Brandon Edwards (28) charges through the space in the Lugoff defense. | Ross Burton
BLYTHEWOOD – Last week, the Bengals had a slight departure from their winning ways after a loss to the Sumter Fighting Gamecocks, but it was back to business as usual this week. Blythewood steamrolled the Lugoff-Elgin Demons on Friday night and did not let up on their way to a 31-7 blowout. The win improved Blythewood’s overall record at 6-2, and their 2-1 record in Region 4-5A play is good enough to put them second behind Sumter.
Defensive play set the tone and pace for much of the first half. Lugoff mounted a drive deep in Blythewood territory midway through the first quarter, but the drive stalled out on an unsuccessful fourth down conversion.
The Bengals received the ball early in the second quarter, and a 25-yard pass from King Ford to Brandon Edwards led Blythewood deep into Lugoff territory. The drive fizzled out at the Demons 22-yard line after a Ford pass fell incomplete on fourth down.
Blythewood was a bit luckier on their next drive. A 15-yard penalty set the drive off on a good note and a 15-yard Ford rush helped the Bengals push deeper inside Lugoff territory. The two big plays opened the door for Miles Heitman to nail a 28-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead.
Lugoff-Elgin looked to tie or take the lead on their next drive, but instead a fumble deep in their own territory lead to a safety for the Bengals. Chad Ishmael returned the ensuing safety kickoff 64 yards for a touchdown, and the Blythewood lead grew from 3-0 to 11-0 within 20 seconds.
Jaylon Boyd kept the train rolling for the Bengals with a 43-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. Miles Heitman booted an onside kick on the next kickoff, and Blythewood recovered the ball at the Lugoff 46. Heitman went on to add a 22-yard field goal on the next drive.
The Demons went three and out on their next possession, and that stalemate opened the door for Blythewood to add to the 18-0 lead. A bad Lugoff punt set the Bengals up with optimal field position at the Lugoff 36. Just five plays later, Boyd scored on a five-yard touchdown rush.
A fumble cursed the Demon’s next drive, but the Bengals were not able to capitalize on the mistake. Joshua Burrell recovered another Demons’ fumble later in the fourth quarter, and this time the Bengals were able to add points.
Miles Heitman converted the fumble recovery into a 28-yard field goal, his third of the game. His third field goal matched a school a record that was previously held by current Clemson kicker Greg Huegel.
Lugoff’s junior quarterback Jerred Lee connected with Caleb Mcdonald for a 15-yard, junk-time touchdown with 11 seconds left to go in the game. The Bengals final region game is at Spring Valley on Friday.
Scoring
BHS– 0-11-17-3-31
LEHS– 0-0-0-7-7
Second Quarter
BHS – Miles Heitman 28 field.2:40.
BHS – Safety.1:35.
BHS – Chad Ishmael 84 kickoff return (King Ford rush no good).1:19.
Third Quarter
BHS – Jaylon Boyd 43 run (M.Heitman kick).8:25.
BHS – M. Heitman 22 field goal.4:52.
BHS – Jaylon Boyd 5 run (M.Heitman kick).:46.
Fourth Quarter
BHS – M.Heitman 28 field goal.3:33.
LEHS – Caleb McDonald 15 pass from Jerred Lee (Alex Bowers kick).:11.
TEAM STATS BHS LEHS
First Downs 16 13
Rushes/Yards 45-203 35-138
Passing Yards 94 55
C-A-I-TD 5-12-0-0 6-17–0-1
Fumbles/ Lost 2/0 3/2
Penalties/Yards 7-63 5-41
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing: LEHS- Randall Brown 10-58, Tyler Dixon 16-48, Jered Lee 5-42, Josh Gary 2-3, Dan Guest1-2.BHS – Jaylon Boyd 12-96, Brandon Edwards 10-42, Chad Ishmael 1-23, Jordan Burell 3-22, King Ford 11-18, Chase Ishmael 1-6, Daniel Garifalon 1-5, Aamir Washinton 2-2.
Receiving: LEHS- Calen McdDonald 1-15, Randall Brown 1-3, Josh Gary 1-3, Jordan Williams 1-11, P.Clements 1-7, T. Dixon 1-(-4). BHS- Kevon Catoe 1-38, Brandon Edwards 2-26, David Patten 1-17, Noble Cooper 1-13.
Passing: LEHS- Josh Gary 4-13, 27 yards.. Jered Lee 2-4 28 yards one touchdown. BHS – King Ford 5-11, 94 yards. Jordan Burrell 0-1.