Batesburg-Leesville dealt first loss by stingy Abbeville
Batesburg-Leesville came into Friday's Region 2-2A game against Abbeville with aims of setting up an even bigger showdown between undefeated teams a week later against Strom Thurmond
Class 2A No. 2 B-L will still enter that game with a chance to force a tie at the top, but the near-winner-take-all atmosphere won't be there next week. No. 4 Abbeville (6-2, 2-1 region) went up by 17 in the first half and rode its powerful offense to hand Batesburg-Leesville its first loss of the year, 30-13.
After the game, Batesburg coach Perry Woolbright said his team can only look forward.
“It’s still a young season,” said Woolbright, whose team fell to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in region play. “We’re still a 7-1 ball team. We just lost to one of the best teams in the state in 2A. If we worry about this one through Sunday, next week will jump up on us.”
Batesburg-Leesville’s top offensive option, tailback Terrence Wilson, was held to 77 yards on 16 carries — 96 less than his season average.
TURNING POINT
A delay of game penalty for B-L on third and inches on the Abbeville 40 early in the second quarter. The hosts didn’t convert, and Abbeville answered with a touchdown to go up 17-0.
KEY PERFORMERS
Joseph Battle, Abbeville QB: The senior ran for 88 yards on 14 carries, including a 47-yard jaunt on third and 14, and completed 2-of-4 passes for 50 yards and a score.
Terrence Wilson, Batesburg-Leesville RB: The senior scored both touchdowns and accounted for more than 60 percent of his team’s 136 yards.
KEY NUMBERS
34.5: The average starting spot on Abbeville’s half of the field for B-L’s two scoring drives. Both were set up by fumbles.
60: The number of yards Wilson needs to match Dekayus Keith’s career school mark of 4,163.
THEY SAID IT
“That’s round one. (Marcus West) was out for them, he’s a big part of their offense. You look at this and you go, big win, but history has shown this is just round 1.” – Jamie Nickles, Abbeville coach
“That’s a great, championship-caliber team right there. That was a playoff game atmosphere right there, playoff game-type team. When you fall down 17 points to a team like that, it’s hard to come back.” – Perry Woolbright, Batesburg-Leesville coach
HOW THEY SCORED
1st Quarter
A — Fuller 18 run (Lewis kick), 7:13
A — Lewis FG 33, 32.3
2nd Quarter
A — Belton 13 pass from Battle (Lewis kick), 5:25
3rd Quarter
BL — Wilson 3 run (Caughman kick), 10:24
4th Quarter
A — Rogers 3 run (Kick failed), 9:55
BL — Wilson 2 run (Caughman kick) 5:24
A — Rapley 7 run (Lewis kick), 1:44
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: A: Rogers 20-112, Rapley 22-90, Battle 14-88, Fuller 7-31, TEAM 2-(-3). Totals: 65-318; BL: Wilson 16-77, Cannon 4-14, Smith 3-2, TEAM 0-3. Totals: 23-96
Passing: A: Battle 2-4-0-50; BL: Cannon 5-8-1-30, Smith 2-6-0-10. Totals: 7-14-1-40
Receiving: A: Belton 2-50; BL: Wilson 2-7, Merritt 1-14, Pugh 1-9, Wigfall 1-5, Hair 1-3, Brown 1-2.
This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 11:30 PM.