As seen on Recruit804.com
HIGHLAND SPRINGS 35, STONE BRIDGE 29
HAMPTON – With a last-minute drive, Highland Springs captured their second straight 5A state championship, coming back from a 13-point deficit to defeat Stone Bridge 35-29 on Saturday at Armstrong Stadium.
After Bradley Block’s third touchdown of the game cut the Springer lead to 28-27 with 1:22 remaining in the game, the Bulldogs called a timeout to discuss their conversion options. According to Stone Bridge coach Mickey Thompson, there wasn’t much of a discussion.
“We were going for it the whole time,” said Thompson, who has now taken the Bulldogs to seven state championships, but won only once, in 2007.
The decision proved to be correct as Leland Girdy swept in from the two-yard line to give Stone Bridge a 29-28 lead with 1:14 left in the game. From there, the Bulldogs attempted a squib kick that landed in the hands of Billy Kemp, who returned the ball 36 yards to the Springer 33.
“Our kicking game caused a short field for our defense all day,” said Thompson. “We aim left, and the ball goes right. They would get 25-30 yards on kickoffs, and sometimes I don’t know what the heck is going to happen.”
A 12-yard pass to Chris Thaxton gave the Springers a first-and-10 at the 21. On the next play, an 18-yard pass to Isiaiah Winstead moved the ball to the 3. From there, Carter found Thaxton wide open in the middle of the end zone for the game winner.
“We ran a slant, slant, flat, and I ran an outside wheel route” said Thaxton of the game-winning catch. “The safety turned one way, and I got open.”
Stone Bridge opened the game in complete control, dominating the run (126 yards rushing in first quarter) and time of possession. Their first drive (ten plays, 43 yards) was a ground game clinic. After an incomplete pass, Leland Girdy opened with a nine-yard sweep, followed by a pair of Block carries totaling ten yards. Josh Breece gathered a first down with his 16-yard run, setting up a first-and-goal from the 8. On fourth-and-2, Block took the direct snap and bulled through his line into the end zone. Block’s extra point gave the Bulldogs an early 7-0 lead.
The Springers took the ensuing kickoff just over the midfield line, and Kemp’s 19-yard run opened up a first-and-10 opportunity for Highland Springs at the Stone Bridge 30. But the Springers would get no farther, with Carter dropped on the 30 after a four-yard run on 4th-and-9, giving Stone Bridge the ball.
The Dogs wasted no time. Breece snapped off runs of 17 and 21 yards, giving the “home” team first-and-10 at the Springers 36. Two plays later, Girdy’s 13-yard dash led to another first down, at the 17. An offsides penalty against Highland moved the ball inside the 10. From there, Lawyer drove for seven tough yards, and then Block pushed ahead for a single yard, and then another; however, his last push crossed the goal and gave the Dogs a 13-0 lead. The two-point conversion failed after a fumbled snap and Stone Bridge enjoyed a 13-0 lead after the first quarter.
A 33-yard kickoff return by Rell Coley gave the Springers great field position at the Bulldog 37 to end the first quarter, but the Stone Bridge defense held strong and forced a fourth-and-2, stopping Carter after no gain. With their three plays, the Dogs failed to move the ball, and then compounded their error by electing to go for a first down with fourth-and-seven at their own 32. Josh Lawyer was wrapped up after gaining only a yard, leaving the Springers with their first true scoring threat at the Bulldog 33.
With renewed opportunity, Carter went right to work, first scrambling for a 14-yard gain, and then running through a seam in the middle of his line for a 19-yard touchdown. Jack Notley’s extra point closed the Stone Bridge lead to 13-7, which held up until halftime.
Speaking of the short drive, Carter noted that his nerves had gotten the better of him early in the game. “I had to calm down and take a deep breath,” said the senior, who completed 14 of 25 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns, and added 78 yards on the ground.
Highland Springs coach Loren Johnson saw the Stone Bridge decision that led to the first touchdown as a turning point.
“There are multiple turning points in a game. That was definitely the first one,” said Johnson, who has now won three titles as head of the Springer program, including last year’s 27-7 win over the same Bulldog team.
Perhaps more amazing was that Stone Bridge held a 32:42-15:18 edge in time of possession. In fact, all of Highland’s 21 fourth-quarter points were scored in a period of 2:14.
STONE BRIDGE 13, 0, 0, 16 -- 29
HIGHLAND SPRINGS 0, 7, 7, 21 -- 35
1st Quarter
SB – Block 1 run (Block kick)
SB – Block 1 run (run failed)
2nd Quarter
HS – J. Carter 19 run (Notley kick)
3rd Quarter
HS – Winstead 13 pass from J. Carter (Notley kick)
4th Quarter
SB – Breece 22 run (Breece run)
HS – Harkless 62 run (Notley kick)
HS – J. Jackson 48 pass (Notley kick)
SB – Block 1 run (Girdy run)
HS – Thaxton 3 pass (Notley kick)
SB HS
First downs; 24, 16
Rushes-yards; 70-401, 22-181
Passing yards; 2, 196
Comp-att-int; 1-9-2, 14-25-0
Penalties-yards; 6-60, 12-86
Punts-avg; 1-41, 0-0
Fumbles-lost; 0-0, 1-1
Time of possession; 32:42, 15:18
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: Rushing: Stone Bridge – Josh Breece 27-213, Bradley Block 22-96, Leland Girdy 12-78, Josh Lawyer 7-17, Easton Turner 2- (-3). Total 70 for 401. Highland Springs – Juwan Carter 13-84, Willie Harkless 3-71, Billy Kemp 1-19, Shyrie McKeiver 4-9, Team 1- (-2). Total 22 for 181. Passing: Stone Bridge – Easton Turner 1-8-2, 2 yds. Leland Girdy 0-1-0, 0 yds. Highland Springs – Juwan Carter 14-25-0, 196 yds. 3 TD. Receiving: Stone Bridge – Leland Girdy 1-2. Highland Springs – Chris Thaxton 5-42, TD, James Jackson 4-83, TD, Isiaiah Winstead 3-39, TD, Billy Kemp 1-24, Shyrie McKeiver 1-8.
No comments:
Post a Comment