Kenny Benton (4) blows by the Gator coverage for an 86-yard kickoff return. (Photo/Kristy Kimball Massey)
BLYTHEWOOD (Sept. 26, 2016) – The Blythewood Bengals celebrated their homecoming in a big way Friday. Everything seemed to go right for them as they proceeded to thrash the River Bluff Gators 56-0.
“It was nice that with all the distractions that the week of homecoming has, and all the festivities, that our kids can keep focus and play like tonight. That’s what makes it special,” Blythewood head coach Dan Morgan said.
Blythewood came out of the gates blazing. On the second play of their first drive, quarterback Jordyn Adams and receiver Kenny Benton showed off their big play capabilities when they connected on a 55-yard touchdown strike.
Things quickly got worse for the Gators. Adams collected his second passing touchdown on the Bengals’ second drive, as he hit up receiver Chris Woodall for the 7-yard score.
River Bluff marched their way into the Blythewood red zone near the end of the first quarter, but turned the ball over on downs after they were stuffed on a fourth-and-1 rushing attempt.
“It just changed the momentum,” Morgan said. “We were up 13-0, and they were coming down the field. I had a feeling if they got that first down they were going to put seven on the board and it becomes a tight ball game.”
Thanks to some solid offensive line play and a brilliant Benton run, which were both patterns much of the night, the Bengals cashed in on the turnover on downs. Benton, running behind his powerful O-line, scored on a 55-yard rush to put the Bengals up 20-0.
“The offensive line got after it all night,” Morgan said. “They had a good night and for it being the score it was, it was a real physical ball game. River Bluff came and laid some big hits, and it was good football.”
The Bengals were well on their way to scoring again on the next drive, but a fumble in the red zone halted the possession and River Bluff took over on their own 4-yard line. An intentional grounding penalty in their end zone cost River Bluff a safety, and on the ensuing safety kickoff Benton returned the ball back to the house for an 86-yard sore.
“That was pretty special coming off of that safety,” Morgan said. “That guy kicks it through the end zone every single time, and really him kicking from the 20 was the only chance we could ever return one from him because if he’s kicking from the 40 it’s going through the end zone.”
The Gators’ offensive woes continued on the next drive, and they went three and out yet again. Blythewood’s defense only gave up one offensive play of over 10 yards in the first half, and that came on a 15-yard rush from Ti’Juan Glenn.
“They flew to the ball, they had a good game plan,” Morgan said. “I’m proud of the defensive coaches, and I’m even more proud of those defensive players. They been the leaders all season for us, they’re the ones getting us to where we’re at right now.”
Adams and Woodall came together once again for a 33-yard passing score, with just two minutes left before halftime. The score pushed the Bengals lead to 36-0, and they received the ball to start the third quarter.
Adams opened the second half with his fourth touchdown pass of the night to his third different receiver. This time it would be Terrance Coates on the receiving end of the 33-yard passing touchdown.
“I think River Bluff went for the philosophy of not flushing Jordyn out of the pocket,” Morgan said. “I would kind of go with the same philosophy. He’s a hard person to contain. He’s struggled in the last couple of games throwing down the field, so I think they wanted to see if he could do it.”
Blythewood did not take the fourth quarter off despite the big lead. Woodall, who was very busy in the game, made his way back into the end zone on an 18-yard run.
Shiheem Watkins came up with the Bengals second special teams score of the night, when he took a punt return back 81 yards for what would be the final score of the game.
“We moved Shiheem Watkins up I think a couple weeks ago from the JV, and he’s just been special,” Morgan said.
The Bengals will be back in action next week against a tough Dutch Fork team, at Dutch Fork. This week, the Silver Foxes handed Westwood a brutal 47-14 beatdown to remain undefeated.
BHS: 13-23-7-13 – 56
RB: 0-0-0-0 – 0
Scoring
First Quarter
BHS – Kenny Benton 67 pass from Jordyn Adams (Ben Kline Kick). 9:44.
BHS – Chris Woodall 7 pass from Jordyn Adams (rush failed). 4:45
Second Quarter
BHS – K. Benton 55 run (B. Kline kick). 11:49.
BHS – TEAM Safety. 5:07.
BHS – K. Benton 86 kickoff return (B. Kline kick). 4:50
BHS – C. Woodall 33 pass from J. Adams (B. Kline kick). 2:16
Third Quarter
BHS – Terrance Coates 33 pass from J. Adams (B. Kline kick). 10:47.
Fourth Quarter
BHS – C. Woodall 18 run (Miles Heitman kick). 9:29.
BHS – Shiheem Watkins 81 punt return (kick failed). 6:05.
RB BHS
First Downs 6 20
Rushes/Yards 30-17 23-210
Passing Yards 41 314
C-A-I-TD 8-20-1-0 14-19-1-4
Fumbles/ Lost 2/0 1/1
Penalties/Yards 2-6 9-90
RUSHING: RB – Ti’Juan Glenn 18-30, Antonio Gantt 1-(-2), Cleburne Gray 11-(-11). BHS – Chris Woodall 6-68, Jordyn Adams 6-60, Kenny Benton 1-55, Jeffery Watkins 5-25, William Wallace 3-10.
RECEIVING: RB – Da’Mone Spencer 6-47, Ti’Juan Glenn 1-(-3), DJ Ledell 1-(-3). BHS – Kenny Benton 3-109, Chris Woodall 3-56, Roger Carter 3-53, Terrance Coates 2-50, Jordyn Adams 2-13, Jeffery Watkins 1-33.
PASSING: RB – Cleburne Gray 8-19, 41 yards, INT. BHS – Jordyn Adams 12-15, 301 yards, 4 TDs; Quentin Singleton 2-4, 13 yards, INT.
