By John Epps
Chandler Stadium
Simpsonville, SC
On a night dominated by defense, Hillcrest’s Avery McFadden was the offensive shining star in the Rams’ 21-6 win over a much improved Boiling Springs squad. The most impressive units from each side tonight were certainly the defensive lines, which essentially eliminated a consistent ground game for both teams.
Hillcrest started the game hot, going 80 yards in 2:45. The scoreboard lit up on a 4th & 1 when McFadden took a direct snap 39 yards, breaking through the line and running through a diving tackle in the secondary on his way to the endzone. The Rams’ next scoring opportunity would come when a bad snap on a Boiling Springs punt results in Hillcrest starting at the Bulldogs’ 30 yard line. The Rams were not able to convert the excellent field position into points though, as the Boiling Springs defensive line held strong. The following Boiling Springs drive would end with a strip sack and Hillcrest recovering the loose ball just shy of midfield at their own 48. This good field position would also result in zero points though, as an attempted 32-yard field goal from the left hash would sail wide right.
The second quarter looked to be more promising for Boiling Springs, as QB Lincoln Huskey was able to use his legs to move the chains for the Bulldogs. Once again though, the Bulldogs would cough up the football when the ball popped out of Huskey’s hands on a read option that was snatched out of the air by a Rams' defender at the Hillcrest 10 yard line. With 3:48 remaining in the 1st half, the Bulldogs would get on the board when Huskey lofted a beautiful 38-yard pass that dropped right into Tristian Johnson’s hands in the endzone. A bad hold on the extra point would see a flat football zing off the left upright to keep Hillcrest in front 7-6. The remainder of the second quarter featured more solid defense, but a narrowly missed interception by Boiling Springs that may have gone to the house served as another close play the Bulldogs could not quite cash in on.
Boiling Springs did execute a big time defensive play in the 3rd quarter when Hillcrest's McFadden got hit with a ton of bricks up the middle, separating him from the football at the Bulldogs’ 9 yard line. Boiling Springs would not be able to get anything going offensively after the take away though. McFadden would strike again late in the 3rd as he took a punt return on just his side of midfield, 31 yards down to the Boiling Springs 21. He would then bookend the drive with another direct snap carry from 5 yards out. McFadden made a great move behind the line of scrimmage to get by one defender, then cut back inside to the goal line, putting the Rams up 14-6.
Still only down by a score, the Bulldogs had opportunities in the 4th to get a potentially game-tying score (with a 2pt conversion of course). In a minute and a half, that all changed when a 4th down pass was tipped away by Hillcrest, setting up their final scoring drive. With 2:56 left to play, a Sutton screen pass to McFadden with good outside blocking springs the senior 41-yards down the Hillcrest sideline to give the Rams a two-score advantage at 21-6. The poise and elusiveness by Huskey would make the final minutes exciting, but their 4 turnovers proved too costly for the Bulldogs Friday night in Simpsonville.
Boiling Springs will look to get back on track next week when they host a struggling Greer squad, and the Rams will play host to the defending 3A upper state champs, Powdersville.
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