Bessemer City – The Maroon Devils saw their season come to a dramatic close this past Friday night, ironically much the same way it started. Turnovers proved costly for the Devils as Bessemer City recorded a 26-21 win to advance to the 3rd round of the 1AA Playoffs. Swain spent much of the night shooting themselves in the foot, so to speak. For the game Swain had 7 fumbles, 3 of which they lost and three glaring mistakes on special teams.
Swain opened the game holding Bessemer on their first possession to force a punt. After bobbling the return the Devils were able to recover on their own 15 yard line. Promptly, on their first play from scrimmage on offense, the Maroon Devils fumbled. The Yellow Jackets recovered, setting themselves up with ideal field position at the Devils 15 yard line. Three plays later Bessemer City scored the first points of the game. Their two point try failed, leaving the game at 6-0.
Two possessions later, the Devils mounted what over the last 5 games has become a prototypical drive. Starting on their own 23 the Maroon Devils methodically marched downfield. Facing a 2nd and 7 from the Bessemer City 18 yard line the Maroon Devils saw their night unfold, as once again they fumbled away the ball, with the Yellow Jackets taking over on their own 15 yard line.
Tanner Wiggins set the Devils up on the next possession. Wiggins stepped in front of a Bessemer City pass, giving the Devils the ball on the Yellow Jacket 21 yard line.
Swain marched to the 3 yard line, where they faced a 4th and 3. Brodie Bowman carried it, to what appeared to be a Maroon Devil touchdown, only to have the ball spotted short of the goal line, giving Bessemer City the ball on the half yard line.
Bessemer City could not move the ball and were forced to punt, giving Swain good field position once again. This time at the Yellow Jacket 46 yard line.
This time Bowman took to the air, finding Brier Younce. Younce weaved his way for the Maroon Devils first touchdown of the night. The play covered 46 yards, and following the Holden Petty extra point, giving the Devils a 7-6 lead.
Swain extended the lead on their next possession. Bowman hooked up with Younce again, this time covering 45 yards down to the Yellow Jacket 7 yard line. Ian Brooks carried it in for the Devils 2nd score of the night. Petty again made good, putting Swain up 14-6.
At this point it looked as if the Devils were in control. But fortune would not smile on the Devils this night. On the ensuing kickoff Bessemer City’s Zavion Williams, who just last week had taken himself off of the offense, took the ball at the 1 and then raced straight up field for a 99 yard touchdown. The Williams scored broke whatever momentum the Devils had managed to build over the first half. The extra point failed leaving the Devils with a 14-12 lead going into the half.
The Maroon Devils opened the 2nd half with a 8 play 65 yard drive. Bowman was a key factor on the drive. Facing a 4th and 2, Bowman was able to draw the Yellow Jackets offsides, giving the Devils a 1st down. Then, one play later, Bowman found Brier Younce along the Swain sideline and hit him with a great back shoulder throw for a 35 yard gain, down to the Jacket 8 yard line. To cap the drive Bowman found Zeke Bradley all alone in the endzone for the Devils final touchdown.
To close out the 3rd quarter and open the 4th the Yellow Jackets went on a 12 play 64 yard drive. Jarkevious Love scored on a 3 yard plunge with 7:10 remaining in the game. The two point conversion was good, leaving the score at 21-20 in favor of the Devils.
Remember, I said, fortune was not to smile on the Devils on this night. Well on their next possession, clinging to a one point lead, the Devils were forced to a 3 and out on offense. The ensuing punt turned to disaster, as the snap was bad and Swain was tackled on their own 32 yard line.
Bessemer City, started their drive with only 6 yards on 3 plays, forcing them to convert on a tough 4th and 4 from the Swain 26, which they were able to do. One play later Korbien Hill sprang free and scored on a 20 yard run with 2:01 left in the game. The two point conversion attempt failed leaving the score at 26-21.
Swain was unable to mount any kind of drive on their final possession, eventually turning the ball over on downs with 1:50 left in the game. From there Bessemer City was able to run out the clock.
Brodie Bowman finished the night 9 of 15 for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. Younce snared 4 of those passes for 120 yards, while Zeke Bradley had 4 catches going for 62 yards. Bowman rushed for 42 yards on 13 carries.
On defense the trio of Ice Littlejohn, Will Paul and Wren Gunter were outstanding. Littlejohn finished with a game high 16 tackles and seemed to be everywhere. Paul and Gunter each had 10 tackles.
The Maroon Devils finish their season with an 8-5 overall mark, and were Co-SMC Champions, sharing the crown with Murphy and Cherokee.