Quarterback Ahmon Green (6) mounted a late comeback attempt that fell short with just seconds left in the game. | Leroy Howard
COLUMBIA – Westwood struggled through region 3-4A, but rebounded for an at-large bid in the playoffs and upset Belton Honea-Path in the first round. The win set up a rematch with the Ridge View Blazers. The Blazers beat the Redhawks 28-7 in their first meeting, but this one came down to the wire. Ridge View led by 15 when the fourth quarter began, but Westwood fought back late in the quarter to take a four-point lead. The Blazers pulled out the 41-38 win with a late touchdown pass.
Wayln Napper notched the first score of the game on a two-yard run, and later in the first quarter he was on the receiving end of a 22-yard touchdown pass from Javon Anderson. Ridge View led 14-0 after the first quarter, but, in the second, Cam Atkins racked up passing and rushing touchdowns to bring Westwood back within a point.
Cincere Scott pulled down a 54-yard yard touchdown from Anderson midway through the second, and Anderson padded on with his third pass of the half with less than two minutes to go in the quarter. The Redhawks trailed 27-13 at the half.
The teams swapped touchdowns in the third, but the Redhawks failed on a two-point conversion and Ridge View carried a 34-19 lead in the final period. Ahmon Green helped lead a furious fourth-quarter charge. Green tossed three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 26-yard go-ahead pass to Emmanuel Youmans with 1:56 left. Green also had a 23-yard touchdown pass to Cam Atkins and a 34-yard strike to TJ Blanding.
Javon Anderson notched his fifth and final touchdown of the night on a game-winning 38-yard pass to Jordan Smith with 37 seconds left on the game clock.