HS Standouts: Clinton Red Devils’ Owen Glenn and Angelo Cromer

CLINTON, S.C. (WSPA) - When Clinton High School varsity football needed one final drive against its biggest area rival, the Red Devils turned to a lethal quarterback and running back duo.

Senior QB Owen Glenn and senior RB Angelo Cromer helped spearhead Clinton's dramatic 29-22 victory over Laurens on Aug. 28, extending the Red Devils' winning streak over their arch-rival to six straight games. Laurens and Clinton have played over 107 times.

With the game tied late in the fourth quarter, Glenn led Clinton on a 10-play, 75-yard game-winning drive. The march ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass with just two seconds remaining, sending the Red Devils into celebration mode and handing Laurens another heartbreaking defeat.

For Glenn, the key was staying composed when the game hung in the balance.

"I just know there was two minutes left in the game." said Glenn. "We're still tied, and I didn't really want to lose. I hate losing. So, I just tried to stay calm as much as I could and finish the game. It was a great experience, really emotional, but it was a fun game being that close."

The moment quickly became one of the highlights of Glenn's athletic career, which has already featured success in multiple sports.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior is one of Clinton's most versatile athletes. In addition to leading the football program, Glenn plays varsity basketball as a forward and center and helped the Red Devils capture the AA State Baseball Championship this past spring. Balancing three varsity sports leaves little downtime, but Glenn embraces the challenge.

Playing his senior season at Clinton carries extra significance because of his family's deep roots in the community.

"I've been waiting to play here my whole life. I've been really looking forward to it. It's crazy that it's already here, but I'm really excited for the season," said Glenn.

The rivalry win was special not only because of what was at stake, but because many of the players on both sidelines have known each other for years.

"A lot of us are really close." said Glenn. A lot of the people that played for Laurens played with us when we were younger in baseball and football."

Standing alongside Glenn every step of the way has been Cromer, one of the area's most explosive running backs.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior rushed 17 times for 152 yards against Laurens, averaging nearly nine yards per carry while consistently creating chunk plays for Clinton's offense. His performance added to an impressive varsity career that now includes 1,159 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Football has been part of Cromer's life since he was young, and he still remembers exactly when his love for the sport began when he took his first hit.

"I started playing football when I was several, three. I feel like my first year, I just fell in love with the game." said Cromer.

Cromer's passion has translated into a relentless work ethic. Behind Clinton High School sits a hill that has become a training ground for the senior running back.

"We got a big old hill outside our school and I run about ten rounds a day," said Cromer.

For Cromer, the workouts are about mental toughness as much as physical preparation.

"It teaches you to keep going and don't give up," said Cromer. "It's a big hill. Sometimes I don't have water. Sometimes I get dirty. It just keeps me going."

When Glenn connected on the game-winning touchdown pass against Laurens, Cromer had the same reaction as much of the Clinton fan base.

Although he's become one of Clinton's most productive offensive weapons, Cromer is quick to credit those around him for his development.

"I'm blessed to have the teammates that I have," said Cromer. "If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be where I am today."

The partnership between Glenn and Cromer stretches back far beyond varsity football. Their years together have helped build the chemistry that showed throughout the season opener.

Now entering the final chapter of their high school careers, both seniors are thinking about what comes next after graduation.

Cromer hopes to serve in the United States Army, following a path inspired by members of his family who have served before him. Meanwhile, Glenn wants to play football in college, but if that doesn't work out he's considered becoming a Navy SEAL if he chooses to pursue military service after high school, giving the longtime teammates another shared goal beyond athletics.

"I want to go to the military. I want to be in the Army." said Cromer

Whether their futures take them onto a football field, into military service, or somewhere else entirely, both athletes are focused on making the most of their final season in a Clinton uniform.