What We Saw: Ben Lippen 10, Heathwood Hall 6

Chris Dearing October 10, 2024 @ 11:28 PM

COLUMBIA | Defense and field goal kicking was the name of the game for both Ben Lippen and Heathwood Hall Thursday night, but it was the Falcons that turned in an impressive second half defensive effort to snap a three-game losing streak with a 10-6 victory.   Neither team reached the 200-yard plateau but thanks to the efforts of Kellen George and Austin Huff, Ben Lippen limited the Highlanders to just 55 second half yards and a negative 13 yards rushing. The two defensive linemen stayed in the Heathwood Hall backfield and set the tone on the first two series of the half.   Those two combined to record a sack on four of the first eight plays of the second half. George set the stage for the only points of the second half when he recorded a sack and caused a fumble that the Falcons recovered at the Highlanders 20-yard line. That led to a 34-yard field goal by Zack Mathew with 1:59 remaining in the third quarter.   “The first half, we didn't do a great job containing but we made some second half adjustments and just got after them,” George said.     Heathwood Hall reached the Red Zone on the first second half series thanks to starting at the Falcons 20-yard line, but a 42-yard field goal attempt came up short.   George and Huff made the most noise, but it was a total defensive effort. [player_tooltip player_id='1099127' first='Jamere' last='Crooks'] played well in the secondary and the three linebackers – [player_tooltip player_id='1165156' first='Drake' last='Porter'], CJ Currence and [player_tooltip player_id='1254058' first='Jordan' last='Conner'] – were there to make a play if things broke down at the line of scrimmage. Miles Grant halted the Highlanders first drive with an interception at his own 18-yard line.   That defensive effort only allowed Heathwood Hall 185 yards of total offense.   “We lost containment early on but we kind of settled down a little bit,” Ben Lippen coach Bennett Weigle said. “We came with four and sometimes three but (George) and (Huff) can really get after people. They did a better job in the second half playing their landmarks.   Braden Marye scored the only touchdown of the game with a two-yard plunge with 2:35 remaining in the first quarter. He was held in check most of the night but when Ben Lippen needed a play late to run the clock out, he ripped off a 60-yard run that allowed the Falcons to run the clock down to eight seconds remaining.   Marye tallied 111 yards on 18 carries.   James Richardson gave Heathwood Hall its only points on field goals of 31 and 29 yards in the first half. [player_tooltip player_id='473014' first='Patrick' last='Belk'] did his best for the Highlanders offense but was under the heavy pass rush from the outset. He did manage to complete 21-of-40 for 165 yards but a rushing attack that only had 25 yards on 29 attempts was the downfall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1249733' first='Onis' last='Konanbanny'], a Tennessee commitment, was the leading Heathwood Hall receiver with five catches for 59 yards. He rarely left the field as he lined up at linebacker and in the secondary on defense and made plays all over the field. Sophomore Keon McKinley added six catches for 42 yards.   Heathwood Hall only allowed three passing yards on five attempts. Linebacker Christian Hitchcock and defensive end Hill Belser help limit the Falcons to 186 rushing yards.

COLUMBIA | Defense and field goal kicking was the name of the game for both Ben Lippen and Heathwood Hall Thursday night, but it was the Falcons that turned in an impressive second half defensive effort to snap a three-game losing streak with a 10-6 victory.