By Jake Hart
Special to Fort Mill Prep Sports
The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets hosted the Rock Hill Bearcats for their Homecoming game, falling to 1-6 on the season by a score of 52-26.
Things started off rocky for Fort Mill, giving up a touchdown within the first two minutes of the game. They were able to respond with Tanner Mays picking up a 33-yard punt return, putting the Yellow Jackets at their own 46-yard line.
Quarterback Quinn Kelly followed that up with a 26-yard run and a 22-yard bomb to Tysen Helms to put Fort Mill within two yards of the goal line. Kelly was able to get the ball in Grayson Diehl’s hands to tie up the game.
The Bearcats quickly answered with a 59-yard touchdown pass to Malik Clark, taking the 14-7 lead.
Finding themselves at fourth and three at Rock Hill’s 45-yard line early in the second quarter, Fort Mill surprised everyone with a fake punt, passing the ball to Mays for a 13-yard gain. Unfortunately, the Jackets were unable to convert on fourth down at the Bearcats’ 28-yard line.
After a 48-yard drive, the Bearcats went for it on fourth and six, but it was intercepted by Fort Mill’s Braylon Thomas at the one-yard line. The very next play, the Jackets fumbled in their own endzone, and the Bearcats picked up another touchdown. On the bright side, Fort Mill was able to block the extra point attempt and keep the score at 20-7.
Fort Mill was able to battle back, scoring a touchdown within the last 10 seconds of the half on a 15-yard Jackson Smith catch from Kelly. After a blocked extra point, the score was 20-13 making it a one possession game heading into the half.
However, things fell apart quickly in the third quarter for the Jackets. After a short punt, the Bearcats found themselves at Fort Mill’s 23-yard line, and picked up a touchdown on the first play of the drive followed by a 2-point conversion.
The spiral continued after a dropped pitch from Mays to Thomas on the punt return, put Rock Hill at the goal line. After a quick touchdown from Rock Hill, the Jackets trailed 35-13.
As if that wasn’t enough, Noah Hardy’s knee hit the ground on a punt attempt, putting the Bearcats at the 13-yard line, resulting in another touchdown three plays later, extending their lead to 42-13.
The Jackets looked as if they were beginning to string things together after a 15-yard rushing touchdown from Kelly and a 30-yard touchdown to Smith late in the third quarter closing the gap to 42-26.
Sadly, any hope of a Jacket comeback was crushed after Kelly threw a 55-yard pick-six to Rock Hill’s Nigel Lightner in the fourth quarter.
Fort Mill is still winless in region play at 0-2, but they showed signs of promise on multiple drives against a tough Rock Hill team.
For Fort Mill, Mays caught seven passes for 91 yards and Smith caught five passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Kelly scored a touchdown on the ground and threw for two touchdowns in going 19-for-34 for 207 yards.
Next up for Fort Mill is a road trip to Spring Valley in Columbia Friday, Oct. 13.
