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Pasco's 'silent assassin' takes aim at Land O' Lakes

Staff file photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Clower has connected on 59 of 114 passes for 1,104 yards, 12 TDs and rushed for two more.

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2009

DADE CITY - One distant week at a Pasco football game, someone approached Harold Clower with an interesting question.

"How's the silent assassin," the person asked.

Without missing a beat, Clower replied, "Who is that?"

"Your son," the man replied. "He never says anything. He's quiet."

"He's been that way forever," Clower admitted. "He'll sit back and won't say anything. You won't even know he's there."

Pasco quarterback D.J. Clower isn't one of the most boisterous players on the football field, but you'll know he's there. His stats say plenty.

Last season as a junior, Clower helped guide the Pirates to a district title and state semifinals appearance with a 12-1 mark. In the process, he completed 75 of 149 passes for 1,199 yards, 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also ran for 186 yards and four scores.

The senior is back at it again this season. He's connected on 59 of 114 passes for 1,104 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He's also rushed for two touchdowns.

"D.J.'s a competitor, he's just not a verbal one," Pasco coach Tom McHugh said. "Sometimes body language-wise you can tell, but as far as voicing his displeasure or excitement, you never see it. He'll throw an interception or a touchdown and it'll be the same demeanor walking off the field, so he's pretty even keeled."

That cool head will have to come into play Friday night when his Pirates (5-1) host Land O' Lakes (6-0) for a Class 3A-District 7 tussle. Both teams enter the night 4-0 in district play and are attempting to claim the two lone playoff spots.

Sounds simple, only it doesn't just come down to those two teams. They'll also have to deal with Mitchell (6-0), which is also 4-0 in the league. A victory sets up the winner for a better shot at either a district title or a runner up spot.

That makes Friday night an important night.

"This is a big game this week," D.J. Clower said. "Hopefully everybody is on the same page and we come out with the victory. (Land O' Lakes) looks good on film. I think they'll be like American Heritage, the team we played the first week. I think they'll be in that range of how good they are."

Back to the Silent One.

D.J. still remembers the time he made the switch from running back to quarterback. He was playing for his father's flyweight PAL football team when his dad made the switch.

"Ever since then, that's what I stuck with," D.J. Clower said.

It wasn't the smoothest of transitions either. Considering who his coach was, D.J. Clower probably thought he had some leeway when it came to the play calling.

"In the games, I used to call plays and he always changed my plays," Harold Clower said laughing. "I told him one day, 'Please, can you run one of my plays?' I begged him to run one play and he said, 'OK dad, I'll run one of your plays.'"

He's since developed into a signal caller who can stick to the script or adjust when needed.

The ties at Pasco for the Clower family run deep.

Harold Clower played running back and defensive back for the Pirates in the mid-80s. Harold's younger brother, Johnny Clower was a tight end/defensive end for Pasco near that same span. Johnny Clower went on to play football at Florida State (1988-91).

Now, D.J. and younger brother Mike Clower share that same bond.

"It reminds me of when me and my brother were there," Harold Clower said. "I just want those two to get together (on a scoring play). … It's wonderful."

D.J. admits, he and his younger brother hear all about it from both.

"We did this and we did that," D.J. Clower mocked. "You know how dads and uncles are. 'Back in our day, me and my brother did this.' It's all good though. It makes you work a little harder.

"You just have to make your mark in some way. Somewhere down the line try to do something they haven't done. It's like the challenge is right there for you."

McHugh even admits Harold Clower has been called one of the best coverage and hardest hitting defensive backs out of Pasco by Pirates assistant Dave Gaffney.

D.J. Clower's abilities have garnered the attention of those in the college ranks. Colorado, Florida A&M, Iowa State, North Carolina, Purdue and Wake Forest have shown interest in the 6-foot-3 passer.

Harold Clower is a firm believer in D.J. taking advantage of his educational opportunities.

"My brother graduated from Florida State," Harold Clower said. "I went to Itawamba Community College. I'll tell you, there's a difference when you can pick the school you want to be at than a school you have to go to. I had to go to that school, so the first thing I said to myself was, 'I'm out of here the first chance I get.

"I tell D.J. don't pick a school for me. I want him to pick a school himself. I don't want to go on any visits with him. I want him to make that decision on is own. I told him to look at the academics first and look toward the future. If you get hurt or something happens, your education will always be there."

You can bet D.J. Clower won't audible out of that call.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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