Mistakes frustrate Rebels in 3rd-round loss to Tigers

Nov. 19—SALUDA 28, STROM THURMOND 0

JOHNSTON — For 10 consecutive games, the Strom Thurmond football team followed an effective formula.

Focus, effort, discipline.

That's what took the Rebels from a team that couldn't get out of its own way in two season-opening losses, to a team that found ways to win despite not playing to its potential, to ultimately a team that imposed its will on others to win the Region 3-AA title and advance to the third round of the state playoffs.

Friday night, those core principles didn't materialize for an 11th time. Playing in front of a crowd that so big fans had to park at JET Middle and beyond, the Rebels made too many mistakes and didn't play the way they had to reach this point. Instead, their season ends one game short of the Upper State title game after a 28-0 loss to rival Saluda.

"We got our butts whipped. We got our butts whipped really in every phase of the game," said Strom Thurmond head coach Andrew Webb. "We had opportunities. We were inside the 10 four times, and we didn't get any points. When that happens, you're going to struggle. ... I got a little frustrated with the way that we played, the lack of discipline at times. That's a hard pill to swallow. All of that falls on me."

Webb knew that the teams' previous meeting, a 6-3 win by the Rebels (10-3) on Oct. 7 that knocked the Tigers (11-2) from the ranks of the unbeaten and from the top spot in the Class AA rankings, had no bearing on this one.

The one thing he lamented after that game was that the offense failed to score a touchdown, thus keeping them from playing a complete game in all three phases. He knew his team would need more than two Nate Nordeen field goals, and he was right.

Unfortunately for the Rebels, each of those scoring chances ended with a zero on the scoreboard as they either made a mistake or a stout Saluda defense made a stop.

It took Saluda one drive to do something neither team could in the previous meeting — score a touchdown. Tyleke Mathis, who had a season's worth of highlight material in last week's win over defending state champion Gray Collegiate, put the Tigers on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run to cap a 64-yard scoring drive.

The Rebels were ready to answer, with quarterback Quan Edmond rushing for 5 yards on a fourth-and-1 from the Saluda 24 to extend the drive. The Rebels got down to the 3 on the last play of the quarter, and then disaster struck — for the first time.

Edmond ran toward the near sideline and was within inches of the goal line when the ball popped free and rolled toward the back of the end zone. A couple of Saluda defenders dove for it and, while they didn't get it, the damage was done when the ball bounced out for a touchback to give Saluda the ball.

Both defenses had strong possessions, and then Mathis broke free again. He scored from 41 yards out with 6:04 left in the quarter for a 14-0 lead, and just like that he was approaching 100 yards for the game.

The Strom Thurmond offense was held to 194 yards, and the passing game never quite got going. The Rebels looked like they were building something, though, when Edmond hit Gregory Bryant for a 12-yard gain to give the Rebels a first down.

They tried another quick pass, but this one was tipped right to Jaylen Nick for a big interception. He returned it all the way to the Rebels' 15, and with under a minute to go in the half Kenmane Brunson scored from 4 yards out for another Saluda score.

What could have been a 14-7 game, at worst, heading into the break was now a 21-0 lead for the Tigers.

The Rebels were right back at it on their first drive of the second half, converting multiple fourth downs for a chance at finally getting on the scoreboard. Michael Blocker picked up one with 6 tough yards, and a few plays later the Rebels were facing fourth and goal from the 2.

Edmond looked like he had a gap to get across the goal line, but before he got there the Saluda defense filled it and kept him out.

Tigers ball. A 30-yard pass to Zion Wright got them away from their own goal line, and the Strom Thurmond sideline deflated.

"Ten games in a row, we've won with class," Webb said. "There comes a time, tonight and in life, when you've got to go look a man in the eye, shake his hand and tell him good job. You've got to be able to lose with class, too. That's a hard pill to swallow. It doesn't matter if you're 38 or 16, it's a hard pill to swallow. But if pride, class, courage and the will to win is who we're going to be, it's got to be who we are all the time."

The Tigers picked off Edmond again after a stop by the Strom Thurmond defense, with Brunson running it back 32 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-0.

The struggles continued for Strom Thurmond from there. The Rebels were stopped on fourth down at the Saluda 7, but got another shot when the Tigers fumbled the ball right back to them.

This time it was Wright with an interception, the Tigers' third of the game, that snuffed out any hopes of a Strom Thurmond comeback.

Edmond finished the game 12 of 29 for 74 yards and the three picks. Chris Barnes (nine carries for 47 yards) and Michael Blocker (14 carries for 34 yards) were the leading rushers, and Bryant (six catches for 33 yards) was the leading receiver.

Saluda finished the game with 254 yards of total offense, led by Mathis' 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.

For the Tigers it was the best kind of revenge, and their season continues into a big Upper State title showdown with Abbeville. For Strom Thurmond, it's a region championship season that ends on a bitter note.

"I'm so proud of these guys," Webb said. "Every week they gave us what we asked. They worked hard. We got better each week. We just didn't play our best tonight. Sometimes that happens. Just like every other week, we'll go and evaluate this week. We'll evaluate our season, what went good and what went bad. It's one of those things where here we are in the final eight — what have we got to do to get to that next step? We're going to work religiously to get there."

S 7 14 7 0 — 28

ST 0 0 0 0 — 0

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

S — Tyleke Mathis 2 run (Sam Espinoza kick) 4:29

Second Quarter

S — Mathis 41 run (Espinoza kick) 6:04

S — Kenmane Brunson 4 run (Espinoza kick) 0:45

Third Quarter

S — Brunson 32 interception return (Espinoza kick) 0:04

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

S — Tyleke Mathis 14-106-2, Kenmane Brunson 8-41-1, Jonah McCary 5-39, Brayden Williams 5-2. Totals

ST — Chris Barnes 9-47, Michael Blocker 14-34, Quan Edmond 7-20, Izzy Glanton 3-19. Totals

Passing

S — Jonah McCary 3-4-37-0-0, Drew Arant 3-8-29-0-0. Totals 6-12-66-0-0.

ST — Quan Edmond 12-29-74-0-3.

Receiving

S — Zion Wright 3-49, Jamarcus Mobley 1-12, Jonah McCary 1-6, Tyleke Mathis 1-(-1). Totals 6-66.

ST — Gregory Bryant 6-33, Travis Kinard 4-26, Juju Stevens 1-13, Chris Barnes 1-2. Totals 12-74.

Interceptions

S — Kenmane Brunson, Jaylen Nick, Zion Wright.