Blythewood’s Leo Evans (4), Jalen Williams (8) and Justin Glenn (10) chase down Aiken’s Terrell Lewis. (Photo/Joe Seibles)
BLYTHEWOOD – The Blythewood Bengals are on a roll after defeating the Aiken Hornets 34-20 Friday night. The Bengals were able to notch their fourth straight win to improve to 4-2 on the season. With Javon Smith out with an injury, the Bengals were lead by the arm of quarterback David Israel, as well as a solid defense that recovered four Hornet fumbles in the first half to lead to a 31-12 Bengals halftime advantage.
Israel commanded the offense with efficiency — racking up 138 yards passing on 11-of-23 attempts — and accounting for three of the Bengals’ four touchdowns in the first half. But miscues and mistakes would plague the scorching Bengals in the second half. As a result, the Hornets would have much success on the ground, attaining 264 rushing yards and finishing with 337 total yards of offense. But it would not be enough as the Bengal defense would prevail in maintaining the lead to achieve the win.
“It’s nice to get a ‘W’,” said Blythewood head coach Dan Morgan. “We didn’t play our best, but we still did some good things out there. We won four in a row and we’ve gotten better, but we still want to see more improvement.”
After the forcing the Hornets three-and-out on the first Aiken possession, the Bengal offense would have no problems finding the end zone, scoring on their fourth play of their first possession. Israel completed a 49-yard touchdown pass to Lynard Jamison with 10:11 left in the first quarter. Kicker Greg Huegel added the extra point to take a 7-0 lead. Jamison finished with 103 total yards and one touchdown.
Forcing the Hornets to punt on their next possession, Israel was intercepted by Dramel Coleman for a 44-yard touchdown. Jacob Norton’s point after attempt was blocked by Aaron Peak, and the Bengals’ lead held at 7-6.
On the next Aiken possession, Blythewood linebacker Jalen Williams forced a Cody Heath fumble on the Hornets’ 18-yard line. Israel finished off the drive with an 18-yard pass to Jacob Rabon. Huegel’s kick extended the lead 14-6.
The Hornets fumbled the ball away again on their next possession, this time on their own 28. Israel made the Hornets pay once more, hitting Rabon on a crossing pattern for a 4-yard touchdown. Huegel added the extra point to put the Bengals up 21-6 with 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Rabon would finish the game with four catches for 36 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Entering the second quarter, the Hornets finally put together a successful drive of their own, going 43 yards to set up a 29-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Heath to Stacy Toole. Norton’s point after was blocked once again by Peak, but the Bengals’ lead was cut to 21-12.
After a 51-yard kickoff return by Peak, the Bengals were in position to answer. Joseph Richardson carried the ball for 27 yards in two plays, which set up an 8-yard touchdown run by Jamison. The point after was good for Huegel as the Bengals took a commanding 28-12 lead.
The Bengals extended their lead late in the second quarter, doing so in record-setting fashion as Huegel launched a 51-yard field goal with 2:10 on the clock to put Blythewood up 31-12.
After a scoreless third, Huegel got the Bengals on the board again in the fourth, this time a 39-yarder with 8:35 to play. The Hornets added their final points just before the clock expired on a 3-yard run by Heath and a 2-point conversion run by Terrell Lewis.
The Bengals will have tough test this week as they will face-off against an undefeated Spring Valley High School (6-0) team on the road this Friday night.
“Our biggest thing is working on the flex bone offense,” Morgan said of the Vikings’ offensive look. “We will work our tails off on getting the defense ready. The biggest thing on offense is limiting our mistakes and stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Kickoff is at 7:30 at Spring Valley.
AHS – 6-6-0-8 – 20
BHS – 21-10-0-3 – 34
First Quarter:
BHS – Lynard Jamison 49-pass from David Israel. Greg Huegel kick. (10:11)
AHS – Dramel Coleman 44 interception return. Kick blocked. (7:27)
BHS – Jacob Rabon 18 pass from D. Israel. G. Huegel kick. (4:00)
BHS – J. Rabon 4-pass from D. Israel. G. Huegel kick. (00:57)
Second Quarter:
AHS – Stacy Toole 29-pass from Cody Heath. Kick blocked. (8:09)
BHS – L. Jamison 8-run. G. Huegel kick. (6:43)
BHS – G. Huegel 51 field goal. (2:10)
Fourth Quarter:
BHS – G. Huegel 39 field goal. (8:35)
AHS – C. Heath 3-run. Terrell Lewis 2-run. (0:01)
BHS AHS
First Downs 16 11
Rushes/Yards 58-264 45-234
Passing Yards 73 150
C-A-I 6-20-1 13-26-1
Fumbles/Lost 5-4 4-0
Penalties/Yards 4-25 8-87
RUSHING: AHS – Terrell Lewis 24-88, Dramel Coleman 10-88, Caleb Heath 11-58. BHS – D. Fletcher 11-54, J. Richardson 9-52, L. Jamison 7-15, D. Benson 1-3, D. Isreal 4-(-4), Z. Alexander 1-(-8).
RECEIVING: AHS – Stacy Toole 3-50, D. Coleman 1-16, A. Chandler 1-8, T. Lewis 1-(-1). BHS – L. Jamison 6-88, J. Rabon 4-36, D. Greyer 1-14, M. Knight 1-8, D. Patten 1-4.
PASSING: AHS – C. Heath 6-19, 73 yards, 1 INT. BHS – D. Isreal 11-23, 138 yards, 1 INT; Z. Alexander 2-3, 12 yards.