Huskies Fall Short In Overtime Defeat To Clover

                We have all heard the saying “Football is a game of inches” and that the one yard you are trying to get is the toughest yard. Those statements couldn’t be any truer as the Hunter Huss lost 42-41 in overtime to Clover off a failed two-point conversion play that was just inches short of the goal line.

                Football is also a game of momentum swings, opportunities and missed opportunities. There were plenty of those throughout the game. A Clover fumble early in the game put the Huskies in business. The Huskies made it to Clover’s four-yard line but were backed up with penalties that pushed them to the 30-yard line. But it didn’t seem to matter as quarter Zo Wallace connected with WR/backup QB Crawford Chandler for a 30-yard touchdown strike.

Later in the first quarter, the Huskies would return the favor. They would also fumble deep into their own territory setting the Blue Eagles up in great field position. Blue Eagles quarterback Garrett Miller answered the score with a one-yard touchdown run. The Huskies put themselves in grave danger with a fumble on the kickoff return. But two plays later, the Huskies would still it back with a sack and forced fumble of Miller. But Hunter Huss would not be able to capitalize.

 Miller would give the Blue Eagles the lead in the second quarter with a 24-yard touchdown run. Miller would use his arm late in the quarter to extend the lead when he connected with Jaylin Lane for a 43-yard touchdown pass. Nick Sciba was 3-for-3 on extra points in the first half.

The second half would see a huge momentum swing as it became the Crawford Chandler show. The Huskies stuck to the ground and pound game for most of the second half, but it was a 12-yard touchdown pass from Wallace to Chandler that got the second half party started. The Eagles would answer immediately with another Miller touchdown pass to Lane. This one was from 43 yards out. The score was 28-14.

Then Crawford Chandler went to work. Taking a direct snap from center at the 20-yard line, he found a big hole and took it the distance for an 80-yard touchdown run. His 27-yard run early in the fourth quarter tied the game. His 42-yard touchdown run gave the Huskies the lead for the first time since the first quarter with seven minutes to go. Trevor Hargett was 5-for-5 on extra point kicks.

The Blue Eagles did not go away however. David Hall answered the bell for Clover with a 23-yard touchdown run. Sciba’s extra point kick tied it with just under three minutes to go at 35-35. Backed up at their own three-yard line, Wallace completed a deep pass to Chase Nixon that put it just inside the 50 at the Clover 49-yard line. But an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty would back them up to the 36. The Huskies could not move it any further and were forced to punt close to the end of regulation.

In overtime, the Blue Eagles got the ball first and on the first play, Miller took it the whole ten yards for a touchdown. Sciba would remain perfect with his kicks at 6-for-6. With the help of a Clover facemask penalty on the first play, the Huskies were set up at the five-yard line. Dallas Danner was just one-yard short of getting in, but Zo Wallace finished it with a quarterback sneak into the end zone.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Clover moved the Huskies half the distance on their extra point try and they opted for the win on the two-point conversion. But the Blue Eagles defense stifled the attempt. The Blue Eagles have defeated all their Gastonia opponents, Ashbrook (56-26), Forestview (41-5) and Hunter Huss (42-41), but they face another Gaston County opponent next week as they travel to South Point in Belmont. Hunter Huss will face Hickory on Friday.