What We Saw: AC Flora 42, Brookland-Cayce 35

COLUMBIA | [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'] is proving his AC Flora head coach's hunch right.     Prior to the season, Ken Floyd was undecided on a starting quarterback.   He had the option of going with senior Heath Moser. As the regular season approached, however, he saw the potential of Wentzky and had to make a difficult choice.   Through three games, Wentzky has settled into the starting position. Friday against Brookland-Cayce, he threw for four touchdowns in the 42-35 win over the Bearcats at Memorial Stadium.   “It's unfortunate because Heath has paid his dues and he's a good quarterback,” Floyd said. “But as a coach, you've got to right that hot hand and right now, Wentzky is giving us the best chance to win and he's doing a really good job. I think he has 10 touchdowns in three games, and I don't think I'd be a good coach if I got away from him at this point.”     Having a speedy, sure-handed wide receiver made Wentzky's job easier. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd'] was on the receiving end on all four touchdown passes, often racing past the Bearcat secondary to make the catch in stride in the endzone.   “I always look to him when it's clutch time like it was tonight,” Wentzky said. “I knew that those corners, they couldn't guard Kendall to be honest. They had double coverage on him, and we still got the ball to him. He's a dog.”   Said Floyd: “Kendall has yet to tap into his true potential. He's going to be really special around here. We've got a bunch of young receivers, but Kendall has a really bright future and I'm proud of him because he's handling success well and he's being consistent and that's the biggest thing you have to worry about with these young guys.”   Byrd credited his success to running back Noah Kelson (pictured with the football), who has stepped up in place of last year's Class 4A All-State standout Markel Townsend to rush for over 100 yards in each of the first three games.   AC Flora has a mix of youth and experience on the offensive line. Seniors Damaurius Baker (Number 72 in picture) and Zach Locke and junior Joshua Edwards-Threatt play at guard and work in unison with sophomore center [player_tooltip player_id='1639708' first='Brett' last='Epps'] and junior Justin Bryant at tackle.   The Falcons also have depth with Colby Ridgell, Aiden Sauls and Max Elliott all at tight end.   “They contributed a lot,” Kelson said. “There were a lot of holes. A lot of runs. A lot of big runs. A lot of large runs and then, with them with the pass blocking, it was excellent with Kendall scoring four touchdowns. So, you know, it's easy with them blocking for us.”   AC Flora's defense played a big role in the win right from the start. On the first play from scrimmage, Brookland-Cayce quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='771224' first='Will' last='Young'] fumbled at his own 22 and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='771227' first='Albert' last='Perkins'] made the recovery and returned it for the opening touchdown.   “He's definitely a leader,” Floyd said about Perkins. “He needs to learn to keep his composure. He gets so amped up sometimes. But he's a really good football player and we look for him to make plays.”   Young made amends by leading the Bearcats on two straight scoring drives which he ended with touchdown downs to regain the lead. Brookland-Cayce also got a touchdown run from [player_tooltip player_id='771218' first='Deshaun' last='Washington'] to go up 21-14.   Back-to-back 18-yard touchdown passes by Wentzky to Byrd gave AC Flora a 28-21 halftime advantage. The second half saw the Falcons' defense begin to stifle the Bearcats' wing-T offense.   They pressured Young away from his strength in running the football and sacked him four times.  Linebacker Jermonte Williams played a role in two turnovers which resulted in two more touchdown passes by Wentzky to Byrd.   He forced a fumble by David-Saul Daniels in the third quarter that was recovered by [player_tooltip player_id='917533' first='Tracy' last='Borden-Bryant']. The very next play saw Wentzky launch a 42-yard bomb to Byrd for their fourth touchdown together.   The roles were reversed in the fourth quarter. This time, Borden-Bryant tackled [player_tooltip player_id='1020770' first='Brogan' last='Sox'] as he punted in the endzone, and Williams recovered it for the touchdown.   Forced to throw the football, Brookland-Cayce head coach Rusty Charpia moved Sox to quarterback. After a three-and-out, Sox led the Bearcats on two straight scoring drives when ended with touchdown passes to Sullivan Castles.   The second score was set up by a slant pass from Sox to Young who turned up field and raced past AC Flora defenders for a 66-yard reception.     Afterwards, Charpia said the team might make an offensive adjustment moving forward.   “We've got some good players and we're going to work it all out over the next couple of weeks before we start region,” he said. “We might have to go with a different type of system where Will in there and there's certain packages and the other quarterbacks are in there with theirs. But we'll look at the film and see where we are, and we'll make those decisions. That's what we get paid to do.”   As for the Falcons, they appeared settled with Wentzky in the driver's seat and seeing him grow confident every game.   “I'm feeling good right now,” he said.

COLUMBIA | Roper Wentzky Roper Wentzky 5'11" | 155 lbs | QB AC Flora | 2026 State SC is proving his AC Flora head coach's hunch right.