Nation Ford head football coach Jake Bentley said he’s focused on how he can improve himself to deliver for his team this season.
His Falcons nearly pulled off a memorable comeback in the season-opening game Friday night, but fell 34-27 just short of forcing overtime, despite a frenzied final drive in the last 45 seconds of play.
Despite leading by 13 at halftime, Nation Ford was held scoreless in the second half by the visiting Bengals, who scored three unanswered second-half touchdowns, including the game-winning score with less than a minute to play.
The Falcons took over with one last chance and 80 yards to traverse, but despite making it as far as the Blythewood 14-yard line, quarterback Kason Canupp couldn’t find a receiver in the end zone.
“It’s an opportunity to grow, to learn from it,” said Bentley, who took over the helm at Nation Ford this January. “To understand that just because something doesn’t go our way, we can respond the way we should. That’s on me, and I’ll work on ways I can support our team.”
Canupp finished with 327 passing yards on 20-of-31 passing with four touchdowns. Three of those touchdown passes were to Jayden Scott, who accounted for 191 receiving yards.
Bentley said the loss was especially hard, considering how well his quarterback and top receiver played.
“They’re special kids,” he said. “My heart breaks for them in a game like this. They left it all out here on this field tonight. They created a great connection that happened really fast over the summer, and I’m proud of them. I’ve got to be better for them.”
Nation Ford (0-1) got off to a blazing start. Canupp found Scott on an inside slant route on the second play of the Falcons’ first drive, and Scott deftly outstripped his defender before dashing 75-yards into the Blythewood end zone to help his team take a 7-0 lead.
Blythewood answered soon after when Bengals’ quarterback James Veasey spotted wideout Ben Hendrix open on the near sideline from 52 yards out.
The visitors took the lead soon after when Canupp and a ball carrier had a mix-up in the backfield, leading to a Falcons’ fumble. Taking over at the Nation Ford 20, Veasey only needed five plays before he scored with a 4-yard keeper to give his team a 14-7 edge.
Nation Ford capitalized on mistakes and made the Bengals pay in the second quarter. Canupp connected on chunk yardage plays with Patience Andrews and Scott to set up Nation Ford inside the Blythewood 25. On third and 16, Canupp slipped a tackler hot on his ankles, then found Andrews in the pocket corner of the end zone to tie the ball game up at 14-14.
The two teams traded possessions in the middle of the second quarter. Nation Ford punted with eight minutes left in the half but got the ball right back after the Blythewood returner muffed his catch, and a Falcon hopped on the loose ball.
Starting on the Bengals’ 47, Canupp and his offense pushed their way downfield, thanks to back-to-back Bengal offsides penalties. It only took seven plays before Canupp found Scott from 17 yards out in the end zone with a quick dart over the middle.
Jamison Valentine then picked off Veasey over the middle on his own 35, then ran the ball back to the opposing 30 to give his team a perfect chance to double the lead.
Canupp spotted Scott yet again, this time in the other corner of the end zone, to give the Falcons a 27-14 lead heading into the halftime break.
Canupp finished the night with 93 rushing yards on 14 carries. Running back Malachi Drayton chipped in 33 yards on the ground from seven carries.
The second half didn’t go Nation Ford’s way. The Falcons went for a fourth and inches on their own 30, came up short, and Braden Marye converted on a short touchdown to bring Blythewood within seven just a few plays later.
Veasey scored his second rushing touchdown of the night, again from four yards out, midway through the third quarter on the next Blythewood drive.
Tied at 27-27, Nation Ford took over the ball on its own 8-yard line, and patiently grinded all the way to the Blythewood 9 over the course of six minutes, but Canupp was sacked twice on second and third down and goal, pushing the Falcons back to the Blythewood 20. Nation Ford was called for at least four holding calls on that decisive drive.
Kicker Nico Arosemena had a chance to take the lead with a 37-yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked, and the Bengals ran the ball back within the Nation Ford 40.
The visitor bled the clock until Landyn Strong finally scored from two yards out with less than a minute left.
That led Canupp and company to lead one last drive, starting on their own 20. Canupp did well to find Scott for bunch plays near the sideline, then earned a penalty when he was dragged down with a horse collar call. Canupp barely missed Scott streaking in the end zone with 16 seconds to go from 40 yards away.
A personal foul call pushed Nation Ford as close as the Blythewood 14, but Canupp couldn’t connect with a receiver on either of his final two passing plays. The final attempt was batted down at the line by a Bengal, signaling the end of what would have been a memorable comeback attempt.
Nation Ford host York next week at home to try and get their first win on the season.
