and I was like, ‘Dude, you’re going to knock yourself out when you’re out there,’” Chappelle said.

Perhaps it’s fitting then, that the young and undersized back learned from and was inspired by 5-5 dynamo Scotty Nixon for his first two years. Nixon now plays for OUAZ.

As a junior, Clark took part in a throwback style of tradition — playing fullback for an I-formation team that ran very heavily.

He often ran the trap and belly plays.

“By the end of last year, we had total confidence in him. He has great vision. By the last three or four games of the year, he was carrying 10 to 15 times a game for us,” Chappelle said.

Isaiah Mercado and Mikey Lyon were back as offensive line starters. Juniors Jack Chappelle, Justin Hernandez and Chris Stoica moved up from JV and quickly reformed their bond with Clark.

They quickly gelled again.

“I was ready all summer and working for it. And I knew if I worked hard for it, I would be where I am right now,” Clark said. “I played with Mikey and Isaiah in the past. We always had a great chemistry and it was easy for us to click.”

Chappelle said his top runner is a one- cut-and-go style of back. So he is not surprised Clark flourished in a more traditional offensive set.