GREENVILLE – A slow start to a second half slugfest hurt the Nation Ford Falcons in the opening round of the 5A Division II football playoffs.
The Greenville Red Raidersbeat Nation Ford 42-35 despite the Falcons outscoring them 28-21 in the second half.
“We didn’t do enough in the first half,” said Nation Ford head coach Jake Bentley. “We couldn’t put enough points on the board. There are so many special things to build on. I hurt for our seniors group.”
Greenville came in at 7-3 overall. Nation Ford finished their season at 4-7 overall.
Nation Ford got the opening kick of the game. The Falcons picked up one first down, but then spent more time going backwards on the drive than making any progression and had to punt.
Greenville took their opening series and then went 71-yards to cap it off with a 5-yard touchdown run with 6:39 left in the first quarter.
Nation Ford quarterback Kason Canupp was picked off on a tipped pass at the Falcons 21 giving the Red Raiders the ball back near the red zone.
Greenville took advantage and would score four plays later to go up 14-0.
That score carried into the second quarter where the Falcons put together a good drive resulting in an 8-yard touchdown catch by JaMari Gore from Canupp to get Nation Ford on the board.
The Red Raiders defense stepped up after the Falcons touchdown and stopped them on their next possession.
Greenville extended their lead on their second possession of the second quarter with a 23-yard touchdown pass capping off a six play drive with 2:18 left in the half.
The two teams traded interceptions as Justin Smiley got the interception for Nation Ford with 58 seconds remaining in the half.
Neither team was able to capitalize on the turnovers as they went to the half with the Red Raiders up by two scores.
The Falcons offense was one-sided as they had negative 17 yards rushing at the half and 144 yards through the air.
Nation Ford tried an onside kick to no avail to open the second half.
Greenville took their opening possession of the second half and went 59-yards in eight plays and scored on a 25-yard turn to go up 28-7 with 7:53 in the third quarter.
The Falcons came right back on their first possession as Canupp hit Jayden Scott over the middle for a 61-yard touchdown taking just eight seconds off the clock to cut the Red Raiders lead in half.
As explosive as the Falcons offense could be, defense was an issue in stopping Greenville. The Red Raiders were able to keep the ball on the ground and eat up both clock and yardage.
The Red Raiders continued to extend their lead with a 19-yard touchdown pass with 3:54 remaining in the third quarter.
Nation Ford played better offensively in the second half. The Falcons again scored to cut into the Greenville lead on a four-play drive resulting in a Malachi Drayton 6-yard touchdown run with three minutes left in the quarter.
The Falcons defense made a huge stop to open the fourth quarter. Two 15-yard penalties aided Nation Ford giving them 30 free yards before Canupp hit Scott for a 40-yard touchdown to bring the Falcons to within one score.
The Falcons defense tried to hold Greenville back, but could stop another scoring drive by the Red Raiders with about 3:45 remaining.
Nation Ford would add one more touchdown to again pull within a one score game as Canupp ran in from 6-yards out with less than 90 seconds left in the game.
Despite the loss, Canupp had another big statistical game going 18-of-39 for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown as well. Scott was his main target as he had seven catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Gore had four catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, while running the ball Drayton had 10 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
