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closeCLOVER — Can’t help it. Gotta say it.
Offense puts fannies in the seats, but defense wins football games.
The Rock Hill Bearcats’ defense had one big play left in their 20-13 win over Clover on Friday at Memorial Stadium after almost giving the game away on offense.
The Bearcats were up 20-13 with 2:31 remaining and all they needed were a couple of first downs to run the clock down to zero.
Good plan. Bad execution.
On a second-and-12 from their 28, Bearcats quarterback Jatavious Stewart handed off to Jamal Tyler up the middle. Tyler broke free and was caught at the 43 after a 15-yard gain and a Rock Hill first down.
As he was going down, Tyler had the ball stripped and it ended up in the hands of Clover’s Aukeem Ruff.
It was the break the Blue Eagles needed to tie or win the game with a 2-point conversion. They never had a chance.
On first down, Clover quarterback Aaron Miller tossed a pass over the middle to Tyron Douglas. It hit him in the hands in full stride, but he bobbled the ball and it slipped off his finger tips.
Rock Hill’s Savion Thoms reached in and snatched the ball out of the air, giving the Bearcats another chance to run out the clock. This time, they did it.
“Our defense played another good game and our offense played a little better tonight,’’ Rock Hill coach Joe Montgomery said. “We may have gotten too conservative in the second half. Randall (Dixon) was throwing the ball well, so maybe we should have left him in and let him pass more.’’
Hindsight is an easy thing, but Dixon completed four-of-six passes for 76 yards. Stewart, who started, was six-of-eight for 58 more.
While the Bearcats’ defense shined, kicker Brandon Berger came out of his slump. He kicked field goals from 41 and 33 yards, made both extra points he attempted and had a pair of touchbacks on kickoffs.
“One of my teachers, Bill Tendall, taped our game last week that was on TV,’’ said Berger. “We saw I was planting way too close to the ball. I worked on it all week and think I’m back on track.’’
Rock Hill scored on its second possession, using a short field to get on the board. The Bearcats started 55 yards away after forcing a Clover punt, and got to the Blue Eagles’ 4 on Jamal Tyler’s 33-yard run.
On third down from the 2, quarterback Jatavious Stewart ran a sneak up the middle for the touchdown and Berger’s PAT put the ’Cats ahead, 7-0.
Clover was in punt formation on the third play of the second quarter when Rock Hill’s defense made its first big play. The Bearcats rushed hard and Ty Blackmon blocked the kick and made the recovery, giving the Bearcats the ball at the Blue Eagles’ 39.
The Bearcats stalled, but didn’t come away empty. Berger came in and nailed his first field goal of the game, the 41-yarder.
Down 10-0, the Blue Eagles started a scoring drive with 7:34 left in the half. It covered 80 yards and was vintage Clover, but minus fullback Ricky Moore on the sideline with a concussion.
In his absence, Tyron Douglas, Max Elliott and Thomas Evans shared the carries. Elliott, who gained 42 yards on the drive, capped it with an 18-yard run up the middle.
“Give Rock Hill credit,’’ Clover coach Jet Turner said. “We made mistakes and they took advantage of them. We made some big fourth-down plays, but had them called back because of penalties.’’
Clover put on another drive to start the second half, going 82 yards to tie the game. All 12 plays were on the ground, the final a 2-yard Douglas run into the end zone.
The TD tied the game at 13 and Clover could have taken the lead for the first time. But Dominique Cathcart blocked the extra point attempt to keep the score knotted.
Rock Hill capped the scoring on the ensuing possession, going 72 yards to take a 20-13 lead. The touchdown came on Jerante Hood’s 5-yard run up the middle. Clover rushed for 240 yards, 110 by Elliott, but failed to complete a pass. “Too many mistakes,’’ Elliott said. “It was tough not having Ricky back, but we should have won anyway. We get next week off. We’ll be able to heal and get ready for Fort Mill.’’
ROCK HILL 20, CLOVER 13
Rock Hill.....7.....6.....7.....0.....—.....20
Clover.....0.....7.....6.....0.....—.....13
SCORING SUMMARY
RH — Jatavious Stewart 2 run (Brandon Berger kick)
RH — Berger 41 field goal
CL — Max Elliott 18 run (Joshua Varalli kick)
RH — Brandon Berger 33 field goal
CL — Tyron Douglas 2 run (kick blocked)
RH — Jerante Hood 5 run (Berger kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
.....CHS.....RHHS
First downs.....19.....15
Rushes-yards.....51-336.....34-118
Comp-Att-Int .....0-4-1.....10-14-0
Passing yards.....0.....134
Fumbles-lost.....2-0.....3-2
Penalties-yards.....6-50.....9-60
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Rock Hill: Jamal Tyler 13-60, Hood 9-29, Stewart 10-38, Randall Dixon 2-(-9). Clover: Douglas 2-183, Chris Lindsay 2-2, Aaron Miller 4-5, Max Elliott 17-110, Phillip Witner 5-36.
PASSING — Rock Hill: Dixon 4-6-76-0, Stewart 6-8-58-0. Clover: Miller 0-4-0-1.
RECEIVING — Rock Hill: Xavier McFadden 4-27, Tyler 1-1, Stewart 1-14, Jon Key 1-8, Asa Watson 3-84.
RECORDS — Rock Hill 3-1; Clover 3-2
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