COLUMBIA – The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets went into the Capital City Friday and came away with its first region win in five years beating Spring Valley 21-7.
Despite the fact that the two teams had a combined record of 1-12 entering the contest, the victor would put themselves squarely in the playoff picture based on the latest SC High School League brackets. Moreover, both teams have been struggling mightily on the offensive side so something had to give.
The Yellow Jackets got the football first and promptly marched down the freshly laid turf at Harry Parone Stadium. Facing a decision on fourth and short at the Vikings 20-yard line, Fort Mill head coach Rob McNeely rolled the dice, but the pass fell incomplete for a turnover on downs. After chewing up half of the first quarter with 14 plays covering 51 yards, the Jackets weren’t able to dent the scoreboard.
Not to be outdone, Spring Valley started their first possession of the contest at the 20-yard line and began their descent into Fort Mill territory. Five plays in, aided by a couple of Fort Mill penalties, Spring Valley looked like they were set up to score with a first down at the Jackets 41-yard line. That’s when the Fort Mill defense bowed its neck forcing a Spring Valley punt which only went eight yards. That became the theme of the night and made the difference in the end.
Fort Mill was in prime position with the ball at the Vikings 35-yard line hoping to draw first blood. However, it wasn’t meant to be as a sack followed by more Fort Mill penalties forced a short Jackson Smith punt giving the Vikings the ball for the second time at their own 33. With only 2:12 remaining first quarter, the Vikings faced a fourth and 5 near midfield. This time it was Spring Valley head coach Nygel Pearson who decided to go for it, but the Fort Mill defense forced an incompletion for a turnover on downs. Both teams would trade punts to drain the second quarter clock sending the teams to the locker room in a scoreless first half.
The Yellow Jackets attempted an onside kick to begin the second half, but the Vikings were wise to the move covering up the ball at their own 47-yard line. A few plays later, Spring Valley faced a fourth and three inside Fort Mill territory.
Pearson decided to go for it again, but this time the Vikings convert as Aden Jones hit Kellen Dimes for an 8-yard reception. The Yellow Jackets continued to make it tough for Spring Valley forcing another fourth and short this time at the Jackets 26-yard line. Pearson told his fellas to go for it again and he was rewarded as the Vikings picked up nine yards for a crucial first down. A few plays later, Dayshawn Gaddist punched it in from 2-yards out giving Spring Valley the lead 7-0.
Looking to respond, the Yellow Jackets marched down the field but the drive stalled at the Spring Valley 10-yard line. Facing a fourth and 9, McNeely sent out the field goal unit to attempt a 27-yard field goal. The kick from Smith had plenty of leg, but the officials said it just went left preserving the seven-point lead for the Vikings with 1:27 left third quarter.
Yet again, the Jackets defense forced a three and out combined with a 9-yard punt by Spring Valley had Fort Mill in business deep inside Spring Valley territory.
Quinn Kelly connected with Landon Kurtz putting the ball at the 1-yard line. The Yellow Jackets shoved Kelly into the end zone for the first Fort Mill score of the night. Smith nailed the extra point and just like that the score was knotted at 7-7.
It was Spring Valley’s turn to respond, but the Yellow Jackets wanted no part of it forcing another three and out.
With the ball at midfield with the fourth quarter clock rolling, Fort Mill had a chance to take control of the game. Fort Mill coaches made a halftime adjustment moving Braylon Thomas into the backfield which paid dividends almost immediately. After a 16-yard scamper by Thomas, the Jackets had a big first down at the 32-yard line. Kelly scrambled for another 15-yards making it first and goal at the 1-yard line. Grayson Diehl would bang his way to pay dirt giving Fort Mill their first lead of the game. Another Smith extra point made it 14-7 Yellow Jackets with only 5:30 remaining in the game.
Realizing that time was of the essence, Spring Valley decided to throw caution to the wind going hurry up while passing the ball all over the place. It was working until Fort Mill forced a sack/fumble that was picked up by TJ Cornelius, who rumbled 45 yards for the touchdown.
With 3:35 left in the game, Fort Milll had a two possession lead which would be all the Jackets would need.
Spring Valley’s offense would give it another go. Jones was picked off by Landon Kurtz ending Spring Valley’s comeback attempt. The Yellow Jackets took a couple of knees to bleed out the clock giving Fort Mill their first region victory since October 6, 2017. In addition, it’s the first road Region victory for Fort Mill since defeating Clover in Memorial Stadium October 7, 2016.
With the victory, Fort Mill improves to 2-6 overall, but more importantly 1-2 in region play putting the Jackets, more than likely, into the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Jackets hit the road again next week playing at Clover, before finishing the regular season at home against Nation Ford.
