What We Saw: TL Hanna 57, Catawba Ridge 34

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ANDERSON</strong> | The Wing-T ground attack was effective, and so was TL Hanna in all three phases as they defeated Catawba Ridge, 57-34 on Friday night to advance to the third round on the road against Gaffney next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jackets got off to a fast start as the opening kickoff was a squib kick returned to the Catawba Ridge 24. It didn't take long as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157743' first='KD' last='Patterson']</strong> put the first points of the night at 7-0 with a 9-yard score just one minute into the contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catawba Ridge got a big kick return of their own into Yellow Jackets territory on the ensuing kickoff, but Hanna's defense stiffened on 4th down with a pass breakup. The Jackets went right down the field with a methodical drive, culminating with a 3-yard <strong>Daylan Williams</strong> touchdown run to go up 14-0 with 5:49 to play in the first quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Copperheads got some momentum with a blocked punt and started at the TL Hanna 25-yard line.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1574007' first='CJ' last='Couch']</strong> found<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='809747' first='Brady' last='Ambrose']</strong> for an 8-yard scoring toss, cutting into the lead at 14-7 with 24 seconds left in the first quarter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“You could tell there was a little rust after the week off but our kids never gave up. They continued to fight and really, really enjoyed the way our kids played,” TL Hanna head coach Jason Tone said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SECOND QUARTER SWINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The beginning of the second quarter was highlighted by a big run from <strong>Matt Boseman</strong>, who was a big key for the Yellow Jackets' rushing attack throughout the evening. That culminated with a 2-yard Williams run as Hanna went up 21-7 with 8:39 to play before the half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're very young offensively and it took us several weeks to get going and they're starting to click. We've got the makings of something special. As long as we can continue to work together, I'm really pleased with how we've developed throughout the year,” Tone said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Special teams got in on the action as <strong>Shondriques Vance </strong>blocked a punt for a scoop-and-score as the Jackets took a commanding 28-7 lead with 6:27 to play before the half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The thing that is so tricky about Hanna's Wing-T option offense is they lull you to sleep with the run game and get you out of position on a play-action pass. That's exactly what happened as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254105' first='Brandon' last='Cunningham'] </strong>(pictured above) connected with <strong>Walker Kelley </strong>for a 41-yard strike where he was wide open. The two-point try was good and it was 36-7 with 2:58 to play before halftime. And it appeared this one was set to be over at halftime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But don't tell that to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422524' first='Josh' last='Dobson'] </strong>and the Copperheads. Dobson took the ensuing kickoff back for a score as they cut into the lead at 36-19. The Copperheads' defense would recover a fumble on the next series before Couch connected with <strong>Preston Cooper </strong>in the right corner of the endzone to bring the visitors from Fort Mill within striking distance at 36-19 into the halftime locker room.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“There was a handful of times that they could've just said, hey man, this thing's over. We're going to pack it in and they played the full 48. I'm so proud of them. A lot of credit to TL Hanna. That offense is really, really good when they're clicking and we knew we were going to have to make some plays and we turned them over a couple of times and put some points of the board and had some flow back our way, but just not enough plays tonight,” Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLOSING IT OUT&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The momentum did not last long for Catawba Ridge in the third quarter as Hanna was able to milk the clock and add to their lead with a 3-yard run from Boseman, who ran with nice vision to go up 43-19 with 4:36. <strong>Jamarion Oliver </strong>scored on a 25-yard pick six to the house on the ensuing series as Hanna went back up big, 50-19 with 4:28 to play in the third quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Couch would find <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1283702' first='Braylen' last='Burgis']</strong> for two more scores, one off a fumble recovery in the endzone after a 32-yard completion to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592500' first='Darius' last='Sutton'] </strong>late in the third quarter and the other on a 7-yard touchdown with 9:03 to play in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cunningham would close the scoring for Hanna with 1:18 left in the contest on a 1-yard run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->