After six years of struggles against Catawba Ridge, the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets got one on the Copperheads.
Fort Mill beat Catawba Ridge for the first time in varsity football winning 38-17 at Bob Jones Stadium.
“These kids, man,” said Fort Mill head coach Rob McNeely. “Gavin Love, our right tackle, our offensive line showed up and showed out. They had too. D-line kept getting a push and caused some turnovers. That is what we had to do.”
Starting under a steady rain, Fort Mill and Catawba Ridge clashed on the gridiron after about a half hour lightning delay. The Jackets came into the game looking for its first win of the series as both teams opened the season last week 1-0.
The games the past couple years have been close with the Copperheads edging Fort Mill last year in the regular season and beating them in the first round of the playoffs.
Fort Mill (2-0) opened the game receiving the kick, but turned the ball over on downs in their own territory.
The Copperheads (1-1) were able to put together a decent drive, but only managed a 43-yard field goal from Josh Crick after a 10-yard penalty pushed them back.
A good kickoff return by Fort Mill put them deep in Catawba Ridge territory. A couple of plays later they cracked the red zone. After a penalty, the Jackets’ Harper Love hit Jameson Terrell with a 24-yard touchdown pass to give Fort Mill the lead.
Both teams traded punts on their next possessions as they went into the second quarter.
Fort Mill worked the clock to open the second quarter. The Jackets took the ball at its 26-yard line and went 74-yards on 11-plays as Broden Mitcheson punched the ball in from six-yards out with 7:35 left in the half.
Catawba Ridge tried running the ball on their first series of the second quarter, but the Jackets were able to stop them. Deveian Southward was able to pick off Copperheads quarterback Will Gambrill at the 43 and return it to about the 25-yard line.
Fort Mill took advantage after a couple of negative plays, Love found Terrell for a 38-yard touchdown pass to go up 20-3 over Catawba Ridge.
The Copperheads responded and went 80-yards in four plays as Gambrill hit Colton McCauley on a big 46-yard gain and then two plays later connected again for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
That cut the lead in half as Fort Mill went into the half leading 20-10.
The Jackets run defense remained strong to open the second half making Catawba Ridge a one threat offense. On offense, both teams punted on their first possession of the second half.
“We really struggled to get the run game going,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak. “They stopped our offensive line from getting any push. Anytime, we thought we had some momentum we weren’t’ able to capitalize on it. That is a frustrating piece. At the end of the day, we have to find a way to move the ball and get first downs. The defense is staying on the field way too long now. We have to play complimentary football.”
The Copperheads moved the ball well on their second series as Gambrill and McCauley connected a couple of times and cross midfield, but that’s where the drive stalled.
As the third quarter went on, Fort Mill started to keep the ball on the ground giving it to Mitcheson. Love hit Greyson Love to get to the two-yard line for a 26-yard gain, before Mitcheson ran in from two-yards out with two minutes left in the quarter capping off an 83-yard drive.
A bad snap on a punt attempt for Catawba Ridge on their next possession led to the Jackets getting the ball back at the 18-yard line as the game faded into the final quarter. Noah Hardy ended the drive with a 27-yard field goal for Fort Mill with less than 11 minutes remaining.
Gambrill was picked off on the ensuing play, but Fort Mill fumbled on their first play to give the ball right back to Catawba Ridge.
When Fort Mill got the ball back, they didn’t take their foot off the gas. Mitcheson was able to break off some more yard chewing runs to get down to the two-yard line, where he would score on the next play for his third touchdown of the game.
The Copperheads kept fighting putting together a short 43-yard drive capped off by Boston Halpin’s 2-yard touchdown run.
Fort Mill would ice the game ending things on the next series as Love took several knees to run out the clock. Love went 13-for-24 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. His leading receiver was Terrell who caught five passes for 89 yard and both of Love’s touchdown passes. Mitcheson rushed for 122 yards on 22 carries and had three touchdowns. An additional bonus was the running game of Aiden O’Hara, who had 84 yards rushing on nine carries. Fort Mill had 21 first downs in the game.
The Copperheads were led by McCauley who caught seven passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Gambrill was 18-for-38 for 203 yards and a score. Halpin had 12 carries for 18 yards, while the Catawba Ridge run attack had just 14 yards as a team on 13 total carries.
Fort Mill has a bye next week and will play at York on Friday, Sept. 11, while Catawba Ridge plays on the road at Boiling Springs next week.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
