Blythewood’s Dominique Lemon (3) brings down Ridge View quarterback Cameron Butler. (Photo/Kristy Kimball Massey)
BLYTHEWOOD – The Bengals of Blythewood high school were very disappointed in their season debut versus Rock Hill last week and vowed to make a better effort against their arch rivals, the Blazers of Ridge View High School. The Bengals were led by their junior quarterback David Isreal’s 216 yards passing and two touchdowns as the Bengals earned a 20-5 victory over Ridge View.
Blythewood began the game with a fumble on their opening possession of the game inside their 30-yard line. The Bengals defense was able to hold up giving up only a field goal, which Ridge View senior Nick Goff kicked from 32 yards out.
Even after giving up the field goal, the Bengal offense would stall on its second possession, struggling to get the ground game going as Ridge View’s defense continued to make it difficult for the Bengal offense to find an early groove for the game. The Bengal defense would again stop Ridge View offense from making any progress to build a lead in the game as both defenses did not allow any offensive production in the first quarter. Blythewood senior Dominique Lemon finally broke the ice for the Bengals, returning a punt 85 yards for the game’s first touchdown. This punt return would be the Bengals only positive note of the first quarter as they battled through turnovers and penalties.
Blythewood’s struggles continued in the second quarter, as the Blazer defense clogged the running lanes.
“We are very inexperienced up front and it will take some time for us to get them a little more experience,” Blythewood head coach Dan Morgan said. “I know it will take time, but we want to get the run game started to help push the tempo of the game. We have to continue to focus on ourselves and continue to make ourselves better as we travel to our first road game (Sept. 5 at Lexington).”
Just before the half, however, things began to click as Trae Churn hauled in a 30-yard pass from Isreal in the end zone to put the Bengals up 14-3 at the break.
The Bengals and Blazers would be scoreless in the third quarter as both defenses continue to make it difficult for either team to make any progress on the offensive side of the ball. The Bengals final touchdown would come on a 21-yard touchdown pass by Isreal to senior Joseph Richardson. The Bengals would give up a late safety to the Blazers, but it did not affect the outcome of the game as the Bengals defense would keep the Blazers out the end zone.
“I am proud of my team overcoming the adversity we dealt with during the week following that big loss,” Morgan said. “My team handled the week with a lot of maturity and I’m proud of my team leaders keeping the team focused on the task at hand.”
RV: 3-0-0-2 – 5
B: 7-7-0-6 – 20
Scoring
First Quarter
RV – N. Goff 32-FG. (8:54)
B – Dominique Lemon 85 punt return. Cody Turner kick. (3:21)
Second Quarter
B – Trae Churn 30-pass from David Isreal. C. Turner kick. (7:29)
Fourth Quarter
B – Joseph Richardson 21-pass from D. Isreal. Pass failed. (10:43)
RV – Team safety. (0:21)
Team Stats
RV B
First Downs 11 13
Rushes/Yards 44-144 27-(-3)
Passing Yards 54 216
C-A-I 6-21-0 14-27-1
Fumbles/Lost 5-1 7-3
Penalties/Yards 8-53 6-46
Individual Stats
RUSHING: RV—D. Warren 13-87, M. Addison 19-63, C. Butler 10-1, T. Posey 2-(-7). B—Kyle Wright 5-25, D’Andre Fletcher 2-4, Joseph Richardson 1-3, Sekwan Jenkins 1-(-9), David Isreal 17-(-21), Team 1-(-5).
RECEIVING: RV—Reaster-Glover 3-33, T. Wilson 1-16, J. Smith 1-9, M. Addison 1-(-4). B—Eric Weber 3-66, Trae Churn 2-55, Sekwan Jenkins 3-49, Kyle Wright 2-12, D’Andre Fletcher 2-7, Joseph Richardson 1-21, Leo Evans 1-6.
PASSING: RV—T. Posey 3-12, 38 yards; C. Butler 3-9, 16 yards. B—David Isreal 14-27, 216 yards, INT, 2TD.
