The Blythewood Bengal’s football season came to an abrupt end Friday night in the first round of the state playoffs. Despite hosting their first playoff game since 2006, and their first ever at the 4A level, Blythewood fell to Boiling Springs 44-36. Before the game, Boiling Springs head coach Bruce Clark believed his team had nothing to lose.
“Playing on the road gives us the chance to play a little freer,” Clark said.
Boiling Springs jumped out to a 31-0 lead, including 28 points in the first quarter. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown on their first four possessions, with Blythewood either punting or turning it over on their first four possessions.
Although faced with a third-and-8, the scoring started with a 78-yard catch and run by Boiling Spring’s running back Zavier Jeter. After forcing Blythewood to punt on the next two possessions, Boiling Spring’s running back Tre’Shaun Sanderlin would reach the end zone from 19 and 2 yards out. Sanderlin came into the game with 1,102 yards on the ground andClarkexpected another big game from his running back.
“He’s (Sanderlin) probably been our most consistent player this season,” Clark said. “Every time he gets the ball he has a chance to pick up positive yards.”
On the Bulldogs’ next drive they would use just one play to cross the goal line. It would be Jeter with another big play on a catch and run, this one from 63 yards away.
Halfway through the second quarter Boiling Springs would tack on a 25-yard field goal from Jordan Rivers. But with a minute and a half remaining in the first half the Blythewood defense would come alive and force their first of three turnovers. Bengals cornerback Dominique Lemon picked off a pass on the sideline, giving Blythewood the ball at midfield.
On the ensuing play, Blythewood quarterback Kylin Binn connected with Lynard Jamison deep down the middle for 42 yards setting the Bengals up with a first-and-10 from the 12-yard line. Then with 20 seconds left in the half, faced with a second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Binn used a quarterback sneak to put the first points up for Blythewood. At the half the Bengals trailed 31-7.
Blythewood dominated in the second half as they outscored Boiling Springs 29-13.
Blythewood started with the football in the second half and scored on their first offensive possession. Bengals kicker Greg Huegel connected on a 36-yard field goal that capped a nine-play 53-yard drive cutting the deficit to 31-10.
Then the momentum started to shift in favor of Blythewood. The Bengals defense forced a three-and-out and the always dangerous Shyeim Brown broke free down the sideline for a 39-yard punt return touchdown. It was Brown’s second touchdown of the season off a punt return and his fourth special team’s touchdown of the year, with the other two coming off kickoffs. After Huegel added the extra point Blythewood trailed 31-17.
With four minutes left in the third quarter Blythewood would continue to cut into the lead. The Bengals offense took over at the Boiling Springs 17-yard line after a muffed punt. Brown snagged a pass from Binn at the goal line from 17 yards out and Blythewood had scored 24 unanswered points to make it just a one possession game, trailing 31-24. Bengals head coach Reggie Kennedy was impressed with his team’s resiliency.
“I was really proud of the way our kids fought back,” Kennedy said. “Not many teams would have fought back being down 31-0.”
Early in the fourth quarter the Bengals offense was faced with a fourth-and-4 from the Boiling Springs 35-yard line, but Binn was stopped short on a quarterback keeper. The Bulldogs would score on the following possession off a 13-yard catch by Sanderlin to cap a five-play 64-yard drive, making the score 38-24. That touchdown drive included a key catch and run for 53 yards by Boiling Spring’s wide receiver Mason Sanders.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, with Boiling Springs facing a fourth down, the snap went over the punter’s head and Blythewood took over at the Bulldogs’ 11-yard line. On third-and-goal from the 3, Jamison stretched an end around to the pylon to score his first touchdown of the game. But the extra point by Huegel was blocked making the score 38-30 in favor of the Bulldogs.
On the ensuing possession, Blythewood safety Joe Kelly intercepted a pass and bolted down the sideline for a defensive touchdown. It was possibly the biggest play of the game for Blythewood’s defense and Kennedy wasn’t surprised it came from Kelly.
“Joe (Kelly) has played well for us all year,” Kennedy said. “He led us in interceptions (five) this year and I’m really proud of him.”
Kelly’s pick-six made the score 38-36 and Blythewood was forced to attempt a 2-point conversion. But the pass intended for Javon Smith was incomplete and the Bengals trailed by 2 with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.
With Boiling Springs holding onto a slim lead, they lined up in a power formation and R.J. Beatty broke free up the middle for 75-yard touchdown run. The point after was pushed wide making the score 44-36.
Down by just one possession, the Bengals offense took over at their own 42-yard line with just under three minutes remaining. After a flurry of short completions by Binn, the Bengals had driven to the Boiling Springs 33-yard line, but after giving up a sack and a penalty, Blythewood was unable to convert a fourth-and-21 and fell short, losing to Boiling Springs 44-36.
After the game Kennedy believed the loss was due to a poor start.
“We just lost the first quarter 28-0,” Kennedy said. “It was a good fight, but we just came up short.”
Boiling Springs improved to 7-5 and will face Dutch Fork in the next round. Blythewood ended their season with a 9-3 record and a share of the Region IV 4A championship. Kennedy thinks his team is primed for improvement next year.
“We need to build on the success of this year,” Kennedy said. “We look forward to the off-season to get stronger and faster.”
BHS 0-7-17-12 36
BSHS 28-3-0-13 44
First Quarter
BSHS- Z. Jeter 78 pass from T. Garrett. J. Rivers kick. (10:56)
BSHS- T. Sanderlin 19 run. J. Rivers kick. (8:22)
BSHS- T. Sanderlin 2 run. J. Rivers kick. (4:16)
BSHS- Z. Jeter 63 pass from T. Garrett. J. Rivers kick. (:45)
Second Quarter
BSHS- J. Rivers 25 field goal. (7:27)
BHS- K. Binn 1 run. G. Huegel kick. (:20)
Third Quarter
BHS- G. Huegel 36 field goal. (9:10)
BHS- S. Brown 39 punt return. G. Huegel kick. (8:14)
BHS- S. Brown 17 pass from K. Binn. G. Huegel kick. (4:08)
Fourth Quarter
BSHS- T. Sanderlin 13 pass from T. Garrett. J. Rivers kick. (8:55)
BHS- L. Jamison 3 run. Kick blocked. (5:35)
BHS- J. Kelly 36 interception return. Pass failed. (4:47)
BSHS- R. Beatty 75 run. Kick failed. (2:57)
Team Stats
BHS BSHS
First Downs 14 17
Rushes/Yards 32-(-45) 33-11
Comp/Att/Int 16-35-1 18-31-2
Pass Yards 167 349
Fumbles/Lost 3-1 2-1
Penalties/Yards 10-92 8-69
Individual Stats
PASSING—BHS: K. Binn 15-34. 167 yards. 1 INT. 1 TD. T. Palmer 1-1. 0 yards. 0 INT. 0 TD. BSHS: T. Garrett 17-38. 342 yards. 2 INT. 3 TD. D. Thompson 1-3. 7 yards. 0 INT. 0 TD.
RUSHING—BHS: D. Albert 4-4. J. Smith 1-3. L. Jamison 2-2. B. Ruiz 5-(-7). BSHS: R. Beatty 1-75. T. Sanderlinl 9-59. Z. Jeter 10-10.
RECEIVING—BHS: J. Smith 6-60. L. Jamison 3-59. B. Smith 2-21. S. Brown 2-21. BSHS: M. Sanders 5-87. T. Sanderline 5-63. Z. Jeter 3-143. K. Paige 3-22.