GREER, SC - The Boiling Springs football team walked into Dooley Field having never beaten Greer in four matchups between the two teams, though they hadn't played each other since 1979, but when the clock hit zero on Friday night the Bulldogs were returning to Boiling Springs with a 27-25 victory.
"The biggest thing about this win is it helps show that the work these guys have been putting in is paying off," said Bulldogs head coach Matt Reel. "When they see the results on the field it solidifies that what we're doing is working. I want these kids to get used to enjoying winning because once you do it's infectious. Our guys overcome adversity tonight and as a coach that's what you love to see from your team, and it makes you proud." While the game went the way of the Bulldogs, it didn't necessarily look that way early as Greer took an early 6-0 lead when Yellow Jackets running back Bryce Foster ran the ball in from four yards out with just over eight minutes to go in the first quarter. The extra point was blocked which would prove to be a key development at the end of the game. After being forced into a punting situation on Boiling Springs's first offensive possession it looked like the momentum was heading for the Yellow Jackets but on the punt return Bulldogs Kohen Sloand forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate Luke Compton who returned the ball forty yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 6-6, as the Bulldogs extra point was also blocked. On the Bulldogs next offensive possession, the Bulldogs went on a 64-yard drive that included a twenty-eight yard run by running back Kam Williams and a twelve-yard run by quarterback Lincoln Huskey. The drive was capped when wide receiver Zy Landrum took a reverse over the right side for a four-yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs up 13-6 with just over a minute left in the first quarter. The first quarter ended with Bulldogs defensive end Calvin Jackson sacking the Greer quarterback and started the second with him tackling the Greer running back for a loss before an incomplete pass gave the Boiling Springs offense the ball again. Bulldogs running back Tylek Smith, who came on for Williams after an injury, took the second snap of the drive fourteen yards before Huskey took off for 23-yards three plays later to put the Bulldogs at the Greer thirteen-yard line. On the next play, Huskey found wide receiver Spencer Eison on a 13-yard touchdown pass to give Boiling Springs a 20-6 lead with just over nine minutes to go in the game. Smith took over the lead back role the rest of the game and ran the ball for 37 yards on 14 carries and Reel said he was proud of how Smith stepped up after being moved around the field throughout the summer and fall. "Tyleek has been back and forth between different positions and it could have been easy for him to get down," said Reel. "Instead of getting down though he's done a great job of being confident and buying in to what we're doing. He waited his turn and done a great job tonight, he's probably one of the big reasons we won tonight." Greer added two touchdowns in the last nine minutes of the second quarter as Foster ran the ball in from two yards out and fellow running back Chris Hall ran the ball in from four yards out with less than two minutes until halftime to put the Boiling Springs lead at 20-19, as the Bulldogs blocked their second extra point of the game. Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter setting up a big fourth quarter battle. Just three plays into the fourth quarter, Bulldogs quarterback Lincoln Huskey found wide receiver Spencer Eison for his second touchdown of the night, this time on a 17-yard touchdown pass that saw Eison reach over a Greer defender and get his feet inbounds to take a 27-19 lead. With four minutes to go in the game on a fourth and three play from the three-yard line Greer quarterback Josh Runion found Chase Byrd for a touchdown to put the game at 27-25 and with the two blocked extra points it forced the Yellow Jackets to go for two. On the two-point play, Boiling Springs linebacker JoJo Barrett met the Greer running back three yards in the backfield and was soon joined by the rest of his teammates to deny the Yellow Jackets the two points. With just over a minute to go, Greer had one last chance and on third and nine they threw a pass that was intercepted by defensive back Spencer Eison to seal the victory for the Bulldogs. Eison said he knew when he saw the pass thrown that it was his opportunity to step up and make a play. "I just saw the ball in the air and knew someone had to make a play," said Eison. "It just so happened the ball came to me and it sealed the game. It's not about me though as it's about this team and I love seeing these guys celebrating this win as it's a complete team victory." Boiling Springs was led offensively by sophomore quarterback Lincoln Huskey who went 13 of 21 for 126 yards with two touchdowns while also adding 59 yards on the ground on nine carries. Huskey made clutch plays down the stretch and Coach Reel said it was something he had challenged his young quarterback to do. "Lincoln has really stepped up and we challenged him to do that," said Reel. "If you're going be the quarterback you have to be able to stare adversity down. We feed off each other and I told him to go find a way to win a football game and after the game he told me 'Coach I found a way to win a football game.' That's what it's all about." Zy Landrum led the Bulldogs in reception yards with 65 yards on seven catches while Spencer Eison had two touchdowns on three catches for 37 yards. The Bulldogs defense had another stellar performance on Friday night as linebackers JoJo Barrett and Hudson Wilson combined for 15.5 tackles. They also got strong nights from their defensive ends as Jameilion Miller and Calvin Jackson combined for 5.5 tackles including three for loss and a sack. "Our defense done a great job of making adjustments at halftime and just trusting each other," said Reel. "In the second half our guys just done a great job of doing their job and trusting their teammates to do theirs. I thought Hudson had one of his best games all year long just getting his read keys and doing his job. That defensive group has a chance to be special when they do their jobs." Boiling Springs will look to keep their winning ways going next week as they travel to Clover on Friday night to face the Blue Eagles who fell to Dorman 37-23 this past Friday. Comments are closed.
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