What We Saw: South Florence 27, North Augusta 20

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH AUGUSTA |</strong> “Just chill, we got it.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those were the words of encouragement from South Florence defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809742' first='Amare' last='Adams']</strong> to the offense. Amid frigid conditions and down double digits to host team North Augusta before playing a down, the Clemson signee remained upbeat and confident.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Inspired by the defense's relentless play, the Bruins scored 27 straight points to sting the Yellow Jackets 27-20 for the Class 4A Lower State title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1166986' first='Messiah' last='Jackson']</strong> rushed for two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. Running backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272717' first='Tre' last='Leonard']</strong> and University of South Carolina signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464881' first='Jayden' last='Sellers']</strong> both had rushing scores for the Bruins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An emotional South Florence head coach Drew Marlowe did not hesitate to give credit to the group most responsbile for the improbable comeback win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I'm so proud of our defense,” he said. “They're the guys who kept us in it. They're the guys who won the football game for us, man. We tried to screw it up on offense, but our defense came through big time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I'm so proud of our kids. Their composure. The way they fought. They didn't flinch. We got down 20-0 and I'm over there trying to make sure they're good and they're telling me ‘Coach, we're good.' I wish you could have seen them 15 weeks ago and the growth that they've gone through and I think that…(Pauses a few seconds) winning tonight was unbelievable. But watching them to transform into something that could win that has been special to watch. It really has been.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Florence's nightmarish start began during a promising opening drive. As it lined up at the North Augusta 30, the direct snap to Sellers went errant.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As Sellers and North Augusta defensive back <strong>Ty Burke</strong> battled over the football, Yellow Jacket teammate <strong>Donte' Bell</strong> made the scoop. He then raced 70 yards to the endzone to put North Augusta on the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next South Florence series ended with another turnover turned into a touchdown. Blitzing sophomore defensive lineman <strong>Deandre Baskett</strong> laid a crushing hit into Jackson as he threw the football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ball wobbled into the hands of a waiting North Augusta defensive back <strong>Zeddy Tillman</strong> who returned it for the touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the Yellow Jackets made it 20-0, they would not score again. Along with Adams upfront, linebackers freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615015' first='Warnell' last='Prew']</strong> and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157897' first='Cameron' last='Coe']</strong> played a major role in limiting the big plays by Tillman, running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Michael' last='Doe']</strong> and Shrine Bowl wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013040' first='Connor' last='Brown']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We didn't step back tonight,” Marlowe said. “They've got some really great players. Some explosive players. Eight (Doe) got loose a little bit because he's a great player. But we attacked their butts tonight and I think forced them into some uncomfortable situations.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive backs <strong>Amare Reeves</strong> and <strong>Avon Rosado</strong> also accounted for two interceptions which set up scores for South Florence. Meanwhile, the Bruins' offensive line turned the tide upfront and began opening running lanes for Leonard and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272722' first='Zion' last='Gilbert']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We kept fighting,” offensive lineman <strong>Edgerrin King</strong>. “We knew it was a fourth quarter game. We knew we were never out of it. Coach told us to keep fighting. Tell us only the strong survive and we were the strongest tonight.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Augusta's defense made a final stand late in the game. A fourth and one stop gave the Yellow Jackets the football back at the South Florence 29 with 1:38 left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 17-yard completion by Tillman to Brown brought North Augusta to the Bruins 12. The Yellow Jackets then saw its hopes ended with an incomplete pass on fourth down with 7.6 seconds left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the win, South Florence will face defending Class 4A champion Westside Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium at Willie Jeffries Field. It's a rematch of last year's final won 34-32 in the last 15 seconds by the Rams over the then undefeated defending champion Bruins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We just need to star up the quarterback (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods']</strong>),” Adams said. “This has got to be the best week (in practice) that we ever have all year. We've got to really lock in at practice and go in there and execute.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->