Fans at W.C. Hawkins stadium got their money’s worth and then some on Friday night. The Yellow Jackets of Irmo (5-5, 3-1) prevailed over Blythewood (8-2, 3-1) in five overtimes with a 37-34 victory. The five overtime thriller snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Bengals. After the game Blythewood head coach Reggie Kennedy was not surprised to get Irmo’s best shot.
“It was a hard-fought battle,” Kennedy said. “We told our kids all week it was going to be a war for four quarters and we got that tonight.”
With the win Irmo is now in the driver’s seat of the Region IV-4A race. Irmo’s head coach Bob Hanna has only one thing on his mind: to be region champion.
“During August we set some goals,” Hanna said. “One of those goals was to be region champs.”
Late in the first quarter Irmo was the first to strike. On a third down and goal to go from the 1-yard line, Shyeim Copland punched it in to give the Yellow Jackets the early lead. Copland’s touchdown capped an 11-play drive that was helped out by a personal foul penalty.
On the Bengals’ ensuing possession, quarterback Kylen Binn coughed up the football deep in his own territory when Irmo’s defensive end Darius Wright made the sack and forced the fumble. The Bengals defense would hold Irmo to a field goal, though, giving the Yellow Jackets a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The only scoring in the second quarter would come from Blythewood kicker Greg Huegel when he completed a 12-play drive by knocking through a 31-yard field goal. At half time Blythewood trailed 10-3.
Late in the third quarter Blythewood would tie the game up when Binn plunged into the end zone from 2 yards out. His touchdown capped off a six-play 85-yard drive that included a 67-yard catch and run (season high) by Shyeim Brown. Huegel nailed the extra point making the score 10-10.
Early in the fourth quarter Bengals linebacker Derek Miller intercepted a tipped pass, giving Blythewood the ball in Irmo territory. It set up a potential field goal for Blythewood to take the lead, but from 43 yards out, Huegel’s kick was pushed wide right.
After forcing a three-and-out, Blythewood’s offense would take over at their own 30-yard line with five minutes to play in regulation. Methodically moving down the field and into Irmo territory, the drive would be halted by a turnover at the Yellow Jackets’ 29-yard line. On a third-down play, Binn’s pass was picked off by Cliff Barrett, his third interception of the game.
Irmo would subsequently run out the clock and take a 10-10 game into overtime.
The overtime period is a Kansas City style shootout with each offense taking over at the 10-yard line.
In the first overtime the two teams traded touchdowns and extra points making the score 17-17 heading into the second overtime.
In the second overtime the teams traded field goals; Irmo’s Ben Hinson hit from 23-yards out and Huegel was solid on a 21-yard field goal making the score 20-20.
In the third overtime, faced with a third-and-goal from the 10-yard line, Binn threw a laser to Lynard Jamison for the touchdown. Irmo would counter with a 2-yard touchdown run by Copland making the score 27-27.
In the fourth overtime Irmo struck first with another Copland touchdown, this time from 1 yard out. Looking at a third-and-goal from the 6-yard line, Binn sent the game to a fifth over time by throwing a strike to Shyeim Brown making the score 34-34.
But in the fifth overtime the Bengals’ offense made the mistake of turning the ball over. Faced with a third-and-goal from the 18-yard line, Binn lobbed one into the end zone, only to have it intercepted by Ronald Millhouse. With Blythewood being held scoreless, Irmo’s head coach Bob Hanna didn’t hesitate to send out his kicker. Hinson split the uprights giving the Yellow Jackets a 37-34 win.
“I like our kicker,” Hanna said. “Ben (Hinson) in my opinion is the best kicker in the state.”
In a game that was close to three hours long, it was a defensive struggle throughout most of the game. On offense, Blythewood averaged 3.2 yards per play and Irmo averaged 2.5 yards per play.
Despite being a close ball game, the Bengals play was plagued by mistakes that included six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles), 10 penalties for 93 yards and allowing six sacks.
“We committed too many turnovers and too many penalties,” Kennedy said.
Despite being disappointed by the loss Kennedy was optimistic moving forward.
“We just want to learn from this and take out some of the positives,” Kennedy said. “It was a playoff atmosphere and should help us down the line.”
With one game remaining in the regular season Blythewood can still receive a share of the region championship. On Friday they face their district rival Ridgeview (6-4, 3-1), who is coming off a 38-20 win over Richland Northeast. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at District Stadium in Blythewood. To listen to the live broadcast visit www.facebook.com/bhathletics.
BHS- 0-3-7-0 7-3-7-7-0 34
IRMO- 10-0-0-0 7-3-7-7-3 37
First Quarter
IRMO- S. Copland 1 run. Hinson kick. (1:31)
IRMO- Hinson 22 field goal. (:22)
Second Quarter
BHS- B. Huegel 31 field goal. (4:26)
Third Quarter
BHS- Binn 2 run. Huegel kick. (1:27)
First Overtime
BHS- K. Binn 7 run. Huegel kick.
IRMO- S. Copland 3 run. Hinson kick
Second Overtime
IRMO- B. Hinson 23 field goal.
BHS- G. Huegel 21 field goal.
Third Overtime
BHS- L. Jamison 10 pass from K. Binn
IRMO- S. Copland 2 run.
Fourth Overtime
IRMO- S. Copland 1 run.
BHS- S. Brown 6 pass from K. Binn
Fifth Overtime
IRMO- B. Hinson 27 field goal
Team Stats
BHS IRMO
First Downs 13 11
Rushes/Yards 50-98 49-108
Comp/Att/Int 10-22-4 11-21-1
Pass Yards 131 64
Fumbles/Lost 2-2 0-0
Penalties/Yards 10-93 6-45
Individual Stats
PASSING—BHS: K. Binn 10-22. 131 yards. 2 TD. 4 INT. IRMO: G. Davitte 10-20. 53 yards. 0 TD. 1 INT.
RUSHING—BHS: D. Beckford 11-42. L. Jamison 8-36. B. Ruiz 4-15. K. Binn 23-15. IRMO: S. Copland 31-74. G. Davitte 10-19. B. Hinson 1-13. B. Fashaw 5-8.
RECEIVING—BHS: S. Brown 6-82. J. Smith 1-18. D. Bekcford 1-14. L. Jamison 1-10. IRMO: S. Copland 4-13. S. Brooks 2-20. T. Suber 2-9. C. Barrett 1-11.