Batesburg-Leesville edges Brookland-Cayce
Class 2A Batesburg-Leesville took advantage of numerous Brookland-Cayce mistakes on the way to an 18-15 win over the host 3A Bearcats.
The Panthers (2-0) built a 16-0 lead in the first half, but had to withstand a B-C rally after the break. Victory was not assured until to Bearcats failed to convert a fourth-and-17 play on the B-L 27-yard line with 1:10 to go.
Brookland-Cayce dropped to 1-2.
TURNING POINT
The tone was set early when Batesburg-Leesville opened the scoring on a flea-flicker touchdown pass from Bishop Cannon to Quajae Wigfall on the first play after B-C’s initial turnover of the game.
KEY PERFORMERS
Terrance Wilson: The Batesburg-Leesville senior ran for 136 yards on 24 carries to run his unofficial career-rushing total to 3,089 yards. He also scored the 61st touchdown of his career.
Productive if not prolific: B-L quarterbacks Mike Smith and Cannon managed only three completions, but the net was 98 yards and one TD.
Special teams special: B-L’s Alex Caughman kicked a decisive field goal and dropped a 49-yard punt at the B-C 1-yard line, setting up a safety in the third quarter.
OBSERVATIONS
Short gain, significant number: Terrance Wilson’s 6-yard run on the sixth play of the second quarter was nothing special, except that it put the B-L star over the career 3,000-yard rushing mark.
Let’s count the ways: Brookland-Cayce persevered and made things interesting, but the Bearcats were doomed by a plethora of mistakes – bad snaps, turnovers, penalties at inopportune times.
Great Depression beginning: The Panthers-Bearcats began in 1931. Batesburg-Leesville’s Friday success cut B’C’s series lead to 10-8-2.
Showing promise: B-C freshman quarterback Reed Charpia, son coach Rusty Charpia, turned a bad snap into a 33-yard scoring pass to Cam Brown that gave the Bearcats a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
Not this time: B-C running back’s A.J. Brown and Charles Balkcom were ranked first and fourth on the Midlands rushing charts after two weeks of game, both averaging more than 100 yards per game. The duo combined for 133 yards against the Panthers.
THEY SAID IT
“We did a great job in the first half and we were able to overcome mistakes in the second. I’m real proud of the effort by all the guys on a hot night.” – B-L coach Perry Woolbright.
“Terrance is a work horse and he had to overcome the heat and fatigue. He’s the guy we really rely on.” – Woolbright on star running back Terrance Wilson.
"It’s the same thing again – penalties, turnovers, undisciplined play. It’s been going on for years at B-C. We just have to keep trying to fix it.” – B-C coach Rusty Charpia.
KEY NUMBERS
275: B-L’s total offense featured 177 yards rushing.
61: B-L’s Jaquarius Hair receiving yards on two catches.
6: The number of B-C’s fumbles (two lost) - most coming on bad snaps.
HOW THEY SCORED
1st Quarter:
BL – Quajae Wigfall 37 pass from Bishop Cannon (kick failed), 6:33
BL – Terrance Wilson 1 run (Alex Caughman kick), 1:15
2nd Quarter:
BL – FG Caughman 27, 6:15
3rd Quarter:
BC – Kozie Brown 10 run (Jonathan Edwards kick), 6:53
BL – Safety, 4:58
4th Quarter:
BC – Cam Brown 33 pass from Reed Charpia (Charles Balkcom run), 9:42
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing:
BL – Wilson 29-136. BC – AJ Brown 10-94, Balkcom 6-39.
Passing:
BL – Cannon 2-7-1-79. BC – K. Brown 3-7-0-30, Charpia 3-4-0-41.
Receiving:
BL – Wigfall 1-37, Hair 61. BC – Brown 1-33, Mills 3-21, Balkcom 2-17.
This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 11:24 PM.