COLUMBIA – Junior running back Curtis Dayson was happy to help Catawba Ridge earn a scrappy non-region win Thursday night in Columbia. But the speedy rusher was more focused on the future than he was to take in the compliments following his two-touchdown night.
Dayson paced the Copperheads (3-1) with 89 yards on 10 carries in a 24-3 road win at Spring Valley at Harry Parone Stadium in Columbia.
Catawba Ridge’s passing game struggled to stay consistent, the Copperheads’ defense gave up chunk yardage that kept the Vikings (2-2) in the game, but Dayson provided the hot hand his team needed to win its final non-region game of the season.
“It’s really exciting,” Dayson said. “Just to see all the hard work we put in during the offseason. It’s exciting to leave it all out on the field and keep working. These previous games are just previous games, they won’t mean much going forward. But we can focus on these region games, have tough practices, and lead ourselves to the win.”
Region play is different, said Copperheads’ head coach Zac Lendyak. Looking ahead, he said he wanted to see his defense improve with their tackling and getting rushers down before they break out.
On offense, he said it was important to establish a rhythm and tempo.
The Copperheads played with quarterback Bradey Compton (44 passing yards, 7-of-13 passing, 2 INTs) in the first half, then switched to Will Griggs (41 passing yards, 4-of-11) to finish out the game.
“We just take the hot hand and find out who’s there,” Lendyak said. “They both understand that. We do it if we feel that the other one can give us something we haven’t seen yet. We felt like we left some points on the board in the first half, so we made that decision at halftime to bring Will in.”
Catawba Ridge sped off to a quick start in Columbia. Following a Spring Valley three-and-out, the Copperheads’ special teams blocked a punt. on the short field, Dayson found space over the middle to run for a 35-yard touchdown, giving the visitors a 7-0 advantage in the opening four minutes.
The defense recovered a fumble near midfield on the following drive, allowing kicker Declan Hogan to knock home a 32-yard field goal just a few minutes later.
And the Copperheads could have pushed the envelope when they took over the ball with less than a minute to play in the first quarter, but quarterback Compton was picked off by Spring Valley’s Zach Williams over the middle.
After a quarter full of fruitless run plays, the Vikings finally found paydirt with rusher Zion Bennet, who burst through the Catawba Ridge secondary and found space up the far sideline for a 51-yard gain to set the home team up near the Catawba Ridge 25.
Spring Valley’s Grady Tucker missed a 36-yard field goal, but converted a 35-yard attempt on the home team’s next drive.
Catawba Ridge took over on its own 38 with less than four minutes to play in the first half, looking to re-establish their advantage.
Dayson found consistent yardage on the ground before Compton connected with Calvin Rocheleau for a first down to enter Vikings territory. But Compton was picked off again on the 33.
Catawba Ridge punted or gave up the ball throughout the third quarter; Griggs nearly found Isaiah Thomas in Vikings territory for a sizable gain and conversion on third and 8, but the receiver couldn’t haul the pass in on the opposing 30.
Early in the fourth quarter, Griggs connected with Lucas and Colten McCauley to push inside the Spring Valley 11, giving Dayson the chance to bully his way into the end zone up the middle for his second score of the night, restoring Catawba Ridge’s two-score lead.
Spring Valley took over and pushed as far as the Catawba Ridge 48, but Casey Fikis picked off the Vikings quarterback. Following a short 3-and-out and a punt that pinned Spring Valley back, Fikis grabbed another interception and ran the ball back 11 yards for a momentum-shifting pick-six to make it 24-3.
The Vikings had no answer for Catawba Ridge’s fourth-quarter turnaround.
Six different Copperheads recorded catches in the win.
“We feel really good about where our DB’s are,” Lendyak said. “The defensive line and linebackers do a great job, so we can force teams into making mistakes.”
Josh Dobson, a regular starter in the secondary, is expected to be back in action next week.
Catawba Ridge begins its Region 3-5A schedule with a home game against crosstown rival Fort Mill Friday, Sept. 19.
