55-yard TD run, two critical takeaways lift Chester football over Mid-Carolina in opener
Quarterback Zan Dunham had plowed into the line 16 times before then. But with just over two minutes left in Chester’s season opener against Mid-Carolina on Thursday night, the line opened up — and the game was decided.
Dunham’s 55-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, which put the Cyclones up 28-13 for good, punctuated a solid junior debut. The now-three-year starter notched 17 rushes for 135 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, adding 122 yards through the air.
“Solid performance, a lot of things to clean up, but that’s what first games are for,” Chester head coach Victor Floyd told The Herald after his team’s win of his quarterback, speaking through a mask. “Usually, your biggest jump in a season is from game one to game two, as far as improvement, so some things to clean up, but he made a lot of plays.”
This was the first time Chester, which dressed 27 players on Thursday night, had ever played Mid-Carolina, Floyd said. And despite three back-and-fourth quarters, Floyd said he was pleased with his team’s result.
“I mean, the kids have waited so long and worked as hard as they could work up until this point, so just to get a win in this first game, that’s huge for us,” Floyd said. “We always could play better. Quite naturally there’s a lot of stuff to clean up. But we’ll take the win and run.”
Notable: Two Chester interceptions turn tides of game
Before Dunham’s proverbial punctuation mark, Chester forced two huge takeaways that stifled promising Mid-Carolina drives.
The first? The Rebels were marching down the field when, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Chester cornerback Andre Evans followed his defender into the back corner of his end zone, located the ball and intercepted a Mid-Carolina pass. (On their ensuing possession, the Cyclones put together an eight-play, 80-yard drive — which featured a 35-yard reception from Octaveon “Tank” Minter and a few rushes from junior bruising running back Darius Head, who eventually punched in a four-yard touchdown.)
“I thought that was the tone-setter,” Floyd said.
The other momentous takeaway? Chester’s Tim Brown rose up and forced an interception midfield while Mid-Carolina was rolling again with just 2:17 left in the contest. (On the ensuing possession, Dunham scored his aforementioned touchdown.)
The game, clearly, took off in the fourth quarter: After a scoreless first quarter — and after the teams ended their first drives by committing turnovers on downs — Chester began the event with a one-yard punch-in from Head. 7-0, Chester.
And then right before halftime, after only completing two passes for 15 yards prior to the team’s final drive of the half, Chester QB Dunham found Khamani Tobias for 41 yards and then Rathael Pendergrass for 15 yards before Dunham punctuated the drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown. A failed PAT made the score 13-0, Chester.
Chester allowed two touchdowns in the second half, but the two aforementioned interceptions made by the defense effectively put the game away for good.
The Cyclones, in addition to Dunham, were led on offense by junior receiver Johnathan Goldsborough, who caught two passes for 15 yards; Tobias, who caught one pass for 41 yards; and Rathael Pendergrass, who caught two passes for 28 yards.
They also had Brown rush for five yards; Head rush for 72 yards and two touchdowns; and Jaden Simmons rush for 12 yards.
Quotable: ‘He’s a load to tackle in the fourth quarter’
Coach Floyd on what his team knew about Mid-Carolina heading into the contest: “We didn’t know a lot about them outside of them being very similar to Newberry in style.” Newberry eliminated Chester from the state playoffs in 2019.
Floyd on his junior running back, Head (6-feet, 230-pounds), who battled injuries in his first two seasons at Chester: “Finally got him to his varsity game. I thought he played well. He ran the ball hard. I thought he was a difference maker. He’s a load to tackle in the fourth quarter.”
Floyd on what’s next for Chester: “We’ll come in tomorrow, lift weights, watch film, get this game behind us. Keenan is up next, and we’re in Columbia for Game Two (on Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.). Every region game is important.”
Staff reports: Lewisville, Great Falls also begin 2020 season
Lamar 44, Great Falls 12
The second-ranked Lamar Silver Foxes scored in every quarter and coasted to a 44-12 win over the Great Falls Red Devils in Great Falls.
Lamar scored on its opening possession. The Silver Foxes marched 65 yards following a Great Falls punt to make it 6-0.
The Red Devils punted again on their next possession, but Lamar fumbled it away. Great Falls could not move the ball and missed a 32-yard field goal.
Lamar added two more scores and a pair of two-point conversions in the second quarter for a 22-0 lead at halftime.
The Silver Foxes made it 30-0 early in the third period, but Great Falls countered. Xavier Brown rambled 62 yards on a quarterback keeper to cut the deficit to 30-6 with just more than nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Lamar answered quickly. They went 55 yards in four snaps for a 36-6 cushion with just more than seven minutes left in the third quarter. They tacked on another score midway through the fourth period to make it 44-6.
Brown capped the scoring with his second touchdown of the night. That cut the deficit to 44-12 in the final two minutes.
Great Falls plays at CA Johnson next week in another region game.
CA Johnson 21, Lewisville 14
The CA Johnson Hornets erased a seven-point halftime deficit and earned a 21-14 victory over the Lewisville Lions in Richburg.
The two teams played to a 7-7 deadlock after the end of the first quarter, but the Lions scored in the second quarter to take a 14-7 lead to the dressing room at intermission.
The Hornets scored twice in the second half to earn the come-from-behind victory.
Lewisville is idle next week.
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 10:39 PM.
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