Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008

Crum crumbles Falcons’ defense

Four turnovers doom Ben Lippen, who end season with 7-6 record

SUMTER — Behind 185 yards and three touchdowns by Ricky Crum, Wilson Hall advanced to the SCISA 3A state championship game with a 24-6 victory against Ben Lippen at Spencer Field on Friday.

The Barons (7-6) will take on the winner of tonight’s matchup between Pinewood Prep and Hammond in the title game next Friday at South Carolina State’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

“We finished the regular season 5-6 and third in the region, but our coaches and players never doubted that we could do well in the playoffs,” Wilson Hall coach Eddie Talley said. “We’ve put it together now, and hopefully we will play this way next week, because regardless of who wins the Hammond-Pinewood game, we know we will go into the game as an underdog.”

Crum carried the bulk of the load for Wilson Hall’s offense. After rushing for 55 yards on 14 carries in the first half, his number was called 23 times in the second half. He added 130 yards, giving him 185 yards on 37 carries for the game.

“I’m not tired,” Crum said amidst the postgame celebration. “I guess it is just the conditioning and the excitement. All I did was follow my blocking, including the lead blocks of Chris (fullback Chris Lynch.)”

“Our guys believed all along this was possible,” Crum said of the Barons’ march to the title game. “All of our losses were close games, and we were making too many mistakes to win.”

The Falcons lost four fumbles.

“You can’t have four turnovers and expect to win,” said Ben Lippen coach Reggie Shaw, whose squad ends the year at 7-6. “Wilson Hall is too good of a team for that.”

Midway through the first quarter, quarterback Thomas White was intercepted by Ben Lippen’s Xan Mangum at midfield. Mangun returned the ball to the Wilson Hall 14, which set up a 30-yard field goal by Tuck Benefield that put the Eagles on top 3-0 with 3:33 left in the period.

Ben Lippen gave up its first fumble early in the second quarter when quarterback Joey Carter lost the ball after a short scramble. Wilson Hall’s Philip Vorpahl made the recovery at the Eagles 38. The Barons needed eight plays to reach the end zone, with Crum scoring from a yard out.

After Wilson Hall’s defense forced the Eagles to punt, Crum finished off a five-play, 63-yard drive with a 2-yard score that made it 14-3 with 4:38 left until the half. A 39-yard completion from Wilson Hall White to Chris Sharp got the drive started.

The Falcons converted a fake punt when they got the ball back to set up a first-and-10 at the Barons’ 30 yard-line . But on the next play, Wilson Hall safety Dow Harreslon fell on a Ben Lippen fumble at the 24.

The Eagles pulled to within 14-6 on their first drive of the third quarter when Benefield booted a 34-yard field goal. But Wilson Hall answered with a 10-play, 57-yard drive that ended with Crum scoring on a 10-yard run that stretched the lead to 21-6. Cannon added a 20-yard field goal midway through the final quarter.

“We started the season at 2-4, then showed great character to turn things around and get as far as we did,” Shaw said. “I’m proud of the way our kids bounced back this season, and the seniors on this team have laid a great foundation for the future of the program.”

Ben Lippen — Benefield, 30 field goal,

Second Quarter

Wilson Hall — Crum. 1 run (Cannon kick)

Wilson Hall — Crum, 2 run (Cannon kick)

Third Quarter

Ben Lippen — Benefield, 34 field goal

Wilson Hall — Crum, 10 run (Cannon kick)

Fourth Quarter

Wilson Hall — Cannon, 20 field goal