CLOVER – In a battle for what could eventually be the Region 3-5A title, the Clover Blue Eagles rallied to overtake Fort Mill for a historic 48-24 win.
The match had a big fight feel and was important for both teams as the Jackets were 2-0 in the region and Clover was 1-0 in the region. Fort Mill still has one more region match against rivals Nation Ford, while Clover has to face both Nation Ford and Boiling Springs. The Fort Mill-Nation Ford match is currently scheduled for Jan. 26, while Clover will take on both Boiling Springs and Nation Ford the next day in a tri-match Jan. 27 based on the current schedule.
For Clover, the win over Fort Mill was their first ever in the program’s history. The loss for the Jackets dropped them to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the region.
“We had close matches,” said Fort Mill head coach Chris Brock. “It didn’t come down to a matter of skill, it came down to a matter of will. It was evident who won that.”
Fort Mill started out well getting wins at 120-pounds with a second period pin from McGuire Harms and then a 9-8 decision at 126-pounds from Cayden Richard to go up 9-0. Clover came back with a win at 132-pounds, before Joshua Sturgeon gave Fort Mill a 15-6 lead with a first period pin at 138-pounds.
However, that is when things started to change for Fort Mill. The Jackets dropped back-to-back matches at 145 and 152-pounds giving Clover their first lead of the night. Fort Mill’s Brian Kelley got a 5-3 decision at 160-pounds to tie the match, as the Blue Eagles would then grab the momentum and run with it.
Clover would win the next six matches to take a 48-18 lead clinching the match with a win at 220-pounds. The last match Fort Mill would win was at 113-pounds as Sebastian Colon got a forfeit win.
The Jackets look to regroup this weekend at River Bluff in a tri-match with the host and Westwood.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
