Jacob McGuire takes a David Isreal pass and fights for yards. (Photo/Kristy Kimball Massey)
LEXINGTON – The Blythewood Bengals headed into round 2 of the Class 4A/D2 state playoffs hoping to avenge their Sept. 4, 21-20 home loss to the Lexington Wildcats. The Wildcats had other plans as they ended the Bengals season, 30-13.
Blythewood jumped out of the gate on their opening possession as Osei Thomas exploded for an 81-yard touchdown run giving the Bengals a 7-0 lead early in the first. Lexington did not take long to respond after that explosive run.
Lexington running back Slade Carroll burst through the Bengal defense with a 59-yard touchdown run, tying the game 7-7 in the first quarter.
Lexington’s defense began to stifle the Bengal offense and special teams, forcing costly mistakes. The Wildcats blocked a Blythewood punt into the end zone for a safety, giving the Wildcats a 9-7 lead at the end of the first.
Bengal senior quarterback David Isreal refused to cave in to the Wildcats. Midway through the second, Isreal hit Trae Churn on 36-yard touchdown pass. Despite the score, the Wildcats forced another costly mistake, blocking the extra point to hold the Bengals to a 13-9 lead.
“Tonight we lacked execution on both sides of the ball,” Blythewood head coach Dan Morgan said, “but I felt we were still going to win this game because we never gave up.”
The PAT block fed the Lexington momentum as they closed the second quarter on a 14-0 run. Brandon Blake hit Tyler Schadewald with a pair of TD strikes, one from 15 yards and another from 50 yards out, in the final 2 minutes, giving the Wildcats a 23-13 lead at the half.
Thomas, injured in the first half, did not return to action in the final two frames, limiting the Bengals’ running game. Lexington sealed the deal late in the third when Carroll scored from 2 yards out for the 30-13 final.
“We were not consistent throughout the game and losing Osei was not the best thing,” Morgan said, “but I am proud of their efforts.”
Blythewood finishes the season 9-4. Lexington will travel to Spartanburg Friday to face the top-seeded Vikings.
“I feel selfish that the season is over because I love these guys and do not want their season to end,” Morgan said. “No single game defined our season this year, but I cannot be more proud of how this team stood together as a family and how we were two games away from realizing our dreams.”
BHS: 7-6-0-0 – 13
L: 9-14-7-0 – 30
First Quarter
B – Osei Thomas 81 run (Cody Turner kick). 11:13.
L – Slade Carroll 59 run (C. Kinsley kick). 9:53.
L – Team safety. 4:10.
Second Quarter
B – Trae Churn 36 pass from David Isreal (kick blocked). 6:33.
L – T. Schadewald 15 pass from Brandon Blake (C. Kinsley kick). 1:18.
L – T. Schadewald 50 pass from B. Blake (C. Kinsley kick). 0:19.
Third Quarter
L – S. Carroll 2 run (C. Kinsley kick). 1:23.
Team Stats
BHS LHS
First Downs 20 19
Rushes-Yards 44-276 37-180
Passing Yards 136 250
C-A-INT 12-25-3 16-28-0
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 9-92 11-115
Individual Stats
RUSHING: B – David Isreal 25-107, Osei Thomas 3-87, Kyle Wright 16-82. L – S. Carroll 25-138, E. Green 6-27, B. Blake 2-19, D. Baker 1-1, D. Wells 3-(-5).
PASSING: B – David Isreal 12-25, 136 yards, TD, 3 INT. L – B. Blake 15-25, 249 yards, 2 TD. D. Baker 1-3, 1 yard.
RECEIVING: B – Jacob McGuire 5-56, Daquan Patten 3-32, Trae Churn 2-38, Kenny Benton 1-7, Jordyn Adams 1-3. L – O. Ferguson 8-129, J. Hopper 5-55, T. Schadewald 2-65, D. Wells 1-1.
