Conway makes amends, downs Carolina Forest in triple overtime
A week after getting its own taste of heartache in a three-overtime loss to Sumter, Conway earned a sample of heaven.
An 18-yard field goal off the foot of kicker Will Smith allowed the Tigers to claim a 51-48 victory over rival Carolina Forest on Friday night. With the win, Conway moves to 4-4 overall, and more importantly, 2-1 in Region VI-5A.
For someone who has seen nearly everything at this level of football, the notion of playing consecutive games with multiple overtime periods is a new one to check off the list for Conway head coach Chuck Jordan.
“That’s a record for me. I’ve been coaching for 37 years and six overtimes in two weeks is a bit much on the nerves,” he said. “But we were glad to be on that end of it. It’s a tough thing to lose … it’s kind of like playing for a state championship. The deeper you play, the harder it is to lose.
“It’s kind of the same way in overtime, it’s tougher to lose because you have so much invested.”
Needing a win to stay in a competitive Region VI-5A race, Conway — known for its vaunted aerial attack — instead hitched its wagon to the team’s running game. Hearing all week about Carolina Forest’s ability to run the ball, the Tigers felt they had something to prove.
Specifically quarterback Peyton Derrick, who was held without a touchdown through the air in this one but got acquainted with the end zone courtesy of his legs. Derrick finished 15-of-25 for 120 yards, in addition to 57 yards on the ground and five touchdowns.
“It was definitely by design (to run the ball),” Derrick said. “We struggled to run the ball against Sumter, they had a manly front-3, front-5. We knew we wanted to establish the run tonight, and our offensive line did great. We handled their defensive line really well.
“There was big talk about Carolina Forest likes to run the ball, run it down your throat. So (Conway offensive line coach Will Bratcher) wanted to show that we could run the ball too.”
The Appalachian State commit’s third touchdown on the night was of particular importance. Down 34-27 late in the fourth quarter, a third-and-7 pass to wideout Juwon Moody kept the drive alive.
A few plays later, Derrick would finish the drive off on his own, juking past a few Carolina Forest tacklers before diving into the end zone for the score. Smith’s extra point would tie the game at 34-all.
With five seconds left, the Panthers had an opportunity to win the game as kicker Freddie Kane lined up for a 42-yard field goal. The attempt barely took flight, however, as Conway was able to get mitts on it to send the game into overtime.
I knew when (Carolina Forest) fumbled, things were tipped in our favor. We had an opportunity to stick it in there three times. But my kicker hasn’t missed all year, and it wasn’t time for him to miss yet.
Conway head coach Chuck Jordan
Carolina Forest opened the overtime session with a three-play drive, punctuated by running back Anthony McAfee’s second touchdown of the night. Derrick and the Tigers would answer, though, the senior quarterback running for four yards into the end zone.
Moments later, Derrick would make another house call, this time one from five yards out. Still, it would not be enough as Panthers athlete Richmond Collier found his way to pay dirt for the fourth time in the game, this one to tie the contest at 48.
Unfortunately, in overtime all it takes is one mistake to decide a game. On the second play of the third overtime period, Carolina Forest quarterback Matt Beale was stripped of the ball, quickly being pounced upon by Conway.
Not able to punch it in on the first three plays of their possession, the Tigers called upon Smith — setting the stage for his winning kick.
“I knew when (Carolina Forest) fumbled, things were tipped in our favor,” Jordan said. “We had an opportunity to stick it in there three times. But my kicker hasn’t missed all year, and it wasn’t time for him to miss yet.”
For Carolina Forest head coach Marc Morris, it was a tough pill to swallow.
“Both teams left it on the field, and we’re just the ones who came up a bit short,” he said. “We knew Conway was going to give us their best effort, it was a great high school football game. Teams are going to compete — we knew that — we came up three points short tonight, and unfortunately someone had to lose.”
CON | 7 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 17 | — 51 |
CF | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 14 | — 48 |
First quarter
CF — Jeremy Green 4 run (Freddie Kane kick)
CON — Peyton Derrick 1 run (Will Smith kick)
Second quarter
CF — Richmond Collier 1 run (Kick failed)
CON — Juwon Moody 65 kick return (Smith kick)
CF — Collier 3 run (Kane kick)
CON — Derrick 3 run (Smith kick)
Third quarter
CON — Deandre Huggins 43 run
CF — Anthony McAfee 6 run
Fourth quarter
CF — Collier 1 run (Kane kick)
CON — Derrick 6 run (Smith kick)
First overtime
CF — McAfee 5 run
CON — Derrick 4 run
Second overtime
CON — Derrick 5 run
CF — Collier 1 run
Third overtime
CON — Smith 18 kick
Individual leaders
Rushing: CON – Peyton Derrick 14-57, Deandre Huggins 10-94, Daiquawn Clark 5-21, Noah Freshley 1-2, Tyreke Weaver 2-11, Rakim Bellamy 1-(-3), Xavier Kinlaw 1-0. CF – Anthony McAfee 21-93, Jeremy Green 10-26, Richmond Collier 14-36, Matt Beale 19-70.
Passing: CON – Derrick 15-25-1-120. CF – Beale 3-9-0-79.
Receiving: CON – Pooh Brantley 1-15, Tyreke Weaver 4-19, Malachi Miller 4-41, Juwon Moody 1-25, Clark 1-9, Darren Stanley 2-0, Huggins 1-6, Rakim Bellamy 1-5. CF – Justin Elko 1-10, Derrick Alston 1-15, Tyler Marchese 1-54.
Joe L. Hughes II: 843-444-1702, @thejournalist44
This story was originally published October 29, 2016 at 12:44 AM with the headline "Conway makes amends, downs Carolina Forest in triple overtime."