By David Thackham
Correspondent
Junior kicker Evan Cox nailed a crucial 21-yard field goal in overtime to secure a thrilling 37-34 victory over non-region opponent Indian Land Friday night.
Defensive end Chase Gerber picked off Indian Land quarterback Blake Goode on the first overtime possession, giving the Falcons’ offense one last chance for the win.
Nation Ford quarterback Carson Black’s eight-yard scramble helped set up the Falcons at the Indian Land three-yard line before Cox was called in.
Cox said he had practiced the same kind of kick the day before, so he felt confident.
“It feels so good,” he said. “We’re all going to be super excited in the locker room.”
Cox’s clutch kick wrapped up a firecracker of a game which featured five lead changes throughout the night.
Black, a sophomore, was responsible for Nation Ford’s four passing touchdowns, and even ran one in himself. He racked up 258 passing yards with two interceptions.
The Falcons (3-2) will finish out their 2020 regular season with a trip to Region 3-5A opponent Clover Nov. 6. Indian Land (2-4) is scheduled to host Fort Mill next week.
Head coach Michael Allen admitted his team had trouble adjusting back into the flow of a game after last week’s game against Clover was postponed. Still, he said he felt proud that his young squad was able to pull out a win, even against the run of play.
The visiting Warriors scored 13 unanswered fourth-quarter points to tie the game at 34-34 at the end of regulation and send the contest into overtime.
“On defense, we had to make a couple adjustments,” Allen said. “We had the right play call, and the kids executed on those particular plays. We did what we were supposed to do.”
On a night of offensive plays all over the field, two defensive stops made the difference for the Falcons. With Nation Ford leading 27-21 early in the second half, the Falcons were able to force a key turnover-on-downs early in the third quarter to prevent Indian Land from scoring on the Falcons three-yard line. That helped slow the Warriors’ momentum to start the second half.
And even though Sean McCray’s 17-yard scoring catch and TJ Thomas’ three-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter tied up the game, it meant Nation Ford still had a chance. Gerber snagged Goode’s pass in the middle of the end zone in the overtime period, giving Black and his offense the chance to put Cox in position.
Nation Ford came out on fire to open the game.
Defensive back Cameron Ziegler picked off Goode on the first play of the game. Black then found receiver Ty Keaton, who had 99 yards on five catches and three touchdowns, open over the middle to open the scoring as Keaton easily ran 70-yards past his defender.
Black then found Quadier Hand, who had 122 yards receiving and a touchdown, from 33-yards out on the very next Nation Ford drive, giving the home team a 13-0 lead with less than four minutes played.
But just as Indian Land seemed to struggle to gain any rhythm, the Warriors found life. Goode spotted McCray on the far sideline, who was able to burn his mark and dash 62-yards down the left sideline to open Indian Land’s account.
The Warriors quickly regained possession deep in the first quarter. Running back Jaden Singletary picked up quick yardage on the ground on six straight snaps to help push Indian Land from its own 35 to Nation Ford’s six. Goode then called his own number and scored on a quarterback sneak to give Indian Land a 14-13 lead to open the second quarter.
Black struggled to find his receivers early in the second quarter, and was picked off on back-to-back drives.
“He had some struggles tonight,” Allen said. “But he’s a young man, he’ll analyze his performance and feel out what he can do better. He was able to do some really good things in the stretch to help us and pull it out.”
The Falcons regained their tempo with 4:29 left in the half. They began a drive on their own 24, and called upon running back Eli Whitner, who had 107 rushing yards on 17 rushes, to rip off several first down runs. Whitner pushed Nation Ford to the Indian Land nine-yard line, where Black found Keaton for a touchdown in the back of the end zone and regain a 19-14 lead with just over a minute remaining in the half. The final play capped a 12-play, 76-yard drive that lasted just over three minutes.
But the celebration was short-lived when McCrary was somehow able to turn what should have been a short run into a 71-yard scoring dash. McCrary took the ball on a second and 11 from his own 29, dug his feet into the ground amid several tackles, and was able to emerge on the other end to run away for an Indian Land score. The Warriors ended a wild first half with a 21-19 lead.
“We had to take it back to what we are, with the (run-pass option),” Black said. “We had to pick it back up. We realized we were down, we weren’t playing our game. We had to work hard for each other.”
Black got back to work to open the second half. He found Keaton for a big gain on fourth down on the opening drive, then took it in for a one-yard score just two plays later to regain the lead. He also completed what ended up being a crucial two-point conversion to Jerrick Foster.
Black then found Keaton one final time in the end zone from three-yards out to make it 34-21 entering the fourth quarter.
Indian Land never gave up. Goode made a gutsy throw on the Nation Ford 17 that was tipped by a Falcons’ defender, but ended up in the hands of McCray for a score. And on the next drive, the Warriors drove slowly downfield with a 16-play, 61-yard possession that took more than six minutes off the clock, eventually ending in a Thomas touchdown to even the score.
But after Gerber’s pick, Nation Ford’s kicker felt confident. He said the team will be hyper-focused on Clover next week.
“We’ll be ready,” he said.
The two teams were playing the game as part of the 9th annual Patriotism Bowl, which helps transform a local high school football game into a college bowl-like atmosphere. The game included live entertainment such as professional parachuters.
The game helps to honor the service of veterans and first responders, according to Patriotism Bowl organizers.
Nation Ford 37, Indian Land 34 (OT)
Scoring Summary
First quarter
NF – Ty Keaton 70-yard scoring reception from Carson Black, 11:37
NF – Quadier Hand 33-yard scoring reception from Black, 8:43
IL – Sean McCray 62-yard scoring reception from Blake Goode, 4:39
Second quarter
IL – Blake Goode 6-yard scoring run, 10:46
NF – Keaton 9-yard scoring reception from Black, 1:18
IL – McCray 71-yard scoring run, 38.7
Third quarter
NF – Black 1-yard scoring run, 9:54
NF – Keaton 3-yard scoring reception, 4.5
Fourth quarter
IL – Sean McCray 17-yard scoring reception, 9:44
IL – TJ Thomas 3-yard scoring run, 1:53
Overtime
NF – Evan Cox 21-yard field goal
