Senior Duo Makes History in Batesburg-Leesville’s 41-24 Win

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PROSPERITY |</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592414' first='KD' last='Whitt']</strong> make special teams special at Batesburg-Leesville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whenever the football is within sight of either senior speed demon, the outcome may not go in the opposing team's favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mid-Carolina found out the hard way Thursday night at Lon Armstrong Stadium. Both players etched their place in Panther history in the 41-24 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wooden (pictured, No. 22) finished with 204 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The touchdown tally included a 99-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The score not only erased from the memory banks a fumble recovered by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823537' first='Gavin' last='Mitchell']</strong> that allowed the Rebels to take a 3-0 lead on a <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823534' first='Ryker' last='Woolstenhulme']</strong> field goal. It also tied a school record set in 2019 by <strong>Shauntrel Hendrix</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“(The fumble) had me really motivated because I felt bad because I promised the team before the game that it wasn't going to happen,” Wooden said. “So it happened. So I had to go out the rest of the game and improve and improve myself and make sure the team knew that I apologized and made up for it.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitt (pictured, No. 2) - who was selected to the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl Dec. 13 - also had two touchdowns in the first half. The first score made school history as he caught a fourth down pass from quarterback <strong>Reese Boehnke</strong> for a 15-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was Whitt's 16th career touchdown reception, breaking the mark set by <strong>Karone Coleman</strong> from 2005-07.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minutes later, Whitt got a second chance to contribute on special teams. After his 59-yard punt return TD was nullified by blocking penalties, he took the ball off the bounce at his own 30 and sprinted nearly untouched for a 70-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I see it as another opportunity for us to score,” Whitt said. “If the defense is not doing anything to where I can get an interception (which he did in the third quarter) and take it back to the house, I see that as a way to score.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels found success mostly running the football from its backfield tandem of Woolstenhulme and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820916' first='Wyatt' last='Mazza']</strong>. Leading the way was a prodigious offensive line with&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823533' first='Peyton' last='Kitts']</strong>, <strong>Connor May</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820918' first='Blair' last='Cromer']</strong> and two-way player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820915' first='DK' last='Greenwood']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They did this against an equally large and physical Batesburg-Leesville defensive line. Defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823048' first='Travis' last='(Tank) Gates']</strong> lived up to his nickname charging up the middle after Mid-Carolina quarterback <strong>Jack Odom</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1820480' first='Jack' last='Bouknight'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822063' first='JR' last='Stewart'] also made stops as the game progressed for the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mid-Carolina's running success set up a pass play from 20 yards. Mazza lofted the football towards the end zone where wide receiver <strong>Cash Knight</strong> made a diving catch to regain the lead.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After Wooden answered with a 2-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to make it 14-10, it was Whitt's turn to make history. On fourth down at the Rebels' 15, Boehnke rolled to his right and fired a pass to a crouching Whitt in the end zone for the record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mid-Carolina cut Batesburg-Leesville's lead to 28-17 before halftime on a 69-yard touchdown pass by Odom to Mazza. It opened the second half with Mazza and the offensive line marching downfield into Panther territory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the Rebels approached the Red Zone, the drive ended after Whitt intercepted a pass in the endzone for a touchback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Batesburg-Leesville capitalized with a scoring drive. After runs by Wooden brought the Panthers to the Mid-Carolina 41, Boehnke found tight end <strong>Tyler Kneece</strong> for his first career touchdown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels stayed close as Woolstenhulme spun out of a tackle and scored from 23 yards early in the fourth quarter. Batesburg-Leesville answered with a time-consuming drive with Wooden and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824401' first='Mario' last='Waters']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a brief respite, Wooden returned to the field and put the game away with a 35-yard touchdown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The win ended a three-game road swing for Batesburg-Leesville (3-2). They return home to open region play against Strom Thurmond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mid-Carolina (2-4) also opens region play next week at Fairfield-Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->