HS football roundup: read how Indian Land surprised York en route to ‘signature win’

Hunter Huss (N.C.) 21, Clover 14 (OT)

For the second straight season, it took overtime to decide a winner in what it becoming one of the area’s best interstate rivalries. Hunter Huss took the win this year as sophomore Dontavious Nash came up with two huge plays in the overtime period of a 21-14 Huskies victory over Clover.

Nash, who received several NCAA Division I football scholarships this summer, caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Zo Wallace on third down on Hunter Huss’ overtime possession. Then Nash cut in front of a Clover receiver in the end zone of the Blue Eagles’ overtime possession to end the contest with an interception.

Both teams made mistakes that led to the second touchdowns. Huss’ Prince Bemah had a 20-yard touchdown interception return to give the Huskies a 14-7 lead. Then Clover tied the score when quarterback Gabe Carroll escaped a sack on a 4th-and-10 play and found Blackmon Huckabee for a touchdown with 8:49 left in the fourth quarter.

Hayden Johnson (11 first-hit tackles) and Shon Brown (six) led Clover’s defense, while Deaven Lowery (nine tackles, with six for losses) and Prince Bemah (nine) led the Huss defense. Clover outgained Huss 355-296 led by Carroll’s 260 yards passing. Malik Corry rushed for 103 yards and Zo Wallace passed for 114 yards for the Huskies.

Huss improves to 3-0 while Clover fell to 2-1. Clover had won 42-41 in overtime in last season’s meeting.

On deck: A big stylistic shift for Clover, which hosts South Point (N.C.), the one from Belmont that runs the ball seemingly every play and competes for North Carolina state titles annually.

-- Richard Walker, Gaston Gazette

Indian Land 14, York, 9

Horatio Blades’ Indian Land Warriors started a tough stretch of games that includes South Pointe, Rock Hill and Nation Ford.

Game 1 brought the Warriors down Highway 5 to play Bobby Carroll’s York Cougars for the first time ever. Blades’ squad passed the first test, beating York 14-9.

The game didn’t start until after 8 p.m. due to a lightning delay. When things got going, the offenses took a while to find any rhythm. Both teams combined for five interceptions in the first half.

But Indian Land (2-1) scored the final 14 points of the game, after falling behind 9-0, to pick up a confidence-boosting victory. Blades was proud of his team’s effort.

“I am so happy for them, because they have been looking for a signature win for this program, and these kids just got it for their families and their community. I’m just proud,” said the second-year head coach and former Washington Redskins linebacker.

York (0-2) hit the first big play of the night near the end of the first quarter when QB Tanner McKinney connected with Khalil Ellis in the flat to move into Indian Land territory. Later in the same drive, York opted to go for it on fourth and 17 in Warrior territory, but McKinney was intercepted by A.J. Jefferson.

Indian Land turned it back over on the next possession as York’s Jamon Byers picked off QB Grayson Barber. The Cougars capitalized with a Stephen Oglesby 29-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first quarter. York’s Joe Milton picked off Barber on the next drive, but the Cougars didn’t get much out of it as the Warrior defense stiffened.

A few drives later, Indian Land’s Dorian Williams tipped the ball to himself for an interception with 6:41 remaining before halftime.

York was able to put an end to the turnover fest as QB McKinney moved the Cougars into Indian Land territory to the 35-yard line. The Cougars had first and goal with 2:37 in the second but, Indian Land’s defense stiffened on fourth down, stopping McKinney inches short of the end zone.

The next play, Indian Land couldn’t get out of its own way as York stuffed Brandon Britton for a safety to go up 9-0 at halftime. York got the ball to start the second half and went to the run game with Stephen Oglesby moving the ball into Warrior territory along with a Jeremiah King 23-yard run. Tanner McKinney had a touchdown run, but it was negated by a holding penalty and a long drive for York stalled.

The response from Indian Land didn’t take long. A 73-yard Tyree Sistare touchdown run cut York’s lead to 9-7 with 4:18 left in the third quarter. The defensive slugfest continued into the fourth quarter.

Indian Land’s defense was the story of the night, and Blades was quick to point that out.

“The defense did a great job keeping us in the game. The offense got clicking in the fourth quarter. We scored two late touchdowns to take the victory That’s the kids believing in each other and fighting for each other,” said Blades..

The Warriors took the lead on a 10-yard touchdown run from Tyree Sistare with 2:18 left to go up 14-9. York’s final opportunity to score fell short on fourth and 7 as Tanner McKinney’s pass intended for Stephen Oglesby was incomplete with 1:19 left, preserving the win for Indian Land.

As the Warriors move forward into this stretch, Blades embraces it.

“You want to play these games. .As a coach and as a player you want to play on the big stage. Playing here tonight is a big stage. Playing next week is a big stage. I am happy our kids get to get that experience and have a chance to compete on a bigger stage.”

On deck: Very tough road trip next week for York, which heads to defending 5A state finalists Dorman. Bobby Carroll and Dorman coach David Gutshall coached together in last year’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star game. Indian Land continues its brutal non-region schedule on the road, at Rock Hill.

Dorman 35, Northwestern 24

Another scorching August Friday night, another tough opponent for James Martin’s Northwestern Trojans.

Northwestern already has dealt with South Pointe and perennial power Byrnes, which both resulted in defeats of twenty-or-more points. A date with defending 5A state champ Dutch Fork on September 21 and Friday evening’s matchup with Dorman Cavaliers equals one of the state’s toughest schedules.

Through three quarters, everything went pretty well for the host Trojans. But second-ranked Dorman (2-0) rallied with 20 points in the fourth period and toppled Northwestern 35-24 at District 3 Stadium.

Zack Hillstock, who had 133 yards rushing on 20 carries, started the Dorman comeback with a one-yard run that cut Northwestern’s lead to 24-21. Three minutes later Elijah Foster scored on a 12-yard pass from Matthew Powell, and the Cavaliers were in front 28-24. Hillstock iced the win with a 16-yard run to give Dorman a 35-24 cushion with 1:26 remaining.

Until the final quarter, the game went back and forth all night.

Marco Flores gave Dorman a 3-0 lead midway through the opening period with a 32-yard field goal, but Northwestern (0-3) answered. Fentrell Cypress picked off a Dorman pass and scampered 52 yards for a score and the Trojans were in front 7-3.

Thomas Morgan’s 17-yard run in the final two minutes of the opening quarter put Dorman back in front 9-7, after the Cavaliers missed the two-point conversion try. Northwestern regained the lead at 14-9 with just more than two minutes left until intermission when Antonio Heath scored from three yards out. Hillstock’s one yard plunge with 23 seconds left in the first half gave Dorman a 15-14 lead.

Nick Acus put the Trojans back in front midway through the third quarter when he nailed a 34-yard field goal for a 17-15 lead. A little more than two minutes later Dustin Noeller hooked up with Gregory Bivens on a 34-yard pass play and Northwestern extended its lead to 24-15, and it stayed that through the end of the third period. Noeller finished the contest with 186 yards passing as he complete 19 of 34 aerials, but he had two interceptions.

On deck: Dorman hosts York, while Northwestern’s non-region schedule doesn’t get much easier. The Trojans host Ridge View.

This story was originally published September 1, 2018 at 12:12 AM.