High school football preview: Clover Blue Eagles

Basics

Coach: Chad Smith, third year

Career record: 35-47

Last year: 3-8, 2-4 in Region 3-4A

Assistant coaches: Chris Bunting, defensive coordinator/safeties/assistant head coach; Sheldon Brown, cornerbacks; Tony Cook, quarterbacks/special teams coordinator; Clyde Gibson, kickers; Curtis Godwin, defensive tackles; Lee Jordan, defensive line; Steven Peeler, wide blockers (receivers); Wilbur Pender, inside linebackers; Jeremy Smith, offensive line; Jimmy Sutton, running backs/associate head coach; Julian Todd, defensive ends; Wayne Williams, tight ends.

Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense

Twitter account: @True_BlueNation

Key players: Jr. OL Jackson McDowell, Sr. DE/TE Elijah Plummer, Jr. DE A.J. Pennington, Sr. WB Cody Payne, Jr. WB/S Willy Clark; Jr. DB Lakerri Adams, Sr. DB T.J. Freeman, Sr. CB Xavier Wright, Jr. DT Chase Griffin, Sr. QB Noah Lindsay, Sr. OL Gavin Jenkins, Sr. WB/CB Tenchi Her.

For Clover to take the next step toward playoff contention, coach Chad Smith said the Blue Eagles need to continue to improve their turnover margin.

“Bottom line. That’s every team I’ve ever coached,” he said. Asked if he had any idea what Clover’s turnover margin looked like last year, Smith said, “I don’t. I don’t even want to think about it.”

Getting into positive turnover margin territory is important for both sides of the ball. Clover’s defense is looking to create more takeaways, something Smith said will be done with the help of an offseason focus on being sound in technique and scheme, and playing physical. Having seven starters back helps, especially defensive ends Elijah Plummer and A.J. Pennington, the two most athletic players on that side of the ball.

Clover plans to be more multi-formational on offense, and has four productive ball carriers back in wings Tenchi Her, Willy Clark and Cody Payne, and fullback Tanner Tolson. Smith said his team is the deepest at wingback that it’s been in his tenure. Only one full-time offensive line starter returns, though, senior Gavin Jenkins.

Still, spreading out the offense a bit more has added an interesting wrinkle to Clover’s wing-t system, which is already tough to stop.

“It’s paid off in our scrimmages so far,” said Smith. “We’ll see what happens when actual real bullets start happening. Right now we’re averaging right at seven yards a pop, and if we’re able to do that in the regular season we’ll be pretty dangerous.”

Schedule

Aug. 21 Westside

Aug. 28 Forestview

Sept. 4 at Westwood

Sept. 11 at White Knoll

Sept. 18 Blythewood

Sept. 25 Open

Oct. 2 at Fort Mill*

Oct. 9 Rock Hill*

Oct. 16 Northwestern*

Oct. 23 at Gaffney*

Oct. 30 at Nation Ford*

Nov. 6 York*

* Region 3-4A game

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 7:22 AM with the headline "High school football preview: Clover Blue Eagles."