Currence, South Pointe Overpowers AC Flora

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COLUMBIA |</strong> Facing a double-digit deficit on the road in the first Region 3-AAAA contest of the season, top-ranked South Pointe proved they had the best player on the field and a defense that turned dominant.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819627' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence']</strong> ran for two touchdowns, threw for another touchdown and intercepted a pass to rally the Stallions to a 35-12 victory over fourth-ranked AC Flora Friday night at Memorial Stadium.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Add in a lockdown defensive effort by the likes of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1591712' first='Seth' last='Tillman']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594865' first='Brysen' last='Ginn']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271263' first='KJ' last='Burg']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816730' first='Daquan' last='Evans']</strong> and it's little wonder the Stallions showed they're considered a favorite to win a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We couldn't keep our heads down and we had to keep pushing and pushing,” Tillman said. “We were down but we knew if we got right the offense was going to do their job to get us back in it. It's a team thing and that's what got us back into it.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Currence(pictured) is still making the transition to playing quarterback after not starting the season in that position. He committed to South Carolina based on his play in the secondary, but he showed he's beginning to get more comfortable on the offensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The numbers were decent, but it was the way he got those numbers that ended up being backbreakers. Currence scored on runs of 43 and 40 yards and threw a six-yard touchdown to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1476906' first='Kadin' last='Vassel']</strong>. He finished with 86 yards rushing on five carries and he threw for 222 yards on 15-of-24 passing with two interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The touchdown pass showed his growth in the position. He rolled out of the pocket, looked to run it but all of a sudden pulled up and found a wide open Vassel in the back of the end zone for the easy TD pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's a challenge and I enjoy a challenge,” Currence said of making the move to quarterback. “I want to win a state championship and playing quarterback is the best case for us to win a state championship. I stepped into the role, and I'm still getting used to it and I'm having fun with my guys.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Pointe coach Bobby Collins went a little deeper in his description of the play of Currence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Best player in the state, best player in the country,” he said. “He's the first guy in the weight room; he's the first guy to film. He does everything you want. He's a coach's son. He's a humble, hard-working player. When your best player is a great human being, you always have a chance to be successful. “</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AC Flora (4-1) came out quickly to take a 12-0 lead. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky']</strong> connected with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592441' first='Charlie' last='Scott'] </strong>on a 61-yard touchdown strike to give the Falcons the early lead. They added to that lead in the second quarter when <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette']</strong> scooted in from yard out after Scott connected with <strong>Jalen Simmons</strong> on a 23-yard gain to the one-yard line on a wide receiver reverse.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But it was all Stallions from that point forward. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165128' first='RJ' last='Brown']</strong> responded on the next series with a 34-yard touchdown right up the gut. Two possessions later, Currence bolted around the left end after a massive rush came up the middle and sprinted untouched 43 yards for the score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That was the lead at the break, but it took two plays for the Stallions (5-0) to extend the lead in the second half. Currence connected with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='930586' first='Dailan' last='Duncan']</strong> on a 59-yard pass play to the one-yard line and <strong>Zymier Gordon-Miles</strong> scored on the next play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next series ended with the touchdown throw to Vassel and things were well in hand with the way the defense was playing. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1856920' first='Tae' last='Wylie']</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='1165103' first='Anthony' last='Baxter'] did more than enough up front against a very talented AC Flora defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Pointe was flagged about 20 times but that wasn't enough to slow them. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817067' first='Joshua' last='McClure']</strong> and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1818040' first='Kaden' last='McClure']</strong> paired with Tillman and Ginn in not giving Wentzky much time in the pocket. They also shut down the Falcons running game, limiting them to 52 yards on 27 attempts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We were down 12-0 in the first quarter, and they were playing well,” Collins said. “Our defense settled down and played well. Our goal offensively was to score five touchdowns, and we got that done. We're excited for the victory.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>SOUTH POINTE NOTES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duncan ended up being the leading receiver with 134 yards receiving on eight catches. Brown finished with 96 yards on 13 carries. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267332' first='CJ' last='Wherry']</strong> and <strong>Kadin Watkins</strong> gave up a few plays to the AC Flora receivers but for the most part kept them in check by only giving up the one big play to Scott.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>AC FLORA NOTES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wentzky was hit and harassed al night but hung in long enough to throw for 224 yards. He completed 17-of-37 with a touchdown and an interception. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd']</strong> was the leading receiver with six catches for 57 yards. Offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1153356' first='Ashton' last='Thompson']</strong> left in the second quarter with a lower body injury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422589' first='Peyton' last='Bishop']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1827461' first='Jordan' last='Davis']</strong>, <strong>Nasir Walker</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822546' first='Monty' last='Laffitte']</strong> all made their share of plays defensively, but it was the big plays allowed that turned out to be the difference</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->