In what has become to be known as the Crosstown Showdown, Fort Mill welcomed Catawba Ridge to The Hive Friday in what many saw as a winnable game for both squads.
It was the first Region game for both squads and the first game ever in Region 3-5A play for Catawba Ridge so much more was on the line than just bragging rights. Both teams put in the work, but it was the Copperheads coming away with a 30-0 win over Fort Mill.
Fort Mill won the toss and deferred to the second half giving Catawba Ridge the football to begin the contest. Quarterback CJ Couch was throwing absolute darts as the Copperheads marched down the field ending with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Couch to Colten McCauley with 6:28 to go first quarter.
Fort Mill’s offense found it difficult in the first quarter getting positive yardage much less first downs.
After back-to-back three and outs by the Yellow Jacket offense, Catawba Ridge would go on another impressive drive as Couch was spinning the football into small windows with Preston Cooper being the recipient of three passes.
Yet, the drive would stall deep inside Fort Mill territory. However, Camden Gifford would bang home a 26-yard field goal with 3:09 to go first quarter increasing the Copperhead lead to 10-0.
Once again, the Yellow Jacket offense could not contain the bull rush from the Copperheads front four giving Catawba Ridge the football again inside Fort Mill territory. On a massive third down and long play, Couch found Cooper across the middle not only for a first down but all the way inside the Yellow Jacket one yard line. But again, the Fort Mill defense stood tall forcing another Gifford field goal. This one was from 22 yards out making it 13-0 Catawba Ridge midway second quarter.
Fort Mill would change quarterbacks from Quinn Kelly to Broden Mitcheson, but the fortunes of the Fort Mill offense did not improve. The Copperheads’ defense was just suffocating all night long forcing quick drive after quick drive.
Fort Mill tried to get some points deep into the second quarter, but the drive ended on downs near the 40-yard line. Fort Mill’s defense would get the ball back to its offense in short order, but the Yellow Jacket drive ended with an interception by Casey Fikis.
Catawba Ridge marched down the field again setting up another field goal attempt by Gifford. However, Jeremiah McNeil would block the kick to send the teams into the locker room with the Copperheads in control 13-0.
The Yellow Jackets would get the ball first second half and was able to put some first downs together, but once again had to punt it away to Catawba Ridge. That drive by the Copperheads didn’t last long as they had to punt for one of the few times all game.
Fort Mill with another three and out, set up another scoring drive by the Copperheads, this time ending in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Couch deep in the corner of the Yellow Jacket end zone to Connor McFadden. Gifford’s extra point was true and it was all Copperheads 20-0 with 7:37 left third quarter.
Fort Mill got a drive rolling next possession moving it deep into Copperhead territory. The drive stalled out around the Copperheads 40-yard line, but the Yellow Jackets rolled the dice on fourth down, but it came up snake eyes as the Catawba Ridge defense again rose to the occasion to force a turnover on downs.
Catawba Ridge wasn’t done scoring, however.
Couch was masterful all night long both with his arm and his legs. Copperheads got it inside the Fort Mill 20-yard line, but couldn’t find the magic touch on third down. Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak trotted Gifford out there and he put another one through the pipes from 38-yards out making it 23-0 Catawba Ridge.
The Copperheads would score again, this time on a 5-yard touchdown run from Brayden Wasik with 2:13 to go third quarter pushing the score to 30-0.
The Yellow Jackets offense would get some first downs and put together some nice drives, but the Copperheads ended both drives with an interception. Catawba Ridge’s defense had three picks on the night.
Couch would take a knee at the 38-yard line to end the game with Catawba Ridge shutting out Fort Mill in The Hive for the first time ever. It’s the second time in the short series between the two that the Copperheads have blanked the Yellow Jackets going back to the 35-0 win back in 2021. It’s the third time the Yellow Jackets have been shut out in the last two seasons.
Catawba Ridge improves to 4-1 on the season, but more importantly 1-0 in Region 3-5A play. Copperheads return home next Friday night versus the Northwestern Trojans.
Fort Mill falls to 1-3 and 0-1 in region play. The Yellow Jackets hit the road next Friday night at Clover.
