Turner’s last-second field goal lifts Blythewood to playoff win over North Augusta
Blythewood almost let its first home playoff appearance since 2012 fall into the loss column Friday night.
Almost.
However, Cody Turner kicked a 20-yard field goal as time expired to lift Blythewood to a 29-27 win over North Augusta.
The Bengals built a 26-13 lead after a 13-7 first-quarter deficit, but two late North Augusta touchdowns put Blythewood down 27-26 with 1:45 to go at District II stadium.
Blythewood took the ball at midfield and drove to the North Augusta 3-yard line with three seconds to go. Turner, who was good on field goals of 38 and 28 yards in the game, kicked a 20-yarder through as time expired for the Bengals’ victory.
The Bengals (9-3) travel to Lexington on Friday.
North Augusta finishes the season at 7-5.
At the North Augusta 45-yard line, Blythewood quarterback David Isreal connected with Derambez Drinkard on a pair of 14-yard passes that brought the Bengals within Turner’s field-goal range.
Isreal rushed Blythewood to the Yellow Jackets’ 3-yard line to set up Turner’s game-winning kick.
TURNING POINT
Blythewood built a 26-13 lead over North Augusta before the Yellow Jackets started reeling the Bengals in. Rashad Byrd completed a touchdown pass to Jaylon Patton with 4:07 left in the game. Byrd then intercepted a David Isreal pass at the Blythewood 20.
Patton then caught a 6-yard Landon Washington TD pass with 1:45 left to go up 27-26.
KEY PERFORMERS
Rashad Byrd: The all-purpose North Augusta athlete picked off three Blythewood passes and returned one 80 yards for a touchdown. He also served as a running back, caught a touchdown pass and threw a 17-yard TD pass in the game.
Blythewood defense: The Bengals gave up six offensive points through three quarters, and held North Augusta to 215 total yards. They had nine tackles for loss and two sacks.
Jordyn Adams: The Blythewood athlete had 113 yards on three kickoff returns, which set up two Bengals scores. He also had three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown.
THEY SAID IT
“That was one heck of a football team we played. We made mistakes, but the biggest thing was that we kept pushing on as a team. We about cracked there, but they’ve got to keep believing in one another no matter what adversity they face and I was real proud of them.” – Blythewood coach Dan Morgan
“I always go back to my fundamentals in practice, always be smooth, always be focused, don’t try to overkick, don’t do stuff that you can’t do. I’ve kicked a thousand of those. It’s just second nature to me.” – Turner
“I threw three interceptions and one pick-six, you know, but we came together and we still got it done. That just comes to show how much we believe in each other and how big of a family we are.” – Isreal
KEY NUMBERS
96: North Augusta’s total yardage in the first half. The Yellow Jackets finished with 215 total yards
11: Net rushing yards for Blythewood in the first half. The Bengals finished with 111 total yards and 267 total yards
8: North Augusta’s Rashad Byrd’s total tackles, in addition to his three picks.
HOW THEY SCORED
1st Quarter
B – Kyle Wright 17 run (Cody Turner kick) 8:59
N – Rashad Byrd 80 interception return (Roberto Vital kick) 3:59
N – Byrd 2 pass from Landon Washington (kick failed) :27
2nd Quarter
B – Turner 38 field goal 11:42
B – Jordyn Adams 7 pass from David Isreal (kick failed) 4:04
3rd Quarter
B – Isreal 7 run (Turner kick) 1:41
4th Quarter
B – Turner 28 field goal 10:42
N – Jaylon Patton 17 pass from Byrd (Vital kick) 4:07
N – Patton 6 pass from Washington (Vital kick) 1:45
B – Turner 20 field goal :00
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: North Augusta – Tavian Price 14-59, Derius Gibson 2-9, Rashad Byrd 4-37, Landon Washington 1-1, Dreke Waltower 1-(minus-6). Blythewood – Kyle Wright 15-45, David Isreal 19-66.
Passing: North Augusta – Landon Washington 12-20-2. Blythewood – David Isreal 16-30-3.
Receiving: North Augusta – Jaylon Patton 5-52, Dreke Waltower 2-42, Rashad Byrd 1-2, Brent Coach 1-1, Dejuan Bell 4-25. Blythewood – Derambez Drinkard 6-82, Jordyn Adams 3-26, Timel Benton 3-14, Jacob McGuire 1-14.
This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 11:41 PM.