Playing one of their most complete games of the season, the Catawba Ridge Copperheads routed the Westwood Redhawks.
The Copperheads won 45-7 on Friday, Sept. 11 to improve to 2-2 on the season as they will open Region 3-4A play next week at Indian Land.
“We said at the end of last Friday, that if we keep doing what we are doing things will break through,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak. “We showed up all week and practiced really hard. It is huge anytime you can put 45 on the board. Going in (to region play) on a high note is a positive.”
The Copperheads started the game getting the opening kickoff and quickly crossed midfield. Just six plays in quarterback Will Gambrill connected with Calvin Rocheleau over the middle for a 35-yard touchdown about two and a half minutes into the game.
Westwood punted on their first series giving the Copperheads the ball back about midfield. Again, Gambrill mixed in some running and passing to get Catawba Ridge into the red zone. Four plays later, Gambrill connected on his second touchdown pass of the first quarter with an 8-yard dart to Brady Pezold.
After another defensive stop, Catawba Ridge kept their foot on the gas and again had Rocheleau and Gambrill connect over the middle on the second play from scrimmage as they scored on a 58-yard pass pushing the Copperheads lead to 21-0.
In the second quarter, Catawba Ridge kept things moving transitioning the quarters and ended the drive with a 32-yard field goal by Josh Crick.
Westwood put their best drive of the game in the second quarter crossing midfield, with the help of a 15-yard penalty by the Copperheads, but still ended in a punt.
One drive summed up the entire game for Catawba Ridge. Starting at their 34-yard line, two bad snaps pushed the Copperheads back to the 17-yard line. Gambrill then hit Colten McCauley for a 45-yard gain crossing midfield and then for a 38-yard touchdown pass on consecutive throws to push the score to 31-0.
On the next Redhawks’ drive, Lucas McCauley picked off a pass in the end zone for Catawba Ridge which eventually sent them into the locker room at the half.
On Westwood’s first series of the second half, Isaiah Revell picked off the Redhawks and took the ball to the Westwood nine-yard line. The very next play Boston Halpin scored to put the Copperheads up 38-0.
Westwood then fumbled on their next series giving the ball back to Catawba Ridge at the Redhawks 22-yard line. The Copperheads then got to the end zone and fumbled but the ball was recovered by Colten McCauley. The touchdown started a running clock for the game.
Catawba Ridge started to substitute starters as Judah Poulson replaced Gambrill at quarterback. Gambrill went 10-for-15 for 220 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half.
With a running clock, Westwood was able to score and prevent the shutout with about 5:10 left in the game.
Colten McCauley led with 110 yards on five catches and two touchdowns for Catawba Ridge, while Rocheleau added three catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Halpin rushed for 39 yards on eight carries and a touchdown, while Logan Adams added 36 yards on four carries.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
