An offensive slugfest in the first half, turned into a defensive struggle in the second.
The Indian Land Warriors got their first ever Region 3-5A win in football beating Nation Ford 36-27 Friday evening at Nation Ford High School.
The night was a struggle for Nation Ford from a health perspective as they lost both their starting quarterback Carson Sanford and backup quarterback Emanuel Young to injury. Sanford was 10-for-13 for 111 yards and two touchdowns before he went down right before the half with an injury to his right arm.
His main target was Josh Ameo, who caught four passes for 85 yards, and two touchdowns. Patience Andrews racked up 70 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns to lead the rushing attack for the Falcons, which dropped to 1-5 on the season and 0-2 in region.
While things didn’t go the way the Falcons wanted, they stayed with Indian Land despite the injuries.
“We did a really good job in the second half defensively,” said Nation Ford interim head coach Jason McManus. “Losing two (quarterbacks) is not something you prepare for. Couldn’t be more proud of the second half and how we competed. Proud of how the kids fought in the second half.”
The Warriors received the opening kickoff and made the most of it scoring on the opening drive just five plays in with a 25-yard run by Omarion Davis.
Nation Ford came right back and went 45-yards to score with Ameo scoring on a seven-yard touchdown off a screen pass from Sanford.
From their Indian Land took control. Their next drive resulted in a 12-yard touchdown catch by Sequel Patterson from quarterback Matt Kucia to put the Warriors on top 14-7.
The teams exchanged series without scoring before going into the second quarter. In the second quarter, Indian Land put together a lengthy drive to score on a 6-yard touchdown pass to Lavoris Lucas from Kucia to make it 22-7 after the 2-point conversion.
Nation Ford cut that lead in half on their next series. Patience Andrews scored on a 2-yard run, but the Falcons failed to convert a 2-point conversion.
Nation Ford recovered a fumbled at midfield on the Warriors next drive. That mistake by Indian Land led to the Falcons taking advantage as Sanford and Ameo connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass.
Both teams traded touchdowns as their defenses struggled to stop the other. Indian Land scored as Patterson caught his second touchdown pass, this time a 43-yard reception from Kucia.
Andrews scored his second touchdown of the first half with a 1-yard run and Emanuel “EY” Young converted the 2-point conversion to Alex Haynes with less than a minute in the first half to make it 29-27 with Indian Land holding the lead.
On their next series, Indian Land fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and Nation Ford recovered on the Warriors 18-yard line. However, two plays later Young, who was in for an injured Sanford, was intercepted to end the half.
Nation Ford got the ball to open the second half, but a couple plays in turned it over. Young was injured on the play resulting in Nation Ford going to a third quarterback in Jayden Scott. Young would go 1-for-3 and two interceptions before being injured.
Defensively both teams played better in the third quarter keeping each other out of the end zone.
Indian Land blocked a punt to start the fourth quarter. An unsportsmanlike penalty on the same play gave the Warriors the ball at the Falcons 32. A pass interference call pushed Indian Land to the six-yard line where Patterson ran in on the next play to put Indian Land up 36-27.
Nation Ford struggled to move the ball in the second half. After Indian Land extended their lead in the fourth quarter, the Falcons pinned them deep in their own territory staring at the three-yard line. The Warriors took that opportunity to run the clock down and ended up picking up several first downs to end the game.
Scott played well in the second half after taking over at quarterback. He was 0-for-4 passing, but ran the ball three times for 32 yards.
Nation Ford travels to District III Stadium next Friday, Oct. 11 to take on the Rock Hill Bearcats.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
