What We Saw: Belton-Honea Path 30, Mountain View Prep 22

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SIMPSONVILLE | A funny thing happened on the way to an offensive explosion in the 3A Upper State title game at Hillcrest's Chandler Stadium.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Somebody forgot to tell the defenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belton-Honea Path got three fourth-quarter scores to beat Mountain View Prep 30-22 in a game that didn't remotely resemble the final score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Our defense took over in the second half," BHP head coach Russell Blackston said. "We couldn't get a whole lot going offensively, but that's what good teams do. They complement each other. Hats off to the defense. What an opportunity for our team, and for these 24 seniors, to go and play for a state championship."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The game featured Prep Redzone's top ranked players in the 2025 and 2026 classes in BHP RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605525' first='Marquise' last='Henderson']</strong> and MVP RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473001' first='Jaylen' last='McGill']</strong>. Both made big plays and both got on the scoreboard, but the expected shootout never materialized. Instead, the defenses kept making play after play in a game in which neither team cracked 250 yards of offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mountain View held a 16-7 lead at the half, and for a while it looked like that might be plenty. BHP managed just five total yards in the second and third quarters. <strong>Allen Edmondson</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734594' first='Jacobie' last='Smith']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253952' first='Eli' last='Smith']</strong>, and the rest of the MVP defense keyed on Henderson and limited everything else the Bears tried to do, and were aided by a pair of early BHP turnovers. McGill rushed for a 12-yard TD early to answer Henderson's 32-yard score, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349806' first='Bryson' last='Drummond']</strong> threw a 36-yard score to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149050' first='Kaevon' last='Washington']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422557' first='Henry' last='Phillips']</strong> made a 20-yard field goal to provide the 16-7 halftime advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But a couple of key defensive plays by the Bears loomed large, even with that score. First, <strong>Norikus Cowan</strong> blocked an extra point after the Stars' second touchdown. Then, after<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1395046' first='KD' last='Hainsworth']</strong> ripped off a big gain to the Bears' 4-yard line, BHP stiffened and only allowed one yard on three plays, forcing the field goal. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253982' first='Justin' last='Lathon']</strong> had a big stop on the drive, meeting Drummond at the three and dropping him in his tracks. Lathon, who set a school record with five sacks in the Bears' third-round game, had another to go with two tackles for loss against the Stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then in the fourth quarter, <strong>Colby Bates</strong> (pictured) and Henderson turned the game around. Bates picked off a pass on third down midway through the fourth quarter, setting up the Bears' most successful drive since the early going. Having relied on Henderson to bash away between the tackles most of the night, BHP split him out wide. He drew a pass interference penalty, then <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='779428' first='Tajeh' last='Watson-Martin']</strong> drew another. Four plays later, QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283891' first='Noah' last='Thomas']</strong> found Henderson wide open on a wheel route, throwing back across his body for a 30 yard score. The conversion gave the Bears a 17-16 lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mountain View drove to midfield, and took a downfield shot. Bates picked it off again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We watched film all week on the QB and his looks, and I was reading his eyes," Bates said. "I just thank God for putting me in that situation."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time, the payoff was immediate. Henderson went 81 yards for a score and a 24-16 lead that touched off a celebration.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Until <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734594' first='Jacobie' last='Smith']</strong> returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards for a score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trailing 24-22 with 2:07 left, the Stars had to go for two. Drummond faked a give to McGill, then threw to the corner of the end zone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bates got a hand on it to knock it away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I got a hand in there," Bates said. "It's just a great moment. It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP forced a punt with 15 seconds left, took their last snap with nine ticks on the clock, and ran a desperation hook-and-lateral. A pitch was fumbled, and Henderson scooped it up and returned it for his fourth TD of the night and the final 30-22 margin, earning a trip to Orangeburg to face Oceanside Collegiate for the state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We came up a yard short last year," Henderson said. "It feels good to come in here this year with my team and take care of business."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->