What We Saw: Richland Northeast 36, Crestwood 32

DAZELL | At one point, some on the Richland Northeast sideline thought it wasn't going to be their night at visiting Crestwood Friday night.   But thanks to the three-headed monster on offense of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] and receivers Dillion Hughy and [player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette'], the Cavaliers rallied and scored 14 points in the final 1:43 to escape with a 36-32 victory to improve to 2-0 on the season.   The turning point might have come when three of the four banks of lights went out, causing a nearly 22-minute delay with just over nine minutes remaining.     “They don't give up. They fight. It was a gut check,” RNE coach Walt Wilson said. “When the lights went out, that was a chance for us to regroup. Everything happens for a reason and that was our gut-check.”   Wilson hit Betette on a back-shoulder throw from nine yards out with 20 seconds remaining to secure the improbable comeback.   “We had a rollout with a corner concept when they played cover zero,” [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] said. “Blake was one-on-one, so I just needed to give my guy a shot. That's what we work for. All summer and all offseason, we worked. That's expected.”   Betette, who posted his second straight 100-yard receiving night with five catches for 103 yards, went into more detail.   “I was in the slot, and we ran the corner route the play before the last play,” the junior receiver said. “They guarded it pretty well and I couldn't get to the ball. We liked the look we got though so we ran it again. I just made a play on the ball and my QB threw it where it needed to be.”   The Cavaliers trailed 32-22 after Gorge Hernandez connected on a 33-yard field with 3:34 remaining. [player_tooltip player_id='1291891' first='Jeremie' last='Richardson'] set up that score by intercepting a pass in the end zone and returning it 71-yards to the RNE 29-yard line. That came two plays after RNE had a holding call overturn a potential touchdown and a play after Wilson had to leave the game due to his helmet coming off.   That's when the lights went out. Linebacker Joshua Simons and defensive end Demarcus Haliburton came up big during that next series that also saw the Knights have a TD negated due to a holding call. The six-play drive took nearly six minutes off the clock thanks to four total penalties but gave the Cavaliers life after Crestwood settled for a field goal and a 10-point lead.   [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] then orchestrated a nine-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Hughy with 1:43 remaining.   Tyon Shell recovered the onside kick on the third attempt. The Cavaliers were offside on the first two chances but finally got it right with Shell coming up with the ball at the Knights 40-yard line. Seven plays later, Wilson and Betette connected for the game-winner.   “Adversity hit and we didn't back down,” [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] said. “We persevered and went and got it. We got our minds back right and refocused, and we regrouped. We did what we had to do during that break.”    It helped that gut-check to have those three offensive players. Wilson, the North Carolina State commit, didn't have his best passing night but still finished with 355 yards and three touchdowns through the air while adding an additional 205 yards rushing and two scores. He was 18-of-38 with no interceptions.   Hughy was the primary target. The junior finished with eight receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He caught a 79-yard seam route for a score in the first half. Betette added 105 yards on five catches.   Crestwood received a huge night from running back [player_tooltip player_id='1394990' first='Ladamien' last='Belton']. The junior rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. The Knights ended up playing three players at quarterback with Jaydis Williams being the most effective thrower, but he only threw for 43 yards. Williams threw a 2-yard TD to [player_tooltip player_id='1012586' first='Jahiem' last='Jones'] in the first half.   RICHLAND NORTHEAST NOTES   Wilson stayed clean in the pocket most of the night and a big credit has to go to the offensive line. Junior Brandon McFadden led that group.   Defensively, junior defensive back Jerell Turner wasn't asked to cover much but he blanketed the Crestwood receivers when they attempted to pass.   CRESTWOOD NOTES   Belton and Richardson also played most of the game at defensive back. Junior Aidan Mack is a disruptive force on both sides of the ball. He's 6-foot-3, 280 pounds and played offensive guard and then doubled down as a defensive tackle.

DAZELL | At one point, some on the Richland Northeast sideline thought it wasn't going to be their night at visiting Crestwood Friday night.