York thumps Clover in Bobby Carroll's 100th win

The York Cougars shook off the rust of a bye week and gathered themselves after a testy first quarter to pull away for a 35-3 victory over the Clover Blue Eagles Friday night in Clover.

It was the fifth consecutive win for the Cougars over the Blue Eagles since Bobby Carroll took over the coaching duties in York. It was also a milestone for Carroll as it gave him 100 wins as a head coach against only 34 losses. There were seven combined personal foul penalties in the game.

Turning point

Trying to control the clock and keep possession of the ball away from York, the Blue Eagles went for it on fourth-and-2 from their own 28 with 8:32 left in the first half and only trailing 7-3. Cody Payne gained one yard and the Cougars took over on downs at the 29. Four plays and 53 seconds later Wally Wilmore’s second touchdown, a four-yarder, made it 14-3 York.

Critical

Clover’s strategy of trying to play keep-away looked promising in the opening quarter. They took the opening kickoff and kept the ball for eight plays before fumbling. After holding the Cougars to a three-and-out, the Blue Eagles marched 15 plays and 73 yards for Sam Edmunds’ 23-yard field goal. The drive ended with only 18.9 seconds left in the quarter as the home team ran 23 plays to York’s five in the first 12 minutes. However, they would not be able to maintain their success after York answered with their first score, Wilmore’s 12-yard run with 10:39 to go in the first half. Clover ran four plays and had the turnover on downs, followed by Wilmore’s second score. Another three-and-out led to a one-play drive for the Cougars, with Wilmore hitting Paul Moore streaking down the sideline for a 37-yard touchdown pass and a 21-3 lead. York never looked back.

Star Contributions

Tyquan McCray had 130 yards for the Cougars on only eight carries. He had a 64-yard touchdown run early in the second half that ended all hope for a Clover comeback. Wilmore had two touchdowns rushing and one through the air before sitting out the second half with a tweaked hamstring. Carroll said he is fine, but there was no reason to waste him in the second half.

Sam Edmunds booted a 23-yard field goal for the Blue Eagles’ only points. Willy Clark had 16 carries for 75 yards. Chase Hill had an interception in the end zone for Clover.

Overheard

“Those guys have won one game and they still play hard,” York coach Bobby Carroll said.

On getting his players to settle down after three first quarter personal fouls: “I just told them, they’re (Clover) not going to the playoffs. Their season’s over. They’re going to wrestle and play basketball and our kids are going to get ready for somebody in the playoffs. We said if you want to play in the playoffs, you better not get ejected.”

On facing Clover’s offense: “You get tired of practicing against that offense. We would never play Clover if it wasn’t a rivalry; if it wasn’t a money-maker game. It’s a spread offense era. To go against this one time a year isn’t very conducive to our football program.”

“They’re 1-10, that’s five in a row and we’re proud of our football program.”

“We’ll do something next week, we’re not going to take it off.”

On deck

York will begin the 4A state playoffs in two weeks.

York 35, Clover 5

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 10:55 PM with the headline "York thumps Clover in Bobby Carroll's 100th win."