COLUMBIA – The Blythewood Bengals dropped their first game since early September, falling to Spring Valley High School, 49-20, Friday night. The first region loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Bengals. The Vikings’ flex bone rushing attack was too much for the Bengals defense as they were prodded and poked throughout the game. The Bengals defense surrendered a season-high 563 yards, 498 of which came on the ground, and 27 first downs. The Vikings also finished with two players with over 125 plus rushing yards a piece — John Miller with143 yards and Alec Koon with 191 yards.
With the Bengal defense struggling, the Vikings converted 14 of 17 third down attempts and scored on six out of seven red zone drives. The Bengals managed to keep the game close early, trailing only 14-7 at the half, but the Vikings offense took their play to the next level, scoring on every possession in the second half.
“Physically, they took it to us,” Blythewood head coach Dan Morgan said. “They had one of their better games of the season and it happened to be against us.”
The Vikings looked comfortable and confident early, taking a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter behind two John Miller touchdown runs – one of 4 yards and another from 14 yards out. Cooper Gresham added the extra point for both drives.
With the Bengals facing fourth-and-1 on the Vikings 43-yard line, David Israel’s pass fell incomplete, giving the Vikings the ball right back. But Jalen Williams’s forced fumble, recovered by the Bengals, put Blythewood in a position to score just before halftime. Lynard Jamison’s 51-yard run took the Bengals to the Vikings 4-yard line with less than a minute left in the half. After being sacked for six yards, Israel finished off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to De’Andre Fletcher. Greg Huegel’s extra point cut the Vikings lead to 14-7 at the break.
Although the Bengals came out with some momentum to start the second half, their defensive struggles would continue, as the Viking offenses relentlessly continued to wound the Bengals. Facing third-and-10 on their first possession, Spring Valley’s Chris Adams found Joseph Mealing on a slant route for a 38-yard touchdown, extending the Vikings lead to 21-7 with 9:09 left on the third. Following a short Bengals’ punt, the Vikings would find themselves in the end zone again on their very next drive behind a 6-yard touchdown run by Adams late in the third quarter. Gresham would add the extra point to extend the Vikings lead, 28-7.
But the Bengals would cut into the Bengals lead once again behind a record setting Aaron Peak 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Huegel added the extra point to close the gap to 28-14. But the Vikings continued to pound their rushing attack, scoring on two more drives to take a commanding 42-14 lead in the fourth quarter. Adams hit Jordan Foster with a 19-yard touchdown pass and, later, John Miller would punch it in on a 1-yard run.
On the first play of the next Bengals’ possession, Israel connected with Jamison for a 60-yard touchdown pass with 8:12 left in the fourth. The 2-point attempt came up short, but Blythewood cut the Vikings’ lead, 42-20. Looking to make a late run, the Bengals decided to attempt an onside to kick, but the Vikings covered on their own 44-yard line. With the lead, the Vikings continued to run the ball, pummeling the Bengals all the way to the Blythewood 1-yard line. Ryan Lee finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Gresham’s extra point made it a 49-20 Vikings lead.
Despite losing their first region game of the season, Morgan said his confidence in his team is only growing, stressing the importance for his team to control the tempo of the game.
“On defense we have to get stronger physically,” said Morgan. “We had to play catch-up and they are a tough team to play catch-up with, but we will work at it.”
The Bengals were also playing without starting quarterback Javon Smith, who is still nursing a hand injury he suffered against Sumter. Smith leads the team in passing with 750 yards and six touchdowns, along with 265 rushing yards.
“We are really hoping we can get (Smith) back soon,” Morgan said. “(Smith) is probably one of our best players on the team, if not the best player.”
The Bengals (4-3) will have a chance to revamp themselves against a winless Richland Northeast team this Friday night. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Richland Northeast High School.
BHS – 0-7-7-6 – 20
SVHS – 7-7-21-14 – 49
First Quarter
SV – John Miller 4-run. Cooper Gresham kick. (7:35)
Second Quarter
SV – J. Miller 14-run. C. Gresham kick. (4:07)
BH – De’Andre Fletcher 10-pass from David Israel. Greg Huegel kick. (0:08)
Third Quarter
SV – Joseph Mealling 38-pass from Chris Adams. C. Gresham kick. (9:09)
SV – C. Adams 6-run. C. Gresham kick. (7:43)
BH – Aaron Peak 98 kickoff return. G. Huegel kick. (7:26)
SV – Jordan Foster 19-pass from C. Adams. C. Gresham kick. (3:03)
Fourth Quarter
SV – J. Miller 1-run. C. Gresham kick. (8:31)
BH – Lynard Jamison 60-pass from D. Israel. Run failed. (8:12)
SV – Ryan Lee 1-run. C. Gresham kick. (2:49)
BHS SVHS
First Downs 12 27
Rushes/Yards 17-91 73-498
Passing Yards 211 65
C-A-I 14-31-0 3-6-0
Fumbles/Lost 2-1 1-1
Penalties/Yards 6-45 4-25
RUSHING: BHS – Lynard Jamison 5-55, Joseph Richardson 3-25, De’Andre Fletcher 3-14, Jaquari Blunt 1-13, David Israel 5-(-16). SVHS – A. Koon 28-191, J. Miller 18-143, C. Adams 14-92, R. Lee 6-62, J. Harlan 3-11, J. Williams 1-3.
RECEIVING: BHS – Lynard Jamison 6-137, Jacob Rabon 6-52, De’Andre Fletcher 2-22. SVHS – J. Foster 2-27, J. Mealing 1-38.
PASSING: BHS – David Israel 14-31, 211 yards. SVHS – Chris Adams 3-6, 65 yards.