Clover Blue Eagles - - Real Blue

For the first time in four years, I missed the Clover Blue Eagle season opener.  Apparently, they did, too.  Sixty three to nothing?  South Point victory?  Yowza!  I don't think my heart could've taken it.  Just as well, I was at home preparing the Last Supper before my youngest went off to college on Saturday morning.  It didn't seem to be the time to go traipsing off with my blue and white pom poms and cow bell.

I did receive score updates from my friend Joy, who watched the entire travesty of a football game.  She and her husband Tom aren't ones to abandon their positions as fans in the stands, no matter how terrible the game.  They stay until the last whistle, every time.  That's just the kind of people they are.

As I received the texts with the score - - 21 to 0 in the first quarter, oops, make that 28 - - I realized that we may be entering a new era of Clover football.  I don't remember the score at the half; could've been 42-zip. I just knew that the locker room during the game break couldn't be a happy place.  I once asked a football player what went on at the half during a slaughter like that.  "Mostly, the coach just yells," he replied.  He explained that the coach gets the team all fired up and mad and then they take their anger to the field and ideally turn the game around.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen with the Clover/South Point game Friday night.  There was no turning around, no redemption, no saving face.

Clover has a new coach this year, who came from South Point.  Yep, the same team that showed no mercy, kicked on-side kicks to recover the ball even when they were so far ahead, they were in a different time zone.  I suppose they had something to prove, and enjoyed antagonizing their old coach by running up the score.

I wasn't at the game, so I can't really comment on what happened to our beloved Blue Eagles.  Maybe they left the game during the first half . . . mentally, if not physically.  I just wish they had stuck around like Tom & Joy.

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Blue Eagle Season Opener 2009

Lawsy, it's been awhile since I've posted, but life has been throwing me some interceptions lately. However, nothing like a Clover High School football game to get me going again!

I do love those Blue Eagles! Last night's first game against the South Point (no "e") Red Raiders was tons of fun, although hotter than blazes. My husband opted out of the game, as he is morally opposed to watching football when it's over 90 degrees. A guy's gotta have his standards, I guess.

Anyway, the Blue Eagles started out strong. Defense looked good (hallelujah), offense pounding 3 to 5 yards a down. Classic Blue Eagle football.

We all went thru metal scanners on the way in the gate, which was probably good because otherwise someone would've shot the ref's. Clover could hardly make it through a play without a penalty flag. Yeah, there were a few offsides calls. But, you know, first game. The boys were excited to play! But there were quite a few questionable, okay, BOGUS calls as well, at least if you agreed with the fans in the stand.

As for me, what do I know? Without the instant replay tape and the announcers drawing little circles on the screen, I just gotta take their word for it.

So anyway, 14-0 at the half, and that's with two touchdowns being called back for penalties. We were feeling pretty cocky. (And by "we", I am referring to the fans. Jerry Seinfeld makes fun of folks who say "We won! We won!" after their team aces a game. Jerry says, "No, THEY won. YOU watched.)

The second half started out with more penalties against Clover, and the crowd became rather unruly. South Point managed a touchdown, but blew the extra point. 14-6.

Clover scored again, answered by South Point with a 2 point conversion. 21-14. Clover's QB Aaron Miller put the ball in the air on a third and long play and we were treated to a miraculous catch by Brian Barrett. Whoooeee! 28-14, just a couple minutes left. The South Point home side started emptying the stands. Fine with me. Less traffic to fight on the way out.

But honey, it wasn't over. The Blue Eagles thought they had it in the bag, and started playing like it. South Point scored again, 28-21. Uh oh.

Then an onside kick play by South Point actually WORKED. Uh oh.

South Point fought their way towards the goal line again, and the Clover boys woke the heck up. With tiny seconds left in the game, a whole lotta Latta emerged and finalized the victory for Clover, stopping the drive. Clover had the ball, took a knee, and took the win.

It's gonna be a good season, y'all.

Jan Todd lives in Lake Wylie and works for The Lake Wylie Man. For more blogs about living in Lake Wylie, Blue Eagle football, and Lake Wylie real estate, visit The Lake Wylie Man website!

Season Opener

Manicurists in Clover & Lake Wylie are gonna be busy today, honey, 'cuz there was some serious NAIL biting going on at the Clover Memorial Stadium last night. The Blue Eagles kept us on the edges of our seats as they finally triumphed over Belmont's Red Raiders 48-42. Ninety points! That's thirteen total touchdowns, twelve extra points! That's a whole mess of excitement, folks.

Despite the threat of rain, the stadium was absolutely packed. The visitor side ran out of general admission tickets, the home side ran out of programs. The concession stands didn't run out of anything, because not many fans left their seats!

Clover's Blue Eagles had a strong first half, leaving us cozy and comfy with a score of 28-14. But South Point's coach must've lit a FIRE under them boys in the locker rooom, because they came out and scored two touchdowns to tie the score. Clover turned up the juice and drove the ball almost to the goal line, only to fumble inside the 5 and turn the ball back over to the Raiders, who then made short work of scoring their THIRD unanswered touchdown.

The end of the third quarter was upon us, 28-35 with South Point in the lead. Clover got the ball and tied the score, then scored again to take the lead 42-35. There was a trick play in there somewhere; I was in a tizzy so it's all a blur now. South Point tied the score at 42-42 with about five minutes left to play. Those precious Clover boys took it slow and steady, finally scoring with about 30 seconds left on the clock. They missed the extra point, leaving the door open for more tension.

It's not over 'til it's over, though, and South Point kept us on the edge with about 4 plays within the 28 seconds they had to play. It was a LONG 28 seconds, but ended as Clover protected the lead and won their first game, 48-42. The announcer said it best when he quipped, "Folks, we're gonna set up a collection plate. You all are going to have to PAY to leave this stadium, 'cuz we have seen a FOOTBALL game tonight!" Hallelujah!

Congratulations, Clover Blue Eagles!


Thanks for reading my blog! I love Blue Eagle football - - it's one of my favorite things about living in Lake Wylie. Leave comments and let me know what you love about living here! For more blogs about Lake Wylie Events and Activities, Lake Wylie waterfront living & resources, and Lake Wylie real estate, visit The Lake Wylie Man website!