The Catawba Ridge Copperheads scored 24 unanswered second half points to beat rival Nation Ford.
The Copperheads won 34-7 to improve to 3-1 in Region 3-5A and 6-2 overall. Nation Ford dropped to 1-7 on the season and 0-4 in the region in Friday’s game.
“We talked at the half about the style of game we needed to play to win the game,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak. “I feel like this clinches us a spot. It gives us a chance to have a home game.”
Catawba Ridge was led by a balanced offense as quarterback CJ Couch went 17-for-27 for 173 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Brady Ambrose was his main target as he caught six passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.
The Copperheads also rushed for 158 yards on the ground and were led by 62 yards from Brayden Wasik on 14 carries and 59 yards on 12 carries from Dev Crawford. Wasik and Crawford each scored a touchdown.
Nation Ford got the kickoff to open the game, but turned the ball over on an interception on their first drive. The Copperheads struggled to make anything happen, but pinned Nation Ford deep allowing them to get the ball back at the 20-yard line of the Falcons.
Catawba Ridge was hampered early by penalties and missed a 48-yard field goal attempt because of it.
After another short drive for the Falcons, Catawba Ridge started about midfield and got to the 15-yard line before a personal foul backed the Copperheads up. That resulted in Catawba Ridge settling for a 29-yard field goal by Camden Gifford with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Copperheads finally put together a penalty free drive in the second quarter with Dev Crawford pounding his way through the Nation Ford line. Catawba Ridge scored to cap off the drive with Crawford running in for a 3-yard touchdown with 7:26 left in the half to make it 10-0.
On the ensuing drive for Nation Ford, Sanford hit Ameo for a 65-yard gain putting the Falcons into the red zone for the first time in the game. Two plays later the two Nation Ford players would connect again for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 5:41 left in the second quarter.
On defense, Catawba Ridge struggled some with giving up big plays. On the next Falcons drive, the Copperheads allowed a 25-yard pass to Jayden Scott. However, the Copperheads were good about putting pressure on Sanford which allowed them to get the turn over on downs without Nation Ford scoring.
Catawba Ridge was putting together a good drive, but Nation Ford got an interception giving the ball back with 23 seconds. However, two plays later Sanford threw his second interception of the first half right before halftime.
The Copperheads started the second half and put together a good drive, but Couch was intercepted in the end zone to end the drive.
Catawba Ridge’s defense forced a punt by Nation Ford which gave them the ball at the Falcons’ 29-yard line.
Crawford got the ball moving getting them to the 4-yard line. Couch then hit Ambrose on a roll out to the left for the score with 6:19 left in the third quarter.
Sanford was picked off for the third time in the game on the Falcons’ next series giving the ball back to Catawba Ridge at the 15-yard line. Two plays later, Wasik scored on an 11-yard run to extend the Copperheads’ lead.
Again, on the Falcons’ next drive, another turnover gave the Copperheads the ball back at the 20-yard line. Catawba Ridge put together a four-play drive capped off by a Lewis Price 4-yard touchdown run.
“I have got to do a better job making sure we don’t turn the ball over,” said Nation Ford interim head coach Jason McManus. “We were unable to get the run game going.”
Right before the fourth quarter, Sanford hit Scott for a 63-yard catch putting Nation Ford at the nine-yard line. The Falcons were forced to attempt a 26-yard field goal that missed. Defensively, Catawba Ridge kept the pressure on Nation Ford and kept them out of the end zone.
Sanford went 20-for-40 for 278 yards and four interceptions. He also had a touchdown pass. Ameo had the lone touchdown reception as he caught six passes for 112 yards. Scott caught nine passes for 115 yards.
The Copperheads put together another scoring drive with backup players in resulting in a 27-yard field goal by Gifford with about 2:19 left to make it 34-7.
Catawba Ridge travels to Rock Hill next week to play the Bearcats, while the Falcons host Clover.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
