Published: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 / Updated: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 01:41 AM

Northwestern 38, Clover 31

CLOVER -- After three quarters of solid football, Clover was leading Region 3-AAAA foe Northwestern 31-17 and appeared to be in postion to put the game away.

Northwestern's players were not thinking that way, and knew if they could come back and pull one of the biggest upsets this season in York County, maybe they could put the respect back into Trojans football.

With a quarterback the caliber of Northwestern's Justin Worley, anything is possible. Worley led his team to three fourth-quarter touchdowns and the Trojans, who started the season 0-4, won 38-31 for their third victory in four games.

Worley was, to put it mildly, amazing. He completed 37 of 46 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns. He ran for one TD from inside the Blue Eagles' 5-yard line.

Brandon Lewis caught the tying and winning touchdowns. The first was a 6-yard toss from Worley with 7:53 remaining. The second was 20-yard catch with 4:58 left.

But the difference in this one boiled down to three second-half plays: a gamble taken by Clover coach Jet Turner, a missed play call by the Blue Eagles and Clover's lone fumble.

Clover (6-2, 1-1) scored late in the third quarter and went up 31-17. Turner, known for his habit of throwing a surprise play or two at an opponent, called an onside kick. The Blue Eagles rushed down the right sideline before the Trojans knew what had hit them and were in good shape to recover.

But the ball scooted around like a greased pig and went out of bounds after a Blue Eagles player fell on it. Northwestern got the ball at its 49 and cut the score to 31-24 on Worley's 10-yard pass to Robert Joseph.

Clover had a fourth-and-1 at its 30 on the next series and was lined up to go for it. The ball was snapped to quarterback Aaron Miller and he tried to get the needed yard up the middle. He was met and drilled by Northwestern's Brandon Williams for no gain.

“I read the guard,” Williams said. “When I saw him pull, I knew what was happening. I went straight for Miller and made the play. I could tell he was going to keep it.”

But he was supposed to, and the ball should have never been snapped.

“It was a communication problem,” Turner said. “We were trying to draw them offsides and they didn't jump..... we were supposed to run the clock down to one second and call a timeout. It never should have happened, but it did and cost us.”

The Trojans (3-5, 2-0) quickly covered the 30 yards and tied the game on Lewis' 6-yard TD catch.

But the fumble was the bonecrusher, the play that all but ended Clover's hope of winning the game. Miller was hit at his 49 and the ball popped loose. When the players were pulled away from the pile, Northwestern's Williams held it high above his head to show it belonged to the Trojans.

Another quick drive. Another TD pass to Lewis. And Northwestern was ahead for the first time all night, 38-31.

“Our offense,” Northwestern coach Jimmy Wallace said. “....These guys couild have dropped their heads early in the season when we started 0-4, but they never quit and now we are proving we can compete.

“Our defense gave up some plays, but we also made some plays. When you put all of that together, I think our guys got a good win over a great football team.”

Clover was rolling early and drove 80 yards after the opening kickoff for a 7-0 lead. Miller was vital in the drive, running for 14 yards and completing passes for 37 and 21 yards to keep the Blue Eagles moving. He scored the touchdown on a 3-yard run.

Northwestern tied the game on Worley's 1-yard sneak, but Clover went up 14-7 on a blocked put. Max Elliott rushed in from the right and blocked a punt by Trojans kicker Chad Smith. Malcolm Grant scooped up the ball at the Tropjans' 26 and ran it into the end zone.

The half ended with Clover leading 17-10 on an exchange of field goals.

Northwestern's Ryan Foster connected from 30 yards away and Clover's Jonathan Faile drilled a 26-yarder late in the second quarter.

Clover had its swagger back in the second half and after a Smith punt rolled dead at the Blue Eagles 2, they drove 98 yards and scored on their first possession of the third quarter, reaching the end zone on Miller's 2-yard run for a 24-10 lead.

Northwestern cut the lead to 24-17 on a TD catch by Joseph, but Clover ushered the margin back to 14 on a 6-yard Elliott run that put Clover ahead 31-17 and set up the dramatic fourth quarter.

“When we were ahead by 14 in the third quarter, I was feeling good,” Clover defensive end Aukeem Ruff said. “But nobody on our team thought this would be an easy win for us. Northwestern didn't come in with a good record, but you can never count them out or build a lead that's safe.”

NORTHWESTERN 38, CLOVER 31

Northwestern.....7.....3.....7.....21.....--.....38

Clover.....7.....10.....14.....0.....--.....31

SCORING SUMMARY

C -- Aaron Miller 3 run (Jonathan Faile kick)

N -- Justin Worley 1 run (Ryan Foster kick)

C -- Malcolm Grant 43 blocked punt return (Faile kick)

N -- Ryan Foster 30 field goal

C -- Jonathan Faile 27 field goal

C -- Miller 2 run (Faile kick)

N -- Robert Joseph 10 pass from Worley (Foster kick)

C -- Max Elliott 6 run (Faile kick)

N -- Joseph 10 pass from Worley (Foster kick)

N -- Brandon Lewis 6 pass from Worley (Foster kick)

N -- Lewis 21 pass from Worley (Foster kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

.....NHS.....CHS

First downs.....23.....13

Rushes-yards.....25-45.....40-193

Passing yards.....348.....170

Comp.-Att.-Int...... 37-46-0.....6-10-0

Fumbles-lost.....0-0.....2-1

Penalties-Yds......7-34.....4-24

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Northwestern: Sanbobis McLeod 11-30, Justin Worley 11-10, Robert Joseph 1-6, Demario Wilson 2-(-1). Clover: Tyron Douglas 13-110, Aaron Miller 13-34, Max Elliott 8-33, Derrick Carothers 6-16.

PASSING -- Northwestern: Worley 37-46-0-348. Clover: Miller 6-10-0-170.

RECEIVING -- Joseph 16-128, Brandon lewis 7-90, Stewart Hunt 5-57, Tyler Blake 3-36, McLeod 3-4, Cody Craven 2-16, Wilson 1-7. Clover: Elliott 3-86, Evan Jackson 1-38, Brian Barrett 1-23, Douglas 1-23.