WHAT WE SAW: AC Flora 50, West Florence 19

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The question is almost becoming - what else can <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202726' first='Markel' last='Townsend']</strong> do. Let's forget the fact that he produced his eighth 200-yard game of the season in AC Flora's 50-19 victory over West Florence in the third round of the Class 3A playoffs. Let's forget the fact that he scored three touchdowns. Let's also forget the fact that he's over 2,500 yards on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His highlight reel play from the victory – his 13-yard sack on third down early in the third quarter with the game still in the balance was as good as you will see. He came off the edge, beat a block by the offensive tackle and corralled <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336138' first='Deuce' last='Hudson']</strong> for the huge loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“He called a blitz call and that's my favorite call and I got the sack,” Townsend joked after the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But make no mistake about it, Townsend's place at the next level is at running back. He went over the 2,500-yard mark for the season and scored three touchdowns in another ho-hum effort for the undefeated Falcons offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Townsend set the tone on the second offensive play of the game. West Florence tried to catch A.C. Flora napping on the opening kickoff and tried an onside kick, but Heath Moser picked it up and ran it down to the Knights 28-yard line. Two Townsend runs later, the Falcons held a 7-0 lead 47 seconds into the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Townsend finished with 206 yards on 19 carries. He also scored on runs of 4 and 2 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202733' first='Carew' last='Bates']</strong> was more than efficient at QB. The senior signal-caller was 9-of-12 for 154 yards and three touchdowns. He threw a 37-yard TD strike to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202725' first='Chris' last='Lofton']</strong> on the Falcons second offensive possession. He later added 16 and 8-yard scoring passes to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='409839' first='Jack' last='Purdy']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AC Flora scored on every offensive possession. The final score was a 94-yard sprint by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='272714' first='Aiden' last='Mosley'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have a bunch of different weapons,” AC Flora coach Ken Floyd said. “There's a lot of different things to prepare for. Markel and the o-line and those guys are going to get some yardage. Then on the edges, we have some people that can take the top off and stretch the field. We have people that can make plays in space. We're blessed to have the weapons that we have.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's not leave out the defensive effort by the undefeated Falcons either. Last week, they allowed 34 points in the victory over Hartsville. But Floyd challenged that group this week and they responded.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On West Florence's first drive, they stuffed the Knights on fourth down at the one-yard line to set up a 7-play, 99-yard scoring drive. They later added another stop in the Red Zone and recovered two fumble recoveries – one each by <strong>Andre Thomas </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202750' first='Braxton' last='Burton']</strong> – to set up scoring drives. Lofton added an interception as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Little. John Friday, Evan Smith</strong>, <strong>Eric McClain </strong>and <strong>Albert Perkins</strong> all had big games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We challenged those guys after the Hartsville game and they answered the bell,” Floyd said. “They came off the ball. We attacked blocks, we didn't catch blocks. That was a big challenge going into the week. Last week, we kind of felt like we didn't rise to the occasion but I'm super proud of those guys because they did tonight.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudson was hobbled on the Knights first TD of the game – a 21-yard pass to <strong>Bryson Graves </strong>on fourth down. He returned to the game but was limited in his mobility. He finished 14-of-18 for 131 yards and added 31 yards rushing. <strong>Trevor Milliken</strong> caught a 3-yard touchdown on the final play of the game. <strong>Darren Lloyd</strong> finished with 118 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->