FORT MILL – The Fort Mill football team had the ball inside the Blythewood 5-yard line five times at Bob Jones Stadium Friday night.
Each time, the Bengals defense stopped them cold.
Blythewood’s defense got a pick-6 and finished the night with 12 sacks, while Quenton Solomon rushed for two touchdowns and Harrison Collins threw for a third in the Bengals’ 27-7 Region 3-5A opening victory over the Yellow Jackets.
Ed Robinson got credit for five of those dozen sacks as the front seven sealed up the Fort Mill offense throughout the game.
In a bizarre “drive” in the first half Fort Mill went three-and-out twice and punted twice. Each time the Blythewood returner muffed the punt which brought the Yellow Jackets to a first-and-goal situation at the Blythewood 5-yard line.
Once again, the Blythewood defense held and the Bengals got the ball back on a turnover on downs.
Solomon got Blythewood on the scoreboard with a 2-yard run to cap a 54-yard scoring drive at the 7:26 mark of the first quarter.
Draydon Young intercepted a Fort Mill pass and returned it for a touchdown with 1:35 left in the first half to make it 14-0.
Fort Mill’s only score of the game came on the next possession when quarterback Quinn Kelly found Braylon Thomas for a 59-yard touchdown pass play.
The Bengals held a 14-7 lead at the half.
Blythewood took the second half kickoff and marched 75 yards down the field for its third score. Solomon capped that drive with a 10-yard touchdown run to make it 20-7.
Collins connected with Kaleb Kelly for a 16-yard TD pass with 4:55 left in the game to seal the win.
Collins was 21-for-26 passing for 219 yards and a score. Trent Lewis 11 catches for 127 yards.
Blythewood (3-3, 1-0) plays host to Nation Ford Friday. Fort Mill (1-5, 0-1) is at home against Rock Hill Friday.
