COLUMBIA – In a back-and-forth battle, the Richland Northeast Cavaliers scored with 1:21 left in the game to edge the Nation Ford Falcons 41-38.
Nation Ford was led by Josh Ameo who scored four touchdowns. He rushed the ball four times for 38 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Despite the late success in the game, Nation Ford didn’t start well and had to play catch up. With the loss, the Falcons are 2-3 on the season.
“We started flat, but we righted the ship,” said Nation Ford head coach Michael Allen. “We fought back and controlled the game. But we laid the ball on the ground and made some bad decisions.”
Kickoff at Richland Northeast was very windy as the Cavaliers received the opening kick. Two plays into the game they were within the Falcons 10-yard line, where they would score two plays later.
On their first series, the Falcons were unable to do anything after picking up a first down and was forced to punt.
Offensively the Cavaliers were able to move the ball with ease using big holes created by their line to gain over 30 yards on runs multiple times. Richland Northeast got to the red zone in just three plays and strolled in six plays later to go up by two scores.
Nation Ford was able to move the ball and get into the red zone but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Austin Sarvis to put the Falcons on the scoreboard.
The Cavaliers bounced back to score four plays later with a 59-yard run to put the Falcons even further behind with 1:24 left in the opening quarter.
Nation Ford struggled with penalties getting three holding penalties on their first possession of the second quarter. Despite the penalties, the Falcons were able to get down to the 11-yard line. Ameo then scored in the next play running it in on a Wildcat play to get Nation Ford back in the game.
The Falcons defense forced a punt on the Cavaliers next series giving Nation Ford a good start at midfield. Nation Ford worked their way to the red zone where Ameo would run the ball in from 13-yards out again out of the Wildcat.
Richland Northeast put together a lengthy drive to end the first half, but Nation Ford’s Antonio Crosby blocked a 22-yard field goal attempt to end the half with momentum clearly in the Falcons corner.
Nation Ford came out in the second half and pounded the ball on the ground with the help of running from Kaleb White. White’s running set up a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kaden Barnett to Ameo for his third touchdown of the game putting them ahead of the Cavaliers at 24-21. Bennett was 12-for-23 for 132 yards in passing the ball.
Richland Northeast bounced back to regain the lead with 7:13 left in the third quarter.
Nation Ford had a turnover about midway through the third quarter, but the defense was able to step up and stop the Cavaliers preventing them from capitalizing on the Falcons’ mistake.
That stop led Nation Ford to take over about midfield. Barnett hit Jayden Scott for a big gain getting them within the red zone where Ameo would run in two plays later to score his fourth touchdown of the game. Scott caught three passes for Nation Ford for 73 yards.
The game continued to bounce back and forth. Richland would answer to end the third quarter, but White for the Falcons would open the fourth quarter with a 16-yard scoring run to again give the visitors the advantage. White rushed for 117 yards on 21 carries and a score for the Falcons.
A Nation Ford turnover with about six minutes left in the game set up the would be game winning drive for the Cavaliers.
“We have got to learn to keep our foot on the accelerator,” Allen said. “We didn’t close the deal.”
Next week, Nation Ford opens Region 3-5A play at home against the Clover Blue Eagles.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
