Rock Hill converts Clover giveaways into a win

Rock Hill has struggled in second halves this season, especially during a four-game losing streak.

But the Bearcats turned in a dominant second 24 minutes Friday night to beat Clover on the road, 28-17. Clover’s second half offensive possessions included two punts, two fumbles and an interception.

“Hats off to our defensive kids. They shut them out in the second half,” said Rock Hill coach Bubba Pittman. “Got lucky a couple of times. Clover turned it over to us and gave us some short fields, but our offensive kids, they battled too. Offense kind of got going a bit.”

The Blue Eagles shot a warning flair into the sky with a game-opening 7-minute drive that ended without any points but set down a marker for an excellent first half performance. Clover scored on its next possession, Noah Lindsay plunging in on a 1-yard keeper, but Rock Hill answered after flipping the field with a pair of tackles-for-loss and a short Clover punt.

Dre Robinson started at QB for Rock Hill with senior Brandon Banks still sidelined, and it was the junior that passed to Cam Long for a 4-yard TD to tie the game. Clover scored the last 10 points of the first half, Tanner Tolson bashing into the end zone from 12 yards before another well-run drive led to a 27-yard Sam Edmunds field goal as time expired.

But the hosts’ momentum didn’t carry over into the second half. Kenny Agurs took a short pass 63 yards for a touchdown before the Bearcats capped another drive with a touchdown, Agurs fumbling into the end zone where lineman Tre Payne was well-positioned to collapse on the ball for a 21-17 lead. The visitors then seized upon a second second half fumble by Clover, Robinson running in for a 10-yard score and a 28-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. Twenty-one unanswered points meant the Bearcat buses rolled out of Memorial Stadium full of jubilation.

Turning point

Clover trailed 21-17 but had the ball with about three minutes left in the third quarter when QB Noah Lindsay was chased by a pack of Bearcats, fumbling the pigskin deep in the Blue Eagles’ end. Matt Kilpa recovered and Rock Hill scored two plays later to grow the lead to 11 points.

“The kids, they took advantage of some of those turnovers this time,” said Pittman. “And we had the ball bounce our way some for the first time this year.”

Critical

Three second half turnovers doomed the Blue Eagles.

“That was the story of the game,” said Clover coach Chad Smith afterward. “We turned the ball over and they didn’t.”

Star contributions

Tanner Tolson epitomized Clover’s excellent first half, running for most of his 122 yards in the first 24 minutes.

Kenny Agurs was a primary recipient of Dre Robinson’s repeated screen passes, snagging 11 catches for 128 yards and showing his wheels on a short catch and run that he turned into a 63-yard touchdown early in the second half.

Jordan Morris, a sophomore defensive back for Rock Hill, made a number of nice plays, including breaking up a trick play double pass during the third quarter that would have been a big gainer for the Blue Eagles. And his secondary partner, senior Delik King, made a heads-up interception when Clover receiver Willy Clark inadvertently kicked an incomplete pass up in the air. King dived under the ball for the pick.

“Yeah, right spot at the right time,” he said.

Overheard

Clover’s losing streak was extended to five games.

“I was so proud of our kids, though,” said Smith. “That’s the hardest they’ve fought all year. You definitely can’t fault their effort tonight.”

Rock Hill’s losing run finally ended.

“Our kids battle, they fight,” said Pittman. “So you just hurt for them going through that stretch there without a win. But they come to work every day, they continue to work hard, and it paid off tonight.”

On deck

Clover hosts Northwestern; Rock Hill welcomes Fort Mill to District Three Stadium.

Box score

Rock Hill 28, Clover 17

Rock Hill;7;0;14;7- 28

Clover;7;10;0;0- 17

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

CHS - Noah Lindsay 1 run (Sam Edmunds kick), 1:14

RHHS - Cam Long 4 pass from Dre Robinson (Hudson Gray kick), 8:39

Second quarter

CHS - Tanner Tolson 12 run (Edmunds kick), 5:13

Third quarter

RHHS - Kenny Agurs 63 pass from Robinson (Gray kick), 11:04

RHHS - Tre Payne fumble recovery in the end zone (Gray kick), 7:37

Fourth quarter

RHHS - Robinson 10 run (Gray kick), 11:13

TEAM STATISTICS

RHHS;CHS

First downs;12;21

Rushes-yards;14-63;53-230

Passing;21-35-0;6-13-1

Passing yards;198;86

Fumbles-lost;1-0;6-2

Penalties-yards;8-75;9-103

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING Rock Hill: Dre Robinson 6-25; Jo Jo Robinson 2-10; Tim Sherer 1-5; Kadarrius Baxter 3-151; John McCullough 1-4; Kenny Agurs 1-4. Clover: Tanner Tolson 21-122; Cody Payne 14-86; Noah Lindsay 7-(-14); Willy Clark 11-36.

PASSING Rock Hill: Dre Robinson 21-35-0, 198 yards. Clover: 6-13-1, 86 yards.

RECEIVING Rock Hill: Kenny Agurs 11-128; Thailand Adams 2-14; John McCullough 1-15; Sherer 4-20; Cam Long 1-4; Jared Tucker 2-17; . Clover: Clark 1-11; Jackson Parrish 2-18; Hayden Milley 2-39; Tolson 1-18.

RECORDS Rock Hill 2-6, 1-2 Region 3-4A; Clover 1-6, 0-2

This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 10:42 PM with the headline "Rock Hill converts Clover giveaways into a win."