Cloverdale suffers key injuries in loss to Monrovia

Saturday, September 6, 2008

MONROVIA--Cloverdale had a long and painful Friday night against Monrovia, losing 30-0 in a West Central Conference football game on the Bulldogs' field.

The Clovers (0-3, 0-2 WCC) lost to injuries starting fullback Levi Boller on its first possession and starting quarterback Jordan Hayden late in the first half.

"We also lost a cornerback, strong safety and middle linebacker," Cloverdale coach Kyle Winkler said. "' Hey, coach,' "he yelled at a nearby assistant, " 'do we have anyone left?' "

The Clovers played the Bulldogs (2-1, 2-1 WCC) as tough as they could without many of their top players, but it was too much to overcome and make it close.

Cloverdale had a chance to get back in the game late in the first half.

Trailing 14-0, the Clovers stopped Monrovia on a fourth-down-and-9 to take over at their 40. On second down, Hayden tried a roll-out pass that was intercepted. But he was knocked hard to the ground after releasing. Monrovia was whistled for roughing the passer. Cloverdale gained 15 yards and a first down, but lost a quarterback with an injured back and hand.

The Clovers went to freshman backup quarterback Jordan Brinkman. Rodney Weather ran 15 yards for a first down at the 10. Brinkman was sacked for a 5-yard loss, but on second down hooked up with freshman Trevor Lockwood for a 14-yard pass completion to the 1.

That was as far as the Clovers got. On third down, Weathers was dragged down for a 4-yard loss and Brinkman's fourth down pass fell incomplete. "Our quarterback had to throw in a hurry," Winkler said. "We got down there to the 1-yard line and we couldn't power it in. In the first half, our offense couldn't run when the defensive line was in our backfield."

Boller is also Cloverdale's starting punter and on his first punt, four plays in the game, he suffered a head injury that took him out.

"He got his bell rung," Winkler said. "Our trainer wouldn't let him play."

Cloverdale gave up two long runs for touchdowns in the first half, a 43-yarder by Grant Watson and a 42-yarder by Austin Parks.

"We were clipped on the first touchdown," Winkler said. "Our outside contain player was clipped. I saw it and I'll show it to anybody who wants to see it on film."

Parks' run was on the same play, from slotback off tackle after a fake to the fullback. Winkler made no excuses for it.

"We had a breakdown," he said. "Monrovia is undefeated on the field. The Bulldogs forfeited their opening-game 30-7 win over Greencastle for inadvertently using an ineligible player for two plays late in the game. They're a solid team."

Monrovia controlled the ball, running it effectively, for most of the second half.

The Bulldogs had a 52-yard scoring drive, all on the ground, on 14 plays to open the second half. Their touchdown came with 3:24 left in the third quarter and a two-point conversion lifted them to a 22-0 advantage.

Cloverdale couldn't make a first down, punted and Monrovia went 66 yards on 12 plays against the tired and depleted Clovers to score with 6:17 remaining.

The Clovers tried valiantly to get on the board in the fourth quarter, driving 43 yards on 10 plays to the Monrovia 20. But Brinkman's passes fell incomplete three plays in a row and Cloverdale's second and final possession

of the second half had ended.

"In the second half,, Monrovia ran where it wanted," Winkler said. "We didn't have any answers."

Cloverdale had 66 yards rushing and 24 passing, 90 total. Monrovia's first team defense hasn't given up a point in its three games. Dillin Gray led the Clovers with 34 yards on 13 carries and Weather had 22 yards on nine carries.

Cloverdale will host Turkey Run during their homecoming at 7 p.m. Friday

At Monrovia

Cloverdale 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Monrovia 6 8 8 8 -- 30

First quarter

M -- Watson 43 run (run failed), 8:06

Second quarter

M -- Parks 42 run (Johnson run), 6:35

Third quarter

M -- Hickey 2 run (Clements run), 3:24

Fourth quarter

M -- Hickey 3 run (Watson run) , 6:17

Individual statistics

Rushing: C--Gray 13-34, Rod. Weather 9-22, Spinks 5-12,

Osburn 0, Brinkman 2-(-2); M--Johnson 15-56, Watson 5-50,

Hickey 14-44, Parks 3-43, Hadley 4-20, Clements 4-19, Hall

2-10.

Passing: C--Brinkman 2-8-0 19, Hayden 1-2-1 5. M--Clements

1-4-1 35, Hickey 1-1-0 8.

Receiving: C--Lockwood 1-14, Osburn 1-5, Keefer 1-5;

M--Hollcraft 1-28, Johnson 1-8, Jaynes 1-7.

Team statistics

First downs: C--8, M--12. Penalties: C--3-25, M--7-65.

Fumbles/Lost: C--0/0, M 1/1. Punts/Yards: C--5/139, M--0/0.

Next game -- Cloverdale will host Turkey Run during their homecoming at 7 p.m. Friday

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