Cloverdale downs Brown County for second-straight win

NASHVILLE – The Cloverdale Clovers did not exactly play a textbook type of pretty game, but they dominated the line of scrimmage and used a big first half to defeat the Brown County Eagles 28-6 in a Western Indiana Conference matchup.

The Clovers had five 10-yard or more plays in their first six offensive snaps and jumped out to big lead to pick up the victory.

The win improved the Clovers to 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in the WIC. Brown County dropped to 0-3 and 0-1 in conference games.

“Definitely a win we wanted to have and needed to have. It was also one that was ugly and should have been a different type of football game,” Cloverdale head coach Tyler Lotz said.

The Clovers dominated early with big plays and controlled the ball late behind Levi Johnson’s career-high 135 yards rushing. The Clovers looked like they were going to run away early but lost quarterback Tayt Jackson right before halftime and that changed the complexion of the game.

Cloverdale could run inside with Johnson, outside with Jackson and made big passing plays as well in the first half; the second half changed to a ball-control game between the tackles.

The Clover defense allowed a first down on the first possession by Brown County but set the tone as they had a big sack of Eagle quarterback Noah Lucas and that forced a turnover on downs. Jackson had a 16-yard run, then Johnson broke a 40-yarder for a score on the next play and Cloverdale led 7-0 with 8:01 to play in the first quarter.

Brown County would then march 73 yards in 12 plays to answer the touchdown. Aided by a big pass interference penalty, Lucas would get most of the yardage in the air, then kept it himself for one-yard score, but the pass failed on the conversion attempt and the Clovers maintained their lead at 7-6.

“Our defensive line and linebackers were really good tonight. We knew their offensive line was a weak point and we took advantage of that,” Lotz said as his defense had seven sacks and allowed only one score.

Again, the Clovers took just two plays to score. Jackson ran for 13 yards, then found Jaxton Helton for a 56-yard touchdown pass and improved their lead to 14-6.

Two sacks led to a fumble by the Eagles that Scottie McGuire recovered and two plays later Jackson scampered in from 14 yards on the left side and added the PAT to boost the lead to 21-6 with just :36 left in the first quarter.

The two teams traded a couple of possessions and then the fourth two-play drive of the night to end with a touchdown was produced by the Clovers.

Tyson Bridges got loose for 24-yard reception and Johnson raced in from 17 yards out to make it 28-6 in the second quarter.

The half ended strangely as the Clovers seemed to score a touchdown as they pinned the Eagles deep but a fumbled punt snap and resulting Clover score was nullified with a chop block penalty.

The Clovers also lost Jackson for the remainder of the game as the half ended with Cloverdale up by a 28-6 margin.

The two teams did not move the scoreboard in the second half, but the Clovers changed their style to shorten the game. The defense continued to harass Brown County and kept the hosts out of the end zone.

The rushing attack featuring Johnson chewed up yardage and the clock. The junior running back would finish the game with 135 yards on 20 carries, while Jackson in one half had 92 yards on just 10 carries.

“Levi is one who rolls up his sleeves and goes to work. He did a great job as did the offensive line. The (O-line) controlled the line and blocked well,” Lotz said.

The Clovers played well in all phases of the game as their special teams helped with field position all night as Bridges had three excellent punts while Jackson converted all of his PAT kicks.

The Clovers will attempt to maintain their winning ways next week as they travel to Cascade.

1st Quarter

CHS – Levi Johnson 40 run (Tayt Jackson kick), 7-0, 8:01.

BC – Noah Lewis 1 run (pass failed), 7-6, 3:29.

CHS – Jaxton Helton 56 pass from Tayt Jackson (Tayt Jackson kick), 14-6, 3:10.

CHS – Tayt Jackson 14 run (Tayt Jackson kick), 21-6, :36.

2nd Quarter

CHS – Levi Johnson 17 run (Tayt Jackson kick), 28-6, 4:55.

Rushing: Cloverdale: Levi Johnson 20-135, Tayt Jackson 10-92, Benjamin Campbell 2-4, Artrevion Henderson 8-9, Brown County: Noah Lucas 25-19, Landon Scott 2-(-3), Asher Stringer 1-(-2).

Passing: Cloverdale: Tayt Jackson 5-8-0 105, Artrevion Henderson 2-4-1 (-4). Brown County: Noah Lucas 15-33-1 264.

Receiving: Cloverdale: Jaxton Helton 1-56, Benjamin Campbell 4-24, Tyson Bridges 1-24, Scottie McGuire 1-(-3). Brown County: Kody Shugars 6-119, Landon Scott 10-145, Carter Bore 1-0.