Published: Friday, Nov. 06, 2009 / Updated: Friday, Nov. 06, 2009 11:11 PM

Fort Mill 35, Nation Ford 17

FORT MILL -- It mattered little to the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets that they had struggled all season, as they came together as a team Friday and beat crosstown rival Nation Ford 35-17 behind a huge rushing night from senior Max Simons and junior Asa Kryst.

As far as intracity rivalries go, the Nation Ford-Fort Mill history is in its infancy. The schools squared off for just the third time, with the Yellow Jackets coming away with wins in all three meetings. But the intensity was there for both teams from the opening kickoff.

Neither team envisioned their respective seasons playing out the way they had. Fort Mill entered Friday's duel winless, while the Falcons came into the game with three nonconference victories in their first 10 games.

Prior records notwithstanding, fans from both schools formed a standing-room-only crowd at Fort Mill's Bob Jones Stadium for the final game of the season for both teams.

Sometimes, however, teams play their best when the only thing on the line is pride. Fort Mill coach Ed Susi pulled out all his tricks, warming his squad up in their traditional blue uniforms before changing to yellow threads prior to kickoff.

As has been typical for the Yellow Jackets, Fort Mill struck first, taking the opening kickoff and quickly marching 80 yards down the field for a 6-0 lead.

Nation Ford nearly responded with a touchdown of their own, but failed to convert a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line and turned the ball back over to the Yellow Jackets on downs.

The poor field position stuck with Fort Mill for the remainder of the half. Nation Ford built a 10-6 lead late in the second period when kicker Trevor Witcher nailed a 22-yard field goal.

Instead of giving in to the Falcons, the Jackets answered Witcher's kick with a beautiful pass up the middle from Preston Fry to Kryst. Fort Mill took a 14-10 lead into the locker room and never looked back.

Max Simons might be one of the hardest-working running backs in the area, and his efforts finally paid off in the third period as Fort Mill began pulling away.

Simons scored two third-quarter touchdowns to give the Jackets an 18-point lead. Nation Ford slipped in a touchdown on J.J. McCullough's 7-yard run, but Fort Mill never let the Falcons get any closer.

Senior Josh Peck capped senior night for the Yellow Jackets with a 5-yard run for the game's final margin, giving Susi some momentum heading into the offseason.

“We have played one of the most difficult schedules in the state over the past two years,” Susi said. “Tonight was about proving to our kids and our fans that we can still play and we won't give up. I could not be prouder of these kids.”

Friday's game was the final contest between the schools as AAAA members, as both Nation Ford and Fort Mill drop down a class next season.

Nation Ford ends its season at 3-8, but speeches from several players already have the Falcons looking forward to next season.

“Fort Mill just wanted it more tonight,” McCullough said. “Our offseason starts right away. We have a lot of kids coming back next year, we'll use this as motivation to get ready for next season.”

FORT MILL 35, NATION FORD 17

Nation Ford.....0.....10.....7.....0.....--.....17

Fort Mill.....6.....8.....14.....7.....--.....35

Scoring summary

FM -- Max Simons 3 run (kick failed)

NF -- Thomas Condron 1 run (Trevor Witcher kick)

NF -- Witcher 22 field goal

FM -- Asa Kryst 27 pass from Preston Fry (Kryst pass to Grainger)

FM -- Simons 17 run (Jacl Gantzer kick)

FM -- Simons 13 run (Gantzer kick)

NF -- J.J. McCullough 7 run (Witcher kick)

FM -- Josh Peck 5 run (Gantzer kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

.....NFHS.....FMHS

First downs.....19.....23

Rushes-yards.....26-105.....46-357

Comp-Att-Int.....18-27-2.....6-13-2

Passing yards.....252.....64

Fumbles-lost.....2-1.....0-1

Penalties-yards.....6-55.....5-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Nation Ford: Jackson Gibson 8-18, McCullough 5-15, Condron 13-72. Fort Mill: Max Simons 17-75, Asa Kryst 12-136, Dwane Grainger 2-44, Kyle Simon 3-11, Preston Fry 11-80, Taylor Hudson 1-11.

PASSING -- Nation Ford: Condron 18-26-2-252, Grainger 0-1-0-0. Fort Mill: Fry 6-13-2-64.

RECEIVING -- Nation Ford: Nick Damm 7-81, J.J. McCullough 2-28, Gibson 3-78, 12 Brandon Sturgis 4-34, Will Ford 2-31..... Fort Mill..... Kryst 5-56, Simons 1-8.

RECORDS -- Nation Ford: 3-8, 0-5 Region 4-AAAA..... Fort Mill 1-10, 1-4