In a game that looked to be a defensive battle in the first half, the Nation Ford Falcons survived a slugfest in the second half to get their first Region 3-5A win.
The Falcons beat rival Catawba Ridge 41-34 as they were led by quarterback Kason Canupp, who threw five touchdown passes.
“He is so special,” said Nation Ford head coach Jake Bentley of Canupp. “He continues to get better.”
Bentley said the past couple of weeks have been hard for the Falcons, which improved to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the region.
“We just tried to stay positive,” Bentley said. “Our kids battled.”
It didn’t take long for the Falcons to strike as Canupp hit Jayden Scott for a 33-yard touchdown pass just 39 seconds into the game. The drive went 50-yards in just three plays.
Catawba Ridge wasn’t as lucky as they struggled to move the ball on their first drive because of penalties.
Nation Ford kept the momentum going on their second drive of the first quarter despite some penalties. Canupp hit Malachi Drayton for a 12-yard screen pass for another Falcons touchdown with 4:36 left in the first quarter.
The Copperheads put together a good drive after the Falcons second score. Catawba Ridge got to the Nation Ford eight, but consecutive penalties backed them up. Copperheads quarterback Bradey Compton would hit Colton McCauley to get them to the Falcons 4, but another penalty and an incompletion killed the drive.
Nation Ford did have a let down on their next possession. Canupp was picked off to start the second quarter by Ian Babcock giving the Copperheads the ball at midfield. Catawba Ridge’s Curtis Dayson then pushed the offense to the goal line with a head strong running game, but the Falcons defense held and kept them from scoring.
Nation Ford almost immediately gave the ball back. Canupp threw his second interception of the quarter, this time by Tyler Gindoff.
The Copperheads’ Mark Blakeney ran in from 9-yards out with 2:26 left in the half to get Catawba Ridge on the board.
After a punt by Nation Ford, Catawba Ridge took the ball again at midfield and pounded the ball up the middle as Dayson knocked it in from 2-yards out. Compton then hit Darius Sutton for the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 14 with 15 seconds left in the half.
A fake punt by Nation Ford and an 18-yard run by Asher Beck gave the Falcons new life. However, two penalties by the Falcons negated a touchdown and pushed them back to midfield.
Despite the setbacks, Nation Ford was able to regroup as Canupp hit Drayton for a 25-yard touchdown with 1:54 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, a Copperhead fumble at midfield turned into a 51-yard touchdown pass from Canupp to Patience Andrews with 11:04 left in the game to extend the Falcons lead.
Catawba Ridge was able stay in the game thanks to Nation Ford penalties as Compton would score from 1-yard out with 9:25 left in the game.
The Falcons and Copperheads traded touchdowns as Canupp threw the score to Scott and Compton hit McCauley.
As close as the first half was, the second half was more of a slugfest between the two teams.
Drayton scored a 1-yard touchdown for Nation Ford with 4:54 left again extending the Falcons lead by two scores.
Catawba Ridge stayed with the Falcons as Compton threw another touchdown this time to Calvin Rocheleau and recovered an onside kick near midfield.
However, the Falcons would get the ball back on an interception with 1:28 left in the game to seal the win.
Copperheads head coach Zac Lenyak said his team must stop making mistakes.
“Bradey (Compton) played his heart out,” Lendyak said. “We have to figure out how to stop shooting ourself in the foot. We have to make sure all the guys know what they are trying to accomplish.”
Compton was 17-of-32 with two interceptions for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Dayson led the rushing attack for Catawba Ridge as he rushed for 92 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Sutton led in receiving with six catches for 85 yards.
Nation Ford was led by Canupp who went 16-of-20 with two interceptions and 252 yards. He also ran for 92 yards on 15 carries. Scott caught eight passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Drayton rushed for 81 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 35 yards and two touchdowns.
Next week, Nation Ford travels to Clover and Catawba Ridge will host Rock Hill.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
