By Lee McManus
Correspondent
The regular season ended with a Region 3-4A rivalry game between the Indian Land Warriors and Nation Ford Falcons.
Big plays and team speed carried Indian Land to big victories all throughout the season, and they proved the difference in their 49-0 shutout on Friday, October 30 over Nation Ford.
The Warriors needed big plays to move the down field, because the Falcons pinned them deep with excellent punts. Indian Land marched 99 yards to take the lead. Matt Kucia found KJ Drakeford on a quick out from the three.
Kucia threw for 102 yards, thanks to a holding penalty, on the Warriors next scoring drive. Maxwell Curry hauled in a 50-yard pass from Kucia and took it up the far sideline to the Falcons 47. Two plays later Curry caught Kucia’s pass in stride down the seam for a 52-yard touchdown.
The lead grew to 28-0 at the half as the Warriors continued to overcome penalties on their scoring drives. Kucia hit Kenneth Wilson on a quick screen down the far sideline from the 33 with 9:16 left. Kylen Foye took a direct snap around the far side from the 18 into the corner of the end zone with 2:10 left in the first half.
Nation Ford failed on three fourth downs in Warriors’ territory in the first half, including a fourth and one at the Indian Land three. Indian Land stopped Banks Demby in the backfield for a two-yard loss.
The lead grew to 35-0 when Kucia found Wilson again in the far corner of the end zone, Wilson bobbled the pass but held on for the 38-yard score.
Indian Land scored in just one play after KJ Drakeford intercepted Ben Falkner. A personal foul pushed the Warriors back to the 10, but Foye broke free and outraced everyone 90 yards up the near sideline.
Jabez Felters’ interception set up Indian Land’s final score. Marek Hart threw it up to Christian Hunt, and he high-pointed Hart’s three-yard pass.
Kucia led the Warriors’ offense with 285 yards passing and four touchdowns.
After the game, Nation Ford head coach Jake Bentley reflected on a tough season for Nation Ford. The Falcons finished 1-9 and Bentley knows what it will take for his team to bounce back.
“Our discipline in how we walk in the weight room, make sure we are on time…it starts with me,” he said. “We are going to look in the mirror and reevaluate everything we do.”
