York 24, Fort Mill 0

By Mychal Frost - The Herald

YORK -- York celebrated its Homecoming on Friday with a 24-0 win over Fort Mill at Pratt Field.

The victory ends a six-game losing skid for the Cougars and improves their record to 2-6 overall and 1-1 Region 3-AAAA. York won its season opener at Broome before the skid.

"We're proud of our effort, and hats off to Fort Mill,� York coach John Barrett said. �They're as well a coached team as we play, and their kids play extremely hard. It was a good high school football game, but we're doggone glad we won. It's been a long time.�

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Playing without starting quarterback Preston Fry, Fort Mill coach Ed Susi gave the snaps to Asa Kryst, who started his first game as a signal-caller. The 5-foot-9 junior was instrumental in helping Fort Mill (0-8, 0-2 Region 3-AAAA) collect 156 yards in the first half, nearly double the output of York.

The Yellow Jackets attack never took flight after intermission, and two turnovers in the third quarter turned into 14 quick points for York.

Susi was very matter-of-fact in his assessment of Fort Mill's turnovers.

"It kills you, it does. You can't turn the ball over,� he said. �We just can't give teams that many chances. This is a tough (loss) to swallow after our kids worked real hard all week. We just didn't come through."

With the Cougars offense sputtering in the early going, Barrett was thankful for his defense, which forced five turnovers in the game.

"Well, our defense played real well and they put us in (good) field position and they scored one," he said. "So that always helps, and we've not had that this year, so that was a big shot in the arm.

"Our defensive coaches had a good plan against them, and our kids executed well."

York capitalized on Fort Mill turnovers to take a 10-0 lead at the half.

After picking up three first downs, the Yellow Jackets were forced to punt on their opening drive. But the punt never took flight as the snap sailed over the head of kicker Jordan Keaton. York collected the loose ball on the 18-yard line to set up its first score.

Three different Cougars carried the ball down to the 15, and Logan Bass drilled a 32-yard field goal, giving York an early 3-0 lead with 5:34 left in the first.

York struck again midway through the second after forcing another Yellow Jackets punt. Led by Corey Dover and Quastin Walker, the Cougars marched 50 yards on seven plays to take a 10-0 lead. The drive might have ended with another Bass field goal if not for a sound run by Dover on second down.

Facing second and 11, Dover bobbled the snap and, after collecting himself, ran right, where he appeared to be bottled up. He jaunted left, spinning his way through two tackles to make his way to the 2. He punctuated the drive with a score on the next play.

Walker, the Cougars' standout running back, broke free midway through the fourth quarter for his only score on the night. Facing a fourth and 2 on the Fort Mill 25, Walker gashed the Yellow Jackets up the middle for a 25-yard touchdown run with 8:31 to go.

On the ensuing possession, Fort Mill fumbled on first down and an alert Andrew Floyd scooped up the loose ball and returned it 29 yards to seal the win.

YORK 24, FORT MILL 0

York.....3.....7.....0.....14.....--.....24

Fort Mill.....0.....0.....0.....0.....--.....0

SCORING SUMMARY

Y -- Logan Bass 32 FG

Y -- Corey Dover 2 run (Bass kick)

Y -- Quastin Walker 25 run (Bass kick)

Y -- Andrew Floyd 29 fumble retrun run (Bass kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

.....FMHS.....YCHS

First Downs.....9.....9

Rushes-Yards.....29-126.....52-231

Passing-Yards.....5-78.....2-26

Fumbles-Lost.....2-2.....3-1

Penalties-Yards.....2-20.....5-35.....

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Fort Mill: Asa Kryst 11-52, Dwayne Grainger 6-9, Trent Butler 1-11, Max Simons 9-54, Kyle Simons 2-0. York: Corey Dover 9-42, Stephen Maree 3-5, Matt Haynie 11-57, Omario Bigger 6-22, Quastin Walker 13-75, Kent Thompson 1-6, Eric Simpson 1-10, Andrew Floyd 1-3, Travis McConnell 2-6, Leonel Gonzalez 2-3, Charley Lawson 1-3, Jensen Fisk 1-2, Spencer Carroll 1-(-3).

PASSING -- Fort Mill: Kryst 5-15-3-78. York: Dover 0-1-0-0, Haynie 2-6-1-26.

RECEIVING -- Fort Mill: Simons 1-3, Grainger 1-27, Klipa 1-15, Worth Gregory 2-33. York: Garrett Smith 1-15, Simpson 1-11.

RECORDS: Fort Mill 0-8, 0-2 Region 3-AAAA..... York 2-6, 1-1.