Park Hill grad contributes to Auburn's trip to National Championship game

While many kids back from college have time to enjoy at least one more week of winter break, there is one Platte County native that will be experiencing the thrill of a lifetime next week. During the 2009-2010 school year, we brought you coverage of then Park Hill athlete Steven Clark on the football field and basketball court. An All-State and nationally ranked punter for the Trojan football team, The Citizen was the only source to cover his recruitment and official signing with Auburn University early last year. After a 12-0 record capped off with an SEC Championship in December, the Auburn Tigers will face the Oregon Ducks in the BCS National Championship in Glendale, Arizona on January 10th.

Clark, a 6-5, 232 pound freshman, was thrown into the fire early this season as questions arose to whether he could perform better than the more experienced punter in front of him at the time. In the heart of their conference schedule, Clark saw action in five games from October to November. He booted nine punts averaging 34.9 yards/punt, which don't reflect the height that Clark has notariety for. Five of those punts ended in fair catches and two were downed inside the 20-yard line, two key stats punters are judged by. Probably his most successful game came against LSU when he punted three times for 112 yards in a 24-17 victory for the Tigers. In recent weeks, seniority has ruled as Auburn has decided to re-assign starting duties to senior Ryan Shoemaker, who has slightly improved. While coaches have been quoted saying Shoemaker is inconsistent, they also agree that for Clark to perform well enough to maintain the starting role over the senior would be tough for a freshman, but that he is young and has time to improve.

Glancing through both teams' rosters, you'll have to look closely to find anyone from the midwest being represented in the game. Auburn's Clark is the only player from Missouri while Oregon has one player from Kansas. So while you watch Auburn's Heisman Trophy Winner, Cam Newton, possibly lead the Tigers to a National Championship next week which they are currently favored to do, Park Hill alums and residents of Platte County can be proud that one of their own is a part of it all. Stay tuned next week for more of the Citizen's coverage of Clark's journey to the National Championship.