Clover pounds Ashbrook

GASTONIA - It's apparent - or painfully obvious if you ask Ashbrook - that Clover isn't in rebuilding mode.

Sure, the Blue Eagles lost 16 starters from last year's South Carolina state championship team but they've passed their first two tests with flying colors, including Friday's 45-6 dismantling of Ashbrook.

"They're better this year, I thought, than they were last year and they won the 4A (title) last year," Ashbrook coach Mike Briggs said.

They sure looked like it Friday.

Clover (2-0) scored on four of its first five possessions and had its way on both sides of the ball in its second consecutive win over a Gaston County team to start the season. Last week, South Point was the victim, coming up short in a 48-42 thriller.

The Blue Eagles took all the drama out of this one, outgaining Ashbrook 449-33. Clover rushed for 442 yards, led by Tyron Douglas' 122 yards and Ricky Moore's 116. Both scored a pair of TDs, as did quarterback Aaron Miller, who led York Chester to the Gaston County middle school title two years ago.

The game got so out of hand that Clover had 50 more penalty yards (83) than Ashbrook had offensive yards.

"(Clover coach Jet Turner) said they played a lot better tonight than they did last week," Briggs said. "I said, ‘Well, thanks.'"

Clover led 24-0 at the break before Ashbrook (0-2) showed signs of life. Quarterback Dontrae Meeks directed the Green Wave on an eight-play, 52-yard touchdown drive to start the third quarter.

Nationally recruited wide receiver Jheranie Boyd took a screen pass the opposite direction than it was intended and picked up 27 yards to set up his eventual 2-yard TD reception.

But Clover methodically marched down the field and answered with Moore's 7-yard TD plunge to make sure there would be no Ashbrook comeback. Clover sent its second-string offense into the game by late in the third quarter.

"I really wanted to blow them out," Miller said. "I didn't want it to be a game because they talk a lot of junk. So we sent a message."

Clover's defense did the trick after suffering miserably to the tune of 496 yards against South Point a week ago. The Blue Eagles held Ashbrook to four first downs, including one in the first half.

"I was proud of our defense. I really was," Turner said. "Really, there's 10 guys that hadn't played varsity football until this year."

Clover completes its tour of Gaston County next week with a trip to Forestview. Ashbrook's brutal schedule continues next week when it plays host to Shelby, a team that has played in four straight state championship games.

C 12 12 14 7 - 45
A 0 0 6 0 - 6

First quarter
C-Ricky Moore 4 run (kick blocked), 7:34.
C-Tyron Douglas 2 run (run failed), 2:49.

Second quarter
C-Douglas 4 run (pass failed), 9:49.
C-Aaron Miller 4 run (pass failed), 4:48.

Third quarter
A-Jheranie Boyd 2 pass from Dontrae Meeks (kick failed), 8:54.
C-Moore 7 run (Joshua Varalli kick), 6:13.
C-Miller 7 run (Varalli kick), 5:11.

Fourth quarter
C-Phillip Whitner 4 run (Varalli kick), 11:55.