ROCK HILL – Any time Catawba Ridge wins a game, head coach Zac Lendyak said he’s “exceptionally proud” of his team.
But beating the defending Class 4A state champion on their own turf? That means just a little more.
Lendyak lauded his team with praises after the Copperheads outplayed South Pointe High School in a statement 21-7 road win Thursday night at District Three South Stadium in Rock Hill. Catawba Ridge came in the game ranked sixth in the 4A media polls, with South Pointe ranked fifth.
“Any time you can beat a team of that caliber, with the type of talent they have, year in and year out, you’re really excited,” he said.
With the win, the Copperheads handed South Pointe its first loss in region play since October 2013.
Copperheads quarterback Tyler Fikis, back under center after three weeks of walking the sidelines with an ankle injury, played his best game in a Catawba Ridge uniform to date.
The senior ran for 124 rushing yards on 19 carries, threw for 118 passing yards, and was responsible for both of Catawba Ridge’s offensive touchdowns.
Fikis ran in a 2-yard score to give the Copperheads the early lead in the final seconds of the first quarter, then found receiver Jordan Gilliam with a 6-yard pass with less than a minute to play in the first half.
Sheldon Crawford nabbed a 30-yard pick-six near the close of the third quarter to give the Copperheads a 21-0 lead. South Pointe quarterback Malachi Marshall found receiver Demari Kendrick for a 63-yard score to cut the lead to 14 just before the final quarter, but the Catawba Ridge defense held strong.
On South Pointe’s third fruitless drive of the quarter, Gilliam picked off Marshall for the second time on the final meaningful play of the game to ice the win.
“We’re throwing a party in there,” Fikis said, referencing a jubilant visitors’ locker room at District Three South Stadium. “Honestly, it’s just exciting to be on the field again. All the guys rallied around me, and welcome me back. It felt so great.”
Undefeated Catawba Ridge improves to 6-0 on the season and 1-0 in Region 3-4A. South Pointe drops to 4-2, 0-1 in region play.
Facing cool and windy weather conditions, Lendyak indicated his team would try to implement a run-first mentality against the Stallions. With the threat of Hurricane Ian bearing down on the state, the two teams decided to move up the game from Friday night to ensure they could play.
Catawba Ridge opened the first half just as it intended to do – controlling the clock with long, sustained running drives that use running back Tyler Jones and mobile quarterback Fikis to the best of their abilities.
Following his injury, Fikis showed no signs of rust as Catawba Ridge imposed its offensive line early. After the two teams swapped punts, the Copperheads took over on their own 20, where Jones rattled off big runs for first downs, while Fikis found Gilliam and Brady Ambrose for key conversions.
On third and goal at the South Pointe two, Fikis ran the ball in himself to give Catawba Ridge its 7-0 lead. The drive lasted 12 plays and lasted a little over four and a half minutes.
The Copperheads defense held firm, too. After starting on its own 31, the Stallions drove as far as the Catawba Ridge 21, but a sack on third and 10 ended the drive early.
Catawba Ridge took over again with 7:28 left in the first half, and enjoyed a mammoth 6-minute, 18-play drive. Kicker Kohen Kozel tried for a 35-yard field goal, but hit the right upright.
After a quick three-and-out by South Pointe, Catawba Ridge took over for the final time of the second half, this time from the Stallions’ 44 with 54 seconds to play.
This time, Fikis found Baucom, Ambrose and Gilliam for first-down completions. Fikis spotted Gilliam on a quick slant play on second and goal from the South Pointe 6 to double the Copperheads’ lead.
Catawba Ridge held South Pointe to just four offensive possessions in the opening half. Of those four drives, quarterback Jae Sanders finished the first half with a 2-for-7 passing and 12 passing yards, while South Pointe gained just 61 rushing yards in the first two quarters.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way they played tonight,” Lendyak said. “Everything we asked them to do, they did. Tyler gives us the option to do a lot. DJ (Latimer) does a great job running and Nate (Thomas) does a great job throwing, and Tyler can get either done. The way he’s come back from his ankle injury, I’m exceptionally proud of him.”
The swirling wind again played a factor on special teams. Kozel tried another field goal on Catawba Ridge’s first drive of the third quarter, this time from 36 yards, but he missed.
A few drives later, Marshall threw a lob through the middle of the field on second and 14, and Sheldon Crawford was the only player around. He used his blocking teammates well to burst into the end zone and give Catawba Ridge a commanding 21-0 lead with 1:49 left in the third.
But the Stallions weren’t ready to give up just yet. On South Pointe’s final drive of the quarter, Marshall found Kendrick over the middle of the field, and completed a 63-yard bomb to the onrushing receiver, who outstripped any other Copperhead defender.
From there, Catawba Ridge’s lone goal was to run out the clock. With about six minutes to play, the Copperheads had their punt blocked, giving South Pointe the ball back in Catawba Ridge territory.
But the defense sacked Marshall on a big second down play, and the two subsequent attempts went nowhere. South Pointe got the ball back one last time with 1:06 to play, but Marshall was picked off by Gilliam, and the visitor’s sideline burst into celebration.
“They didn’t make it easy in the second half,” Lendyak said. “But a win’s a win. I’m very happy to take it.”
Jones finished the night with a productive 93 rushing yards on 29 carries. Ira Mister picked up 21 yards on five carries. Ambrose led all receivers with 49 yards on four catches, while Gilliam had 30 yards on three grabs.
Both teams will be back in region action 7:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 7. Catawba Ridge next hosts region foe York Comprehensive High, while South Pointe will travel to visit the Lancaster High Bruins.
