Cloverdale enters sectional tourney with new expectations

For the first time in Tyler Lotz's three seasons as the head coach at Cloverdale, the Clovers enter the sectional tournament with expectations of bringing a title home. 

And, why not?

The Clovers are 4-4 and had a week to get healthy and prepare for tonight's opponent, Indianapolis Tindley. Cloverdale and Tindley will play at 7 p.m. at Heritage Christian. 

Lotz said the bye week allowed the Clovers to get healthy.

"The bye week was good for us. We got a guy back, plus let a few guys heal up," Lotz told The Putnam County Post. 

On the season, the Clovers are averaging 36.6 points and have surrendered about 21 points a game. Heading into the postseason, Cloverdale is on a two game losing streak, falling to West Vigo and South Putnam. 

Through seven games this season, first year quarterback Landon Johnson had thrown for 1,390 yards and 22 touchdowns. He has also added 610 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, while athlete Tayt Jackson had rushed for 573 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 32 passes for 697 yards and 11 more touchdowns. Running back Levi Johnson had six catches for 87 yards and a score and had rushed for 610 yards and seven touchdowns. 

In Tindley, Cloverdale finds a team that started the season 1-4 and will bring a 5-4 mark into the game. The Tigers average 16 points per game and have given up an average of 20. Last week, Tindley knocked off Tri-Central, 18-14, in the opening round of the sectional. 

"Tindley is an athletic team that has big play ability. They've shown to not be very disciplined on film, and we look to take advantage of that. They are honestly not like any team we have faced. They run a spread offense with some empty sets and look to throw the ball. We have played a couple spread teams this year, but they were a little more balanced than Tindley," Lotz said. 

As for what his message is to his team, it is one that Lotz has said before. 

"More games are lost than won. We cannot shoot ourselves in the foot on offense, take care of the ball and limit penalties. On defense we have to get 11 guys to the ball everyplay and get off the field on 3rd and 4th down. We haven't been able to do that the last two games and that has to change. Our message has to remain consistent to what it's been all year and that is compete. Every opportunity we get we have to attack it and let the scoreboard handle itself," Lotz said.