Nation Ford topples Gaffney to open region play
The Nation Ford football team opened Region III play with one of the biggest wins in school history, beating the Gaffney Indians 42-26.
With a constant rain falling early on, the ground games of both Gaffney and Nation Ford were stunted, but it was the passing game that led both schools.
Both teams started the game trading touchdowns on their opening drives. Gaffney quarterback Bryson Ward and Falcons quarterback Cole Martin both came out slinging the ball on the drives.
Both teams continued to trade scores as neither one seemed to gain advantage.
Conditions weren’t the best for two passing quarterbacks, but both managed their offense well. Once the defenses figured things out, neither team was able to move the ball as quickly. But Nation Ford was able to get some breaks defensively to stop Gaffney.
Turning point
After a rally by Gaffney in the third quarter, Martin hit Alex Stennett for a 22-yard touchdown pass as he tightroped his way down the right side of the end zone to start the fourth quarter. The score shifted the momentum back in Nation Ford’s corner as they would continue to push their lead and outscore Gaffney 14-0 in the fourth quarter.
Critical
Martin hit Hank Tuipulotu on a bubble screen for an eight-yard touchdown pass that helped to extend their lead with under 30 second left in the first half. The entire drive was set up by a interception in the end zone from senior Mario Robinson killing Gaffney’s momentum and ending a 17-play drive for the Indians.
Star contributions
Martin went 30-46 for 395 yards hitting Hank Tuipulotu, who caught 10 passes for 126 yards. Stennett also caught nine passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Ward for Gaffney went 22-37 for 343 with his main target coming in Scott McCluney, who caught eight passes for 159 yards.
Nation Ford 42, Gaffney 26
Nation Ford | 13 | 9 | 6 | 14 | - | 42 |
Gaffney | 14 | 0 | 12 | 0 | - | 26 |
Scoring Summary
First quarter
G-Bryson Ward 13-yard pass to Kobe Rodgers (kick failed), 9:51
NF-Cole Martin 42-yard pass to Alex Stennett (Skyler Delong kick), 8:53
NF-Martin 26-yard pass to Hank Tuipulotu (kick blocked), 4:24
G-Ward 69-yard pass to Scott McCluney (2-point conversion), 4:07
Second quarter
NF-Safety (out of the back of the end zone), 9:19
NF-Martin to Tuipulotu eight-yard pass (Delong kick), 24.3
Third quarter
NF-Martin to Jordan Helms 18-yard pass (conversion failed), 7:02
G-Ward 40-yard run (kick failed), 3:11
G-Matthew Archie 16-yard interception return (conversion failed), 2:54
Fourth quarter
NF-Martin to Stennett 22-yard pass (conversion failed), 11:49
NF-Safety (out of the back of the end zone), 10:23
NF-Rayquwan Taylor three-yard run (conversion failed), 6:33
Team Statistics
NF | G | |
First downs | 26 | 22 |
Rushes-yards | 26-88 | 28-150 |
Passing | 30-46-1 | 22-37-3 |
Passing yards | 395 | 343 |
Fumbles-lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Penalties-yards | 7-50 | 12-97 |
Individual Statistics
Rushing
Nation Ford: Tyree Chaplin 17-75, Cole Martin 6-7, Rayquwan Taylor 3-6.
Gaffney: Bryson Ward 10-82, Ikeem Posey 9-51, Brian Leach 5-11, Matthew Archie 4-6.
Passing
Nation Ford: Cole Martin 30-46-1 395 yards. Gaffney: Bryson Ward 22-37-3 343 yards.
Receiving
Nation Ford: Hank Tuipulotu 10-126, Jordan Helms 5-71, Josh Shade 4-62, Alex Stennett 9-117, Chaplin 1-5, Colby Ridge 1-14. Gaffney: D.J. Logan 5-76, Kobe Rodgers 2-18, Scott McCluney 8-159, Ikeem Posey 2-31, Brian Leach 1-7, Desmond Logan 4-52.
Records Nation Ford 4-2, 1-0 Region III-4A; Gaffney 2-4, 0-1 Region III-4A.
On Deck
Nation Ford has next week off and will play at rival Fort Mill in two weeks on Oct. 9.
This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 10:40 PM with the headline "Nation Ford topples Gaffney to open region play."