News - Sports

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

Byrnes 48, Clover 7

DUNCAN — Clover surrendered two touchdowns in the final minute of the first half as Byrnes opened up a close game and ran away with a 48-7 victory over Clover on a very chilly night at Byrnes High School.

The matchup pitted both Class AAAA state champions from a year ago. Clover was the Division II champion, but moved up for this season and drew perennial power Byrnes in the second round.

The Blue Eagles (9-4) and their version of the wing-T offense never got off the ground against the Rebels. Clover gained just 96 yards in the first half, 59 of which came on a fake punt that highlighted the Blue Eagles’ performance.

Clover forced three Byrnes interceptions but had no answer for quarterback Chas Dodd and highly touted tailback Marcus Lattimore. Byrnes’ potent offense did little wrong, piling up 413 yards. Dodd amassed 262 yards and tossed five touchdown passes, while Lattimore gained 106 yards on the ground.

Byrnes (12-1) scored first on a 4-yard touchdown strike with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter on the Rebels’ second possession.

After the ensuing kickoff, Clover failed to gain a first down in three plays, but true to Clover coach Jet Turner’s mentality, the Eagles gambled and faked a punt on fourth down. Starting quarterback Aaron Miller also moonlighted as the Eagles punter and threw a fade pass to Chris Lindsay for a 59-yard scoring strike to tie the game at 7.

Clover had a shot to take the lead after Lindsay intercepted Dodd on the Rebels’ first drive of their next drive, giving the Blue Eagles’ excellent field position and a shot to take the lead.

The Blue Eagles failed to move the ball and could not regain momentum.

Clover kept the Rebels within striking distance for much of the first half. The Blue Eagles trailed by just a touchdown and were driving into Byrnes territory with just over three minutes remaining. But the Blue Eagles turned the ball over on downs, and the Rebels’ offense kicked into high gear.

Dodd found Torian Richardson for an 8-yard score with 1:07 remaining in the half. The Rebels recovered a pooch kick on the following kickoff and capitalized with a Ricco Sanders’ 18-yard reception.

The season came to a disappointing end for Clover, despite losing nine starters and its starting quarterback from last season’s championship squad.

“I am proud of how hard these kids have worked, and I am proud to be a part of this team,” Turner said. “No one expected us to get as far as we did, and I just can’t say enough good things about Byrnes. They are an excellent football team.”

Byrnes advances to the state semifinals where they will square off against Dorman in a much-anticipated rematch of the Rebels’ only loss of the season.

BYRNES 48, CLOVER 7

Clover.....7.....0.....0.....0.....—.....7

Byrnes.....7.....20.....7.....14.....—.....48

SCORING SUMMARY

B — Nick Jones 4 pass from Chas Dodd (Jordan Miller kick)

C — Chris Lindsay 59 pass from Aaron Miller (Joshua Varalli kick)

B — Dodd 1 run (Miller kick)

B — Toran Richardson 8 pass from Dodd (Miller kick)

B — Ricco Sanders 19 pass from Dodd (kick blocked)

B — Daniel Cleveland 2 pass from Dodd (Miller kick)

B — Sanders 60 pass from Dodd (Miller kick)

B — Jazz King 8 pass from Alex Cunningham (Miller kick)

.....BHS.....CHS

First downs.....23.....9

Rushes-yards.....28-143.....44-110

Comp-Att-Int.....22-30-3.....2-9-0

Passing yards.....277......65

Fumbles-lost.....0-0.....1-1

Penalties-yards.....6-76.....3-24

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Byrnes: Marcus Lattimore 17-106, Torian Richardson 1-13, Jones 2-6, Shakeem Wharton 4-9, Dodd 2-9. Clover: Tyron Douglas 24-55, Miller 7-31, Max Elliot 10-17, Lindsay 3-7.

PASSING — Byrnes: Dodd 20-26-2-262, Cunningham 2-4-1-15. Clover: Miller 2-9-0-65.

RECEIVING — Byrnes: Richardson 7-58, Sanders 5-116, King 4-56, Lattimore 3-34, Cleveland 2-6, Warton 1-7. Clover: Josh Clawson 1-59, Lindsay 1-6.

RECORDS — Byrnes 12-1; Clover 9-4