BOILING SPRINGS – The Boiling Springs Bulldogs scored with 78 seconds left to steal a win from the Catawba Ridge Copperheads.
The Bulldogs won 34-30 stopping the Copperheads last drive on their third interception of the game. Boiling Springs outscored Catawba Ridge 20-7 in the fourth quarter.
“To be up two scores with four minutes left and lose is something that can’t happen,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak. “We have to get off the field on third down. We played well for 44 minutes, just not the last four minutes. We have to learn and get better.”
The Bulldogs got the ball to open the game. A Catawba Ridge penalty pushed Boiling Springs to midfield, before a long pass play got them near the red zone.
Three plays later the Bulldogs score on a 26-yard touchdown pass with about 8:50 left in the first quarter.
The Copperheads only picked up four yards on its for first series of the game and were forced to punt.
Catawba Ridge had a better result on their second series after a long pick up getting them past midfield where quarterback Will Gambrill hit receiver Calvin Rocheleau for a 44-yard touchdown pass less than two minutes left in the quarter tying the game at seven.
The Copperheads did well defensively stopping the run and short passes, but it was the long ball that they struggled with as the Bulldogs were continually moving its way down field with those type plays.
After a punt, the Copperheads put together another strong drive getting to the 11-yard line as Colten McCauley caught a 38-yard pass. At one point, Gambrill completed eight consecutive passes in the first half. His pass to McCauley led to a 21-yard field goal by Josh Crick to give Catawba Ridge a 10-7 lead with five minutes remaining in the first half.
Rocheleau picked off a pass deep in their own territory and returned it for a touchdown, only to have the score taken off the board for a block in the back.
Boiling Springs also had a touchdown taken off the board on the next possession for an illegal man down field. On the next play, Isaiah Revell picked off the Bulldogs quarterback for the second consecutive series.
Right before the half, Crick nailed a 44-yard field goal as time expired to give Catawba Ridge a 13-7 lead at the half.
On the first play from scrimmage for Catawba Ridge, Gambrill hit McCauley for a 55-yard gain. However, three plays later Gambrill was picked off killing the drive.
Boiling Springs capitalized going down and scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Emory Logan with 4:29 on the clock.
The lead didn’t last long as Rocheleau ran the ensuing kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown to put Catawba Ridge back on top.
Boiling Springs turned the ball over on a fumble at about midfield on their next drive.
Two plays later Gambrill found McCauley for another huge gain to get them down to the 12-yard line. Three plays later, Crick came through with a 29-yard field goal, his third of the game with only 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs next drive took the game into the fourth quarter. They kept the ball on the ground for most of the drive and scored on a 2-yard run to pull within two points at 23-21.
Catawba Ridge didn’t take their foot off the gas and went down field making sure this time they got six and not three. Boston Halpin ran in from 2-yards out to extend the Copperheads lead.
The Bulldogs didn’t hang its head and kept their wits about them as they would answer with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Logan to again pull within two points with 2:49 left in the game.
Momentum clearly stayed in Boiling Springs corner as Gambrill was picked off at the 34-yard line giving the ball back to the Bulldogs setting up the winning drive.
Gambrill was 15-for-39 for 293 yards with three interceptions and a touchdown. Two of his interceptions resulted in Bulldog scores on its next series. His biggest target in the game was McCauley who caught seven passes for 211 yards.
The Copperheads dropped to 1-2 on the season and will play against Westwood at home next Friday, Sept. 11.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
