Clover Park Football Falls to Foster, 41-26

The Clover Park football team never rebounded from a two-score deficit early against Foster, losing 41-26 in a non-league contest at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood on Friday night.

The Warriors out-rushed Foster of Tukwila with 260 yards on the ground. But Foster had a stronger edge with a pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Clover Park (0-2 overall, 0-0 South Puget Sound League 2A) has dropped its first two games of the season, unable to gain momentum before league play against Franklin Pierce on the road Sept. 16.

The Warriors' offense began slow in the matchup against the Bulldogs. Foster senior Cedric Cooper scored on a 2-yard run with 5 minutes, 34 seconds in the first quarter. Then, Delvin Brown returned an interception pass 37 yards for a touchdown.

Clover Park fell quickly behind, 14-0.

Clover Park senior quarterback Dwayne Crawford scored on a 30-yard run with 11:51 in the half. He provided the team's only touchdown in the first two quarters.

Foster (1-1 overall) led 21-7 at halftime.

The Warriors appeared rejuvinated to start the second half. Clover Park senior running back Deshaun Green busted a 65 yard touchdown, closing the gap 21-14 early in the third quarter on the opening drive. He finished with 24 carries for 167 yards and a pair of TDs.

Every time the Warriors' offense showed signs of life, its defense couldn't stop Foster. The Bulldogs drove down the field and Cooper widened the gap with a 5-yard score, 28-14 with 9:16 remaining in the third quarter.

Clover Park backup QB Keila Pritchard found senior wide receiver Bret Dulay for a 26 yard strike, but the team failed to convert the 2-point coversion, 28-26.

After nearly tying the game and having an opportuntiy to take the lead, Foster extended the lead when senior QB Ian Buckmaster tossed a 45 yard strike to Avery Wilcox with 11:44 in the fourth quarter, 35-26.

Then Bulldogs' Micah Breland returned the team's second interception back 60 yards for a touchdown, sealing the game for the Warriors, 41-26 with 1:53 remaining in the contest.

Clover Park head coach Jon Randall said Foster drastically improved after losing 41-7 against Mount Vernon this past week.

"We didn't get off to a fast start," Randall said. "A couple plays and were down 14-0. It took us awhile to get the running game going."

The two interceptions for TDs were points the Warriors simply coudn't afford.

"Those turnovers are what get you in the end," Randall said.

Clover Park travels to play Franklin Pierce at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16.

Check back on Saturday for photos of the game.

Lakes

The Lancers beat Evergreen of Vancover 49-6 on the road in a non-league contest and remain 2-0 overall to begin the season. Lakes senior running back Levonte Littlejohn scored four rushing TDs in the landslide victory.