High school rewind: Airport soars in non-region play
Week 5 of high school football in the Midlands almost is complete. River Bluff still has to play its game on Monday at Cheraw. But here’s what stood out from other Week 5 action:
Airport’s for real
Airport showed it’s going to be a contender by beating A.C. Flora 38-37 and is 5-0 for the first time since 2011.
The Eagles stopped the Falcons on a two-point conversion with 30 seconds left to get their first win over A.C. Flora since 2010. All of the previous four losses to the Falcons were by more than 10 points.
Airport trailed 28-14 in the third quarter but scored 24 straight second-half points to hold on for the win.
“I was hoping we would fight back because I didn’t want to get run out of here like we have so many times in the past,” Airport coach Kirk Burnett said.
Josh Tucker had another strong start at quarterback for injured Brett Burnett. Tucker threw for 125 yards, two second-half touchdowns and rushed for 97 and the game-winning score in the third quarter.
First timers
Richland Northeast and Pelion each notched their first victories Friday night.
The Cavaliers were close the past two weeks but finally broke through in the 17-7 win over Orangeburg-Wilkinson. The Panthers’ 40-6 victory gave new coach Dann Holland his first win as Pelion coach.
Columbia didn’t get into the win column Friday but it found the end zone for the first time this season when it scored and got a two-point conversion in the second half of the 47-8 loss to Fairfield Central.
TD machine
Batesburg-Leesville running back Terrance Wilson added three more touchdowns Friday against Gilbert as he continued to move up the school’s record book.
Wilson now has 71 touchdowns, three short of breaking Deveteo Johnson’s record of 73. With 243 yards, he moved to fifth in career rushing yards with 3,652 and needs just 512 yards to break Dekayus Keith’s mark of 4,163.
Mickens update
Westwood junior defensive back Mark Mickens was taken off the ventilator this week and able to sit up in a chair, according an update posted by his mother Dot.
Mickens suffered a neck injury earlier this month against Clover.
Mickens also was able to go outside for a bit and hold his head up without any issues or neck brace.
Top performers
Bryce Fields (Gray Collegiate) – Threw for 290 yards and four TDs in loss to Calhoun County.
Cole Douglas and Austin Connor (Dutch Fork) – Douglas threw for 217 yards, rushed for 66 and had four total TDs, all in the first half, in win over Sumter. Connor caught four passes for 135 yards, two touchdowns and also rushed for TD. The Silver Foxes also had two defensive touchdowns.
Graham Smith (Hammond) – Threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, of 35-6 win over Orangeburg Prep.
TyQuandre Davis (Richland Northeast) – Rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns in Cavs’ 17-7 win over Orangeburg-Wilkinson.
Chance Walker and Quaevon Cannon (Swansea) – Walker had 268 yards and four TDs, including the game-winner with 1:23 left in the 40-35 win over Silver Bluff. Cannon rushed for 185 yards.
Slade Carroll (Lexington) – Rushed for 144 yards and three first-half touchdowns in 41-21 win over Carolina Forest.
David Israel (Blythewood) – Had 142 total yards and three TDs, including game-winner with 59 seconds left in 28-21 win over Irmo.
Ones to watch
Here is a look at some of next week’s top games in the Midlands:
Dreher at Lower Richland – Region 4-3A opener and good matchup of quarterbacks in Dreher’s Avery Armstrong and Lower Richland’s Tevaughn Higgins. Dreher also will try to slow down LR receiver Larry Collins.
Dutch Fork at Irmo – Silver Foxes have won three straight since 0-2 start and have won six of last seven against Yellow Jackets.
Keenan at Newberry – Region 3-2A opener and matchup of two teams who played for state titles last season. Last three games have been decided by eight points or less.
Swansea at Airport – Region 5-3A opener for both teams. Airport will try to stay unbeaten and slow down Swansea QB Chance Walker.
DREHER 47,
C.A. JOHNSON 0
At Bolden Stadium, Avery Armstrong threw three touchdowns, and Jay Washington ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns as Dreher snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating C.A. Johnson 47-0 on Saturday. The game originally was scheduled to be played Thursday but was postponed because of heavy rain.
This story was originally published September 26, 2015 at 6:25 PM.