BLADENBORO – An onside kick recovery keyed a 14-0 spurt that propelled South Columbus to a 35-22 Three Rivers Conference football victory over West Bladen Friday night.
The Knights enjoyed a 16-13 halftime lead, but the Stallions capitalized on a 30-yard return of the second-half kick-off by Deonta Elmore and covered 40 yards in 4 plays to take a 21-16 lead.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Letrell Brown scored the touchdown on a 6-yard run, after senior Jaquan Jordan ripped off runs of 19 and 12 yards. Jordan also carried for the 2-point conversion.
The Stallions recovered their onside kick and ground out 48 yards in 10 plays. Jaquan Jordan gained 33 yards on 4 carries before Captn Jordan dove one yard for the touchdown and a 27-16 lead 5:36 before the quarter break.
“That onside kick was big,” said Knight Coach Jon Sherman. “Then they hurt us with the buck-counter and the wing-counter. We have got to do a better job of preparing for it, and we will certainly see some more of it next week at East Bladen.”
Freshman Gary Parker pounced on the next Stallion onside kick to give the Knights their first possession of the second half at the 5:30 mark. West Bladen drove 53 yards in 6 plays to trim the margin to 27-22.
Senior quarterback Tyre Boykin fired a 12-yard pass to senior Andrew ‘A. J.’ Brown to ignite the drive then broke loose for gains of 10 and 9 yards. Sophmore Damarius Robinson banged into the end zone from 3 yards out for the touchdown with 2:28 on the clock.
South Columbus responded with a 61-yard drive in 6 plays. Senior Rajon Graham started the march with runs of 12 and 8 yards. Quarterback Carlos Register darted 23 yards on the keeper. Jaquan Jordan picked up 14 yards then scored from a yard out on the first play of the final quarter. He also tacked on the conversion for a 35-22 lead.
The Knights mounted a 41-yard drive that consumed 15 plays but was halted on downs at the Stallion 22 yard line. Boykin carried 8 times for 40 yards on the drive and completed a 10-yard pass to A. J. Brown.
Boykin rushed 22 times for 129 yards in the game and connected on 4 of 5 passes for 42 yards – all to A. J. Brown. Boykin scored 2 touchdowns and a pair of 2-point conversions. Robinson ran for 35 yards and a TD on 11 carries.
Injuries limited the options for the Knights as junior ShyRon Adams was hurt on the game’s first play and West Bladen lost both starting fullbacks in the game. “That is part of football,” said Sherman. “ShyRon was a big part of our offense last week and losing him hurt, but you have to adjust to who is available.”
The Stallions moved 58 yards in 4 plays on their second possession of the game. A 20-yard run by Graham preceded a 31-yard touchdown burst by Jordan Johnson on a counter-play. Tomas Acosta booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Knights bounced back with a 55-yard drive in 9 plays. Boykin reeled off runs of 7, 18 and 6 yards before starting left and reversing back across the field on an 11-yard TD run. Boykin dashed into the end zone for the 2-point conversion and an 8-7 West lead 9:21 before halftime.
Back came the Stallions with a 69-yard drive in 8 plays. Twelve and 16-yard runs by Graham and a 14-yard gain by Letrell Brown led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Luke Duncan that vaulted South ahead 13-8.
Knight junior Xzavion Morrison grabbed the Stallion onside-kick attempt at the West Bladen 46. Boykin threw a 16-yard pass to A. J. Brown to ignite the 7-play drive. Robinson bulled through the line for 14 yards, before Boykin hurdled a tackler on a 7-yard touchdown run then bolted over the goal line for the conversion and a 16-13 lead with 1:45 left in the half.
Graham led the Stallion runners with 112 yards on 14 carries. Jaquan Jordan ran 12 times for 77 yards. Johnson added 66 yards on 6 rushes. The Stallions held a 329-175 edge in rushing yards and a 355-217 edge in total yards.
“You can’t fault the effort of the kids,” noted Sherman. “We moved the ball and our passing game was much better. We are banged up but that’s football. We will get back to work this week and get ready for East Bladen. “
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