Marlboro County upends Myrtle Beach thanks to trick play

Marlboro County football coach Dean Boyd never professed to being a math whiz.

But out of everyone in McAlpine Stadium on Friday night, he was the only one who believed “Nine” would deliver his team the two points necessary for it to claim a victory.

The hunch would get high marks from any teacher, especially those bleeding Bulldog black and gold.

Describing it as a play the team regularly works during the special teams portion of practice, the pitch play out of a funky formation near the goal line proved to be the difference for Marlboro County, the two-point conversion winding up the difference in a 56-55 victory over previously undefeated Myrtle Beach.

A back-and-forth affair that featured a number of ties and lead changes, Boyd felt it was the perfect time to take a risk.

“I told them when (Myrtle Beach) scored that if we came back down and scored that we would run ‘Nine,’ ” Boyd said. “They’re going to think we’re going to kick, and we’re going to run it and win this game. It took a little bit of luck, but we did it.”

Still, Myrtle Beach found itself with a shot to win at the end. Taking over at its own 39-yard-line, the Seahawks drove inside the Bulldogs’ 30 to set up a potential game-winning kick. Subbing for the team’s regular kicker Matthew Card, backup quarterback Austin Rigg’s 31-yard field goal sailed wide left, setting off a wild celebration by Bulldogs players, coaches and fans.

According to Myrtle Beach head coach Mickey Wilson, Riggs went above and beyond the call of duty, even though things did not go his team’s way.

“He just did what he was asked, and it was unfortunate it didn’t go in for him,” Wilson said. “But you can’t blame him. We had plenty of other things happen tonight that did not help our cause.”

Coming into the game with five losses to their credit, the Bulldogs were given less than a puncher’s chance against Myrtle Beach, which came into the game 9-0 and No. 2 in Class 4A. But an offense that spent much of the season largely reliant on its run game found its wings, getting more than its share of big plays against a Seahawks defense that spent the previous nine games suffocating opponents.

One of the reasons for that was Marlboro County’s dynamic quartet of skill players – running back Dylven Covington, along with wide receivers Decosta Ford, Iyon Williams and Myron Williams. Covington’s prowess was well known for some time, but his receivers’ ability to get open on a regular basis surprised even a stout Myrtle Beach defense, quarterback Jacob Evers burning completing 8 of 19 passes for 241 yards, five of them going for touchdowns.

The Bulldogs star running back had 173 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown.

“We just didn’t execute,” Wilson said. “It comes down to playing a full four quarters. We haven’t done a good job of that all season. We’re getting there, but our lack of that really hurt us tonight.”

Unfortunately for Myrtle Beach, the loss also overshadows a solid effort by a number of its offensive standouts.

Not typically the first option in the Seahawks spread attack, Jermani Green rushed for 145 yards in the game, while Keyonte Sessions also surpassed the century-mark in racking up 120 yards of his own. Quarterback Lawson Cribb completed 27 of 41 passes for 361 yards and two scores – both to wideout Will Vereen who had eight catches for 122 yards.

Still, it did not prove to be enough.

As a result, the Seahawks not only lost the game, but also an outright Region VII-4A title and a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The Bulldogs’ win forcing a three-way tie in the league, North Myrtle Beach now claims that No. 1-seed, with Myrtle Beach and Marlboro County taking the next two spots.

Wilson actually believes this might actually serve as incentive for his team as it prepares for the second season.

“Maybe it’ll help them know that if you don’t bring it for four quarters, you can get beat,” he said. “We’ll get back to it on Monday and work on the things we came up short at.”

This story was originally published November 12, 2016 at 12:50 AM with the headline "Marlboro County upends Myrtle Beach thanks to trick play."