What We Saw: JL Mann Edges Hillcrest In Classic

SIMPSONVILLE | The way the showdown for second place in Region I-5A was going Friday night, it appeared destined to be decided in overtime. If it had, there should've been some kind of rules change that would've simply allowed J.L. Mann's [player_tooltip player_id='1142457' first='Mikel' last='McClellan'] and Hillcrest's [player_tooltip player_id='267431' first='Avery' last='McFadden'] to face off in some kind of one-on-one battle to determine the winner.   On a night when each teams' brightest star had more than 200 yards receiving, it was actually the Patriots' opportunistic defense that left no extra periods necessary. Mann intercepted three passes in the final four minutes. The second of those set up a game-winning touchdown with 9.3 seconds left as the Patriots pulled off a 42-35 win at Chandler Stadium.   In snapping's fifth-ranked Hillcrest's nine-game winning streak in the series, Mann (8-2, 3-1) wrapped up second place in the region and earned a home game in next Friday's opening round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Patriots will host Blythewood (4-6). Meanwhile Hillcrest (8-2, 2-2), which spent much of the season ranked No. 2 in the state before losing to region champion T.L. Hanna two weeks ago, will travel to Nation Ford (5-5) in round one.   "It feels good and I'm just so proud of my team. I told the kids all week that we were playing for our seniors. We wanted them to have the opportunity to play at Slaton Field," Mann coach Scoot Watson said. "We're looking forward to that opportunity next week."   McClellan (pictured) said he was happy for his friend when he heard that McFadden was selected as a Mr. Football finalist this week. But when the lights came on Friday, friendships took a few hours off.   "That's my guy but when we're on the field, I'm trying to be better than you," said McClellan, who finished with nine catches for 237 yards and two touchdowns. "I'm trying to one-up everything you do."   Hillcrest was in control for much of Friday's game, but could never build more than a two-score lead. Against Mann's explosive offense, that lead is never a safe one. Seemingly each time McFadden made a big play for the Rams, McClellan answered.   On the third play of the game, McFadden turned third-and-four screen pass from [player_tooltip player_id='809746' first='Kalab' last='Sutton'] into a 41-yard gain. McFadden capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown catch.   Later in the quarter, Mann standout quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1144060' first='Ethan' last='Anderson'] found McClellan breaking free down the right sideline for a 47-yard touchdown to tie the game.   On Hillcrest's ensuing possession, it converted a second-and-25 play when McFadden caught a 56-yard bomb from Sutton. Sutton later scored on a seven-yard keeper.   Nobody in school history has more touchdowns than McFadden, but they had come on catches, runs, punt returns and kick returns ... until the Patriots' next drive. McFadden turned Anderson's only mistake into his first pick-six with a 38-yard interception return for a score to push the lead to 21-7.   Mann answered when Na'Cyus Morrison scampered 22 yards for a score. A significant part of Friday's game came on Hillcrest's ensuing possession when Sutton was injured and never returned. He was 5-of-7 passing for 138 yards and had 34 yards rushing at that point.   "Our quarterback went down. One of our starting receivers and one of our starting corners were out, but that's football," Hillcrest coach Bennett Swygert said. "Our team fights and cares about one another. It's a tough loss.   "Playoffs are win or go home. I feel pretty good about us regrouping and giving people our best shot going forward."   It was still 21-14 midway through the third quarter when things got a little bonkers and remained that way the rest of the night. Hillcrest blocked a punt and two plays later, Will Thompson hit [player_tooltip player_id='347516' first='Weston' last='Willis'] for a seven-yard touchdown.   On Mann's next possession, McClellan had a 50-yard reception to Hillcrest's 30-yard line. On fourth down, Anderson threw to the end zone and [player_tooltip player_id='1249825' first='Keyshun' last='Henderson'] made a leaping grab for a 26-yard touchdown. After forcing a three-and-out, it took the Patriots three plays to tie the game when Anderson threw deep over the middle and hit McClellan in stride for a 75-yard score.   A three-play sequence that summed up the wildness of this night came with less than four minutes left and the score still deadlocked. On second-and-six at Hillcrest's 25, McClellan took a handoff. While he was fighting for extra yards, McFadden was fighting to bring him down and eventually forced a fumble that the Rams recovered.   On the next play, defensive lineman Joel Crespo intercepted a screen pass and rumbled 20 yards for a touchdown.   Mann's first lead didn't last long. On the next snap, McFadden caught a screen to the left and outraced everyone to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown for a 35-35 tie with 3:16 left. The 50th touchdown of his brilliant career was his final catch of the night. McFadden finished with 203 yards receiving on seven receptions and he had one carry for 14 yards.   Hillcrest got the ball back with just over a minute to go. Mann linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1249737' first='Wyatt' last='Ward'], who had a team-high 13 tackles, made a diving interception at the Rams' 40 yard line with 55 seconds left. The Patriots faced third-and-six from the 11. While they were certainly in field goal range, Mann took a shot to the end zone and Anderson delivered. With much of the deserved attention to McClellan and Henderson, that left tight end Camden Cremmins wide open in the end zone. His only catch of the night was the game-winner with 9.3 seconds left.   Max Watt intercepted Hillcrest's Hail Mary pass from midfield as time expired.   "I don't hardly have the words for it. It was an insane team win," said Anderson, who finished with 365 yards on 21-of-34 passing with four touchdowns and one interception, and also ran for 21 yards. "We just kept clawing. ... This is a win that's huge for the program."

SIMPSONVILLE | The way the showdown for second place in Region I-5A was going Friday night, it appeared destined to be decided in overtime. If it had, there should've been some kind of rules change that would've simply allowed J.L. Mann's Mikel McClellan Mikel McClellan 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR J.L. Mann | 2024 State SC and Hillcrest's Avery McFadden Avery McFadden 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Hillcrest | 2024 State SC to face off in some kind of one-on-one battle to determine the winner.