Blue Eagles Start Fast, Hold Off Jaguars

                Clover got the ball first and had the ball for almost the entire first quarter. The Blue Eagles were moving the ball at will but also were plagued by penalties. Clover finally capped off the first drive with less than 26 seconds left in the first quarter. Quarterback Garrett Miller put the Blue Eagles on the board with a one-yard touchdown run with a quarterback sneak. His pass to Hayden Milley for a two-point conversion put Clover on top 8-0.

                Clover extended their lead with a 36-yard run by Darell Darling. Connor Owens’s run for the two-point conversion gave Clover a 16-0 lead. The Blue Eagles’ defense stymied Forestview’s running game the entire first half. So Forestview finally took to the air. Quarterback Mac England hit Chapperal Smith on a short slant route. Smith took it 66 yards for the touchdown. Dylan Disarro’s kick for the extra point cut Clover’s lead to 16-7. That would be the score at half-time.

                The scoring slowed down in the second half, however. The only scores in the second half were a 29-yard field goal by Clover’s Nick Sciba and a three-yard touchdown run by Forestview’s Jayveon Love. Outside of that, it was missed opportunities by both teams. The Blue Eagles fumbled at their own 35-yard line in the fourth quarter, but the Jaguars would not capitalize on the miscue.

With less than two minutes left in the game, Clover appeared to go for the knock-out punch as they got close to Forestview’s end zone. But they would fumble again at the one-yard line. Once again,  the Jaguars would not capitalize. Clover holds on for the 19-13 win.

“It was amazing. Every time you got a group of kids that face that caliber of team and fight the adversity that they faced, I can’t say enough about them. We got a very special group.” said Clover head coach Chad Smith

The Blue Eagles have a bye week next week, then face South Point at home the following week.

“South Point is one of the best teams in both states. Mickey Lineberger does as good of a job as anybody and it is a privilege to get to play a team like that.” Smith said.

“We’ll show up Monday and try to get better. We saw some things we did well and saw some things we can build on. Got some kids I’m really proud of. We played against a really good football team. That region better watch out.” said Forestview head coach Chris Medlin “They were sending a lot of pressure so we had to adjust to that and find some ways to get some plays off. We had a chance there in the fourth quarter to win. We just didn’t make the plays.”

Forestview will be home again next week as they play Kings Mountain.

“They’re a good team. We got to be ready and have a good week of practice. They’ve gotten us the past couple of years.”

The win gives Clover its first 2-0 start since 2010. Forestview falls to 1-1.