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Clovers fall to Wildcats
CLOVERDALE -- Looking at the final score of Friday night's loss to South Vermillion, the Cloverdale football team is still struggling.
A 36-6 loss certainly doesn't seem like a building block to a team's first win.
But in examining the Clovers' (0-5, 0-2 WIC) latest loss, first-year coach Tony Meyer could find some positives.
"It's the most yards we've had this season," Meyer said. "Gary Spencer -- great job. The offensive line -- great job."
Meyer's points all stand. The Clovers had 227 yards of total offense. Senior running back Spencer gained 91 yards on nine carries. The offensive line cleared the way for a 5.5 yards per carry average and gave quarterback Parker Watts plenty of time to pass.
Still, the Clovers were on the short end of the scoreboard to a Wildcat team (1-4, 0-2 WIC) that was also winless before Friday night. Cloverdale remains short-handed, young and injured as the season passes its halfway point.
"The problem is we ran out of gas," Meyer said. "We have guys playing offense and defense."
The game came down to a fast start and a fast finish by the Wildcats.
After marching down the field on their first two possessions for rushing touchdowns by Conner Dunegan and Hunter Thornton on their first two possessions, the Wildcats took a three-touchdown lead late in the first quarter on an 85-yard punt return from Thornton.
Down 22-0, the Clovers had run just eight plays for 11 yards.
"We got off to a slow start," Meyer said. "That happens."
With things already looking bleak, Cloverdale found some footing, embarking on 12-play, 71 yard drive, probably their best example of sustained offense all season.
Nick Winders capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown reception from Watts.
The defense took its cue from the offensive traction, holding the Wildcats scoreless through the second and third quarters.
Unfortunately for the Clovers, the sustained offensive production did not continue. Seven dropped passes, two lost fumbles and an interception doomed otherwise promising drives, even as the defense held firm.
Then, as Meyer said, the defense ran out of gas. Having produced little since the first quarter, Thornton broke off fourth-quarter runs of 19, 42 and 54 yards, the last two for touchdowns to put the game on ice.
It's the story of the season for the Clovers, fielding a varsity team with mostly freshmen and sophomores.
Still, Meyer seems to find the positives, saying he sees the team making baby steps and that he knew this would not be a one-year turnaround.
"It's easy to get bummed out because we're 0-5, but the progress I've seen from our Linton scrimmage to now, I wouldn't trade our team," Meyer said.
One definite piece of good news is no one got hurt Friday, the first time that's happened in five weeks.
It puts Cloverdale one week closer to being healthy as the Clovers prepare to visit Brown County (1-4, 0-2 WIC) in a WIC East matchup. The Clovers and Eagles kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25.
At Cloverdale
SV 22 0 0 14 -- 36
CHS 0 6 0 0 -- 6
1st Quarter
SV: Dunegan 1-yd run (Handley kick good), 7:58
SV: Thornton 10-yd run (Dunegan pass to Cheesewright good), 5:13
SV: Thornton 85-yd punt return (Handley kick good), 1:41
2nd Quarter
CHS: Winders 6-yd pass from Watts (run failed), 8:06
4th Quarter
SV: Thornton 42-yd run (Handley kick good), 9:19
SV: Thornton 54-yd run (Handley kick good), 5:58
Team Stats
Penalties-yds: SV 8-67, CHS 3-34; 1st Downs: SV 10, CHS 13; Fumbles-lost: SV 0-0, CHS 4-2.
Offensive Stats
South Vermillion (1-4, 0-2 WIC):
Rushing (39 carries, 254 yards): Thornton 12-175, Dunegan 21-73, Handley 2-4, Cheesewright 2-4, Torrence 1-3, Spence 1-(-3).
Passing (2-4-34 yds, 0 INT, 0 TD): Dunegan 2-4-34 yds-0-0
Receiving: Miller 1-33, Torrence 1-1
Cloverdale (0-5, 0-2 WIC):
Rushing (30 carries, 166 yards): Spencer 9-91, Duby 9-36, Kaeff 6-31, Watts 6-8
Passing (8-20, 61 yds, 1 INT, 1 TD): Watts 8-20-61 yds-1-1
Receiving: Kaeff 3-27, Winders 2-19, Spencer 2-5, Boyette 1-10