A back-and-forth game saw the Nation Ford Falcons edge rival Fort Mill Yellow Jackets in the final minute of the game.
Josh Ameo and Carson Sanford connected for a third touchdown in the game with 32 seconds left to put Nation Ford up 27-23 in what would be the final score of the game.
“We had a really good tempo and a sense of urgency we were playing with,” said interim Nation Ford head coach Jason McManus. “Extremely proud of the way our kids competed and we just got some tempo going. We were playing fast and got into a rhythm. We found a way to win the game.”
Fort Mill had one last chance with 4.5 seconds left, but was stopped at the five-yard line. The last time Fort Mill beat Nation Ford was in 2014 as the Falcons have rattled off a decade of wins over their rivals on the gridiron with 10 consecutive victories.
Ameo caught three touchdown passes as he hauled in eight passes for 109 yards unofficially. Sanford was 20-29 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. He was also picked off twice. Patience Andrews led Nation Ford on the group with 77 yards on 16 carries and a score.
Nation Ford finished the regular season at 2-8 and 1-5 in Region 3-5A. The win should put the Falcons into the playoffs, which start Nov. 15.
“We have a pretty good RPI (strength of schedule),” McManus said. “I think we will be a 10 or 11 seed. I think we are the best 2-8 team in South Carolina. I believe that. We have shown at times we can be really good. I think we match up well with a lot of people. I feel like we are going to be a tough out for someone in the state of South Carolina.”
Fort Mill started the game with an onside kick and recovered it at the Falcons’ 38. That initial drive resulted in a Jackets punt after the onside kick.
Nation Ford started their first drive at the 13-yard line and mixed things up through the air and on the ground with Andrews eating up yards. The drive while productive to start, stalled on the Jackets’ side of the field.
On Fort Mill’s second drive of the opening period, they were able to move the ball well, but penalties hurt them. Fort Mill quarterback Broden Mitcheson was picked off, only to have Fort Mill return the favor on the next play picking off a pass from Sanford.
The Jackets took advantage of the turnover as they drove the length of the field getting to the 12-yard line before the clock ticked down to go into the second quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Jayden Scott picked off a pass at the three-yard line killing the Fort Mill drive.
On the ensuing drive, Sanford hit Ameo for a 49-yard gain and an additional 15-yard penalty, put Nation Ford inside the red zone. About five plays later, Andrews went in from a yard out to put Nation Ford up 6-0 after the blocked extra point.
Fort Mill came right back and put together an 11-play drive as Mitcheson would hit Tanner Mays over the middle for a 26-yard touchdown pass giving the Jackets a 7-6 lead after the extra point.
Not to be outdone, Nation Ford came right back with a two play, 65-yard drive in 11 seconds as Ameo caught a 42-yard touchdown pass. Scott would convert a 2-point conversion for Nation Ford on a pass from Sanford putting the Falcons 14-7.
Fort Mill had their third turnover of the first half on a fumble killing the Jackets’ drive right before the half.
The Jackets got the second half kickoff, but a 15-yard penalty hurt their drive forcing them to punt.
Nation Ford’s first drive wasn’t any better as Sanford threw his second interception of the game. This time Fort Mill made the most of it as Mays caught a 26-yard pass and Mitcheson rolled off a 20-yard run to get them into the red zone. Thomas Mabry would cap off the drive on a 6-yard run with 7:38 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 14.
Nation Ford punted about midfield on their next series giving Fort Mill the ball deep in their own territory. Mitcheson would hit Mays for a huge 62-yard pickup to get the Jackets to the red zone where Noah Hardy would eventually hit a 33-yard field goal with 2:27 left in the third quarter.
Josef Anderson came in big for the Jackets in the second half rushing the ball. He kept drives alive and kept the chains moving for Fort Mill. He rushed for 97 yards on 14 carries for Fort Mill. The Jackets scored again on the drive with a 22-yard field goal by Hardy this time with 9:24 left in the game to make it 20-14.
On the other hand, Nation Ford struggled not picking up a first down in the third quarter and only had 11 offensive plays on three drives in the third quarter.
The offense for the Falcons finally started clicking in the fourth quarter as they put together an 80-yard drive to score on a 1-yard touchdown pass to Ameo from Sanford with 5:34 left in the game tying it at 20 after a failed extra point.
After a game tying drive from the Falcons, Fort Mill put together an eight-play drive resulting in a Hardy 48-yard field goal to give the Jackets a 23-20 lead with 2:03 left in the game, but missed chances hurt the Jackets otherwise. Fort Mill head coach Rob McNeely said two red zone turnovers during the game really hurt their momentum.
“Penalties put us behind the chains offensively and those two red zone turnovers in the first half came back to bite us,” he said. “These kids mean a lot to me and I hate it for the seniors. They can go out holding their head up high because they fought.”
Fort Mill was led by Mitcheson on the ground and in the air. He ran for 92 yards on 23 carries and was 14-for-26 for 236 yards and a touchdown. Mays was his main target catching nine passes for 198 yards and a touchdown.
Fort Mill finished the season at 1-8 overall and 0-6 in the region.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
