Clovers ready to host sectional championship game

Friday's Riverton Parke at Cloverdale sectional championship football game can be heard on GIANT fm Sports WAXI (104.9 and www.giant.fm thru the Parke County Post)

Cloverdale head football coach Tyler Lotz needs no reminders of what is at stake Friday night.

The fifth year coach is aware that his Clovers (8-3) are in the sectional championship for the third straight year and will host Class A top ranked Riverton Parke (11-0) with a title on the line. Cloverdale won its only sectional in 1992, while Riverton Parke's lone sectional came in 2005. 

"It is awesome. It would mean a lot more if we'd win one. I am happy to still be playing football, and I love the kids and am excited to have another week with them. This year, we get to play at home and I hope Cloverdale fans pack the stadium. It should be a good night. They are going to bring a lot of fans. They expect to win, like we expect to win, and it has been a long time since they won a sectional as well," Lotz told The Putnam County Post. 

Lotz knows what a potential sectional title would mean, as he played for the Clovers and "loves" Cloverdale. Lotz has 23 wins as head coach, and from 2010 until 2021, the Clovers won 21 games.

"It was a goal to get to this point. I believe our kids have worked really hard for this. The culture at the school has changed a lot. The culture in the weight room has changed a lot. I think this is a byproduct of all those things happening. It sometimes is surreal that Cloverdale football is playing for three sectional championships, but I think our kids expect that now, to a point. Our kids have earned this, and, hopefully, we can keep this going," he said. 

Lotz has also seen the program change during his tenure.

"When I first took the job, it was [about] 'I played here and I know how it goes.'" I know talent in a 1A school goes up and down, and we are going to have our off years, but we have to try to get those years up through the weight room and some other things. When we have talent, we have to make the most of it. I think the last three years, we have had a pretty decent amount of talent, and we have done a good job of making the most of it. Hopefully, we can get the job done," Lotz admitted. 

The veteran coach said it has been nice to see his bosses and the administration make football "feel important."

"I went to Cloverdale and basketball was the only thing that mattered at Cloverdale for a very long time. Basketball still matters at Cloverdale a lot, and that is good, but I am happy to see football become a sport that matters at Cloverdale. Our youth program has grown the last few years tremendously. We had enough middle school kids to play a seventh and eighth grade this year. It has been awesome to see the buy-in go up, and the numbers go up. The kids no longer think, "I play football at Cloverdale, and we are going to suck." It has been a change of culture, and it has been awesome to be a part of," Lotz said. 

Last Friday, Cloverdale defeated Covington, 39-6, to punch its ticket to the sectional championship game.

"It wasn't pretty. It was a game where we were the better football team, but didn't play very well. I think our kids kind of got comfortable, and we definitely have to fix that approach. Our kids have to keep the chip on the shoulder. It can be a blessing and a curse playing in our third straight sectional championship. I think some of our kids just think it happens. The sectional draw lined up well for us, even the last two years. We are happy to be at this point, and our kids have to take advantage of the opportunity," Lotz said. 

Running back Ashton Evans rushed 11 times for 150 yards and a touchdown, while Marcus Boyd and Trey Schabel each combined for three passing touchdowns for the Clovers. 

"Ashton is a kid that wants to play, whether he is beat up or not. For that kid to not be on the field, he is going to have to leave on a stretcher, that's just how he is. He played really well. We pulled Marcus in the third quarter and put Trey in at quarterback, and he did a great job. Jace Gardner got to play running back for a bit, and he did a great job. Overall, we have to play better," Lotz acknowledged. 

The Clovers will have to play better as Riverton Parke enters undefeated and winners of the Wabash River Conference for the second consecutive year. It marks the first time since Aug. 22, 2025 the two teams have played, with the Panthers picking up a 33-13 win in that game. 

Lotz knows his team has to be ready for an opponent that likes to control the clock and has allowed only an average of 9 points per game, while averaging 47 as a unit. 

"Their size stands out. They are big up front. They are a team that lines up and they do what they do. They are like stop us. They won't do anything real crazy, but they line up and play smash mouth football. We will have to try and stop them. We have been undersized in almost every game this year, but our kids have played them before, know who they are and I think that helps us mentally. We are excited, and it is going to be a good challenge for us. They are a good football team and well coached," Lotz said. 

As for what it will take for Cloverdale to pick up a win, Lotz said the Clovers have to start fast. 

"We have to get our feet set in and going and not playing off the high of the first quarter. It's a sectional championship and home, but we have to settle down and take care of our assignments. We have to try and steal a possession or two because with their style, we are not going to get many possessions. We have to make the most of everytime we have the ball. Our kids have talked all week about how we have been here, and now it is time to get the job done," Lotz said.