FORT MILL, SC- Boiling Springs got close last week but finally grabbed their first win of the season in a road trip to Fort Mill on Friday night as they defeated the Yellow Jackets 36-22 and also secured their spot in the 5A playoffs in two weeks.
"I'm so happy for the kids and the coaches," said Bulldogs head coach Rick Tate. "It got ugly at times for us this year as we've felt what's it's like to be on the losing end of these games but now we've got to be on the other end and I'm just so glad the kids got to experience that. We had a chance to get that first win last week and to see the kids bounce back and get that win tonight is special." The Bulldogs were aided in the game by a big night from junior running back Kam Williams who ran the ball for 246 yards on twenty-three carries with three touchdowns. "Kam struggled there some in the midseason and I'm so happy he was able to come back tonight and have a great game," said Tate. "He's a tough player with great vision and I believe with another year in the weight room I could see him being one of the better backs in the upstate of South Carolina next year." Boiling Springs started the game with their defense forced a punt on Fort Mill's opening drive that then allowed the Bulldogs offense to get to work. The Bulldogs offense used a steady dose of Williams and fellow junior running back Carmelo Martin on their opening drive to go sixty-eight yards down the field before Martin found the endzone on a five yard carry over the left side to go up 6-0. On the point after attempt a low snap forced holder Luke Compton to run around the right side where he found the endzone to go up 8-0 over Fort Mill with just over five minutes left in the first half. After a Boiling Springs turnover on their next possession, Fort Mill was able to grab their first points of the game when kicker Joe Schepler hit a 43 yard field goal from the right side to get the Bulldogs lead to 8-3 with just over eleven minutes to go in the first half. On the next Bulldogs drive, Martin returned the kickoff to the forty yard line and followed that up with a thirteen yard run. Quarterback Ketrone Adams found Brent Fowler for an eighteen yard pass before a Fort Mill penalty that then set up Kam Williams for an eight yard touchdown run over the left side to put the Bulldogs up 15-3 with just over ten minutes to go in the half. Fort Mill tried to get a drive put together on their next possession but that was ended when Bulldogs cornerback Keondre Keenon intercepted a Yellow Jackets pass in the endzone to give the ball back to Boiling Springs. After another defensive hold by the Bulldogs on a fourth and one for the Yellow Jackets, Boiling Springs took possession of the ball with under two minutes to go in the half at their own forty-four yard line. The Bulldogs used that time wisely moving methodically downfield before Carmelo Martin found the endzone on a three yard run over the left side to take a 22-3 lead into halftime. Fort Mill added the first score of the second half when running back Michael Threatt outran the Bulldogs defense to the left side of the endzone for a ten yard score to put the Bulldogs lead at 22-9 after the Bulldogs blocked the point after attempt. The Bulldogs answered the Yellow Jackets score with a seventy-five yard scoring drive of their own that was capped off by a seven yard touchdown run from Kam Williams to give the Bulldogs a 29-9 lead with five minutes left in the third quarter. Just before the third quarter ended the Yellow Jackets on fourth down were able to get a score when quarterback Isaiah Haynes found wide receiver JJ Ogwai in the left back corner of the endzone to cut the Bulldogs lead to 29-15 heading into the final quarter. After back-to-back turnovers by the Bulldogs offense, Fort Mill's offense put a drive together that saw them get into the Boiling Springs redzone before Bulldogs defender Joston Miller intercepted a Yellow Jackets pass at the one yard line to end their drive. "Joston made probably the biggest play of the game because if they score right there the game becomes a one score game," said Tate. "If he doesn't make that play the game starts to be in doubt and he's been close to making plays like that all season and I'm glad for him that he made one. Being a defensive lineman short tonight we challenged him before the game to have a big game for the team and he did just that tonight." The Bulldogs followed up the turnover with another scoring drive when Kam Williams broke through the middle of the Fort Mill defense for a sixty-six yard touchdown run to take a 36-15 lead with less than two minutes to go. Fort Mill added another score with fifteen seconds to go in the game when quarterback Isaiah Haynes scrambled for a seven yard touchdown run to put the score at 36-22 in favor of the Bulldogs. Boiling Springs had a great night of offense as they went for 432 yards of offense with 356 of that coming on the ground. While Williams had a great night running the ball Carmelo Martin also had a strong night adding 85 yards on thirteen carries with two touchdowns. Brent Fowler led the Bulldogs in receiving with 73 yards on five receptions. While the Bulldogs had a great night on offense the defense also had a big night as Zach Watson led the Bulldogs with seven and a half tackles while Keondre Keenon and Joston Miller both came away with interceptions. Before the final sixty yard drive of the night the Bulldogs defense had held the Yellow Jackets offense to only 179 yards of total offense. "We got a good effort from our defense all night tonight," said Tate. "I told Zach after the game that I believe when we watch film of the game we'll see him making plays all over the field. They had a hard time running to his side all night." Boiling Springs will return to action next Friday when they host Greenwood for senior night to end the regular season. "We now assure ourselves of being in the playoffs which is just a one week at a time season," said Tate. "That's the reason they have the playoffs and what else could you ask for than a chance to go against a number one seed with the opportunity to prove yourself." Comments are closed.
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