Delays, lightning and rain were just some of the things fans got to experience at the third annual Gus Allen Memorial Jamboree at Nation Ford High School Friday night.
And there was some football as well.
Both Catawba Ridge and host Nation Ford participated in the eight-team event, but each team had a different outcome as the Copperheads ran to a 24-0 win, but the Falcons fell 14-0.
The scrimmages were supposed to be two 12-minute regular football quarters, but torrential rain led to the first scrimmage between Charlotte Christian and Piedmont getting stopped early with about nine minutes to go in the second quarter. Charlotte Christian was up 21-0 at that point and the rest of their scrimmage was cancelled.
That led to the remaining scrimmages going with 35-minute running clock as the delay pushed the schedule off by about 90 minutes. Marvin Ridge beat Berry Academy 20-0 in the other scrimmage held Friday night at Nation Ford. Catawba Ridge and Nation Ford played thereafter.
Catawba Ridge 24, Cuthbertson 0
The Copperheads looked impressive in their 35-minutes of play as they used a two-quarterback system with both Nate Thomas and newcomer senior Tyler Fikis taking snaps. Unofficially, Fikis went 6-10-0 for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas went 3-7-0 for 59 yards and a touchdown as well.
Fikis got the start and moved Catawba Ridge down the field without much of an issue. On his fourth pass, he connected with Jordan Gilliam for his first of two touchdowns in the game on a six-yard pass to get the Copperheads on the board.
Fikis would then hit Brady Ambrose on a 36-yard pass on Catawba Ridge’s second series to extend their lead. Ambrose would catch three passes for 89 yards at the tight end position.
Thomas would then take over the quarterback duties and found a rhythm after a slow start and hit Gilliam for his second touchdown of the game to put Catawba Ridge up 21-0. Gilliam would catch three passes as well for 44 yards.
Catawba Ridge also did well running the ball as Tyler Jones rushed for 28 yards on four carries and Ira Mister would do the same on four carries as well.
The Copperheads finished the scoring off with a 26-yard field goal from Kohen Kozel near the end of their scrimmage.
Copperheads head coach Zac Lendyak said these scrimmages show where the team is at heading into next week’s season opener at Fort Mill.
“We had a good scrimmage at Spring Valley and some good practices, but until you put it together you never know,” he said. “A lot of questions were answered tonight.”
Porter Ridge 14, Nation Ford 0
As well as things went for the Copperheads, things went the opposite direction for Nation Ford. The Falcons struggled to move the ball and ended up punting on their two offensive series. The third offensive series ended the scrimmage.
Despite the running clock, the Nation Ford defense stayed on the field a lot trying to stop the run game for Porter Ridge.
Falcons’ quarterback Carson Black struggled and managed just six pass attempts in the scrimmage, completing half for 31 yards. He had only two receivers make catches in Will Alvardo and Jeremiah Hailstock.
The Nation Ford offense was one sided as they rushed the ball nine times for negative 11 yards unofficially. They also struggled with mishandled snaps and fumbles.
“It was a lackluster event,” said Falcons’ head coach Michael Allen. “I am a pretty positive guy, but there aren’t many positive things to say about that. We weren’t mentally where we needed to be.”
Nation Ford opens the season at home Friday, Aug. 19 hosting Indian Land.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
