Cadets Rally for Thrilling Win Over Ware County in Region Showdown
BC entered the game ranked No. 4 among Class 4A teams in the state by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ware County (5-1, 0-1) was at No. 5.
Stephen Cannon, who has committed to play at Texas Tech, missed five games after suffering an injury and a loss to Ware County last season, returning to play in a Class 4A state quarterfinal loss against Blessed Trinity. But on Friday, he was a game changer for the Cadets, who improved to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in region play with the win. The senior was 15 of 26 passing for 267 yards and a touchdown, and also had a huge impact with his rushing ability as he ran for 57 yards on 12 carries (with 21 negative yards from sacks included in that rushing total). "This was the biggest win we've had since I've been starting, for sure," said Cannon, in his second year as the BC starter, in a phone interview after the game. "This meant a lot to us as a team to come down here and win in a tough environment. I kept preaching to the guys to stay in the fight because I think we can win any game we're playing, no matter what the score is. I think our will to win was the difference tonight. Everybody believed in ourselves and we kept fighting. I think our mentality made the difference."
Benedictine scored first as first-year kicker Parker Lewis connected on a career-long, 49-yard field goal to close out a 14-play, 80-yard drive to start the game.
Ware County answered on the ensuing possession, its first, when quarterback Isaiah White found Jamario Rice for a third-down conversion that turned into a 48-yard touchdown with Rice breaking free down the right sideline as the Gators went up 7-3.
The Gators took a 14-3 lead when White connected with Jalondi O'Hara for an 11-yard score, but BC countered on the ensuing kickoff when junior speedster Eron Mallard broke loose for a 95-yard touchdown return to make it 14-10.
Benedictine had a big stop that would have forced a 4th and 14 for the Gators midway through the second quarter, but an unsportsmanlike flag kept the drive alive, and White found Rice for a 34-yard touchdown on the very next play as the Gators went up 21-10 with 6:50 left in the half.
But BC closed out the half with an impressive 12-play, 95-yard drive that was punctuated with a 5-yard scoring pass from Cannon to Bubba Frazier, the senior committed to Notre Dame, but Lewis' PAT attempt was off the upright and the Gators led 21-16 at intermission.
But BC closed out the half with an impressive 12-play, 95-yard drive that was punctuated with a 5-yard scoring pass from Cannon to Bubba Frazier, the senior committed to Notre Dame, but Lewis' PAT attempt was off the upright and the Gators led 21-16 at intermission.
The third quarter was a scoreless affair as steady rain continued to fall as it did for most of the night. BC grabbed the lead on a 1-yard scoring plunge by Stanley Smart Jr. that was set up by a 25-yard pass from Cannon to Mallard. The Cadets' 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete as they took a 22-21 lead.
But then it was Ware County's turn to show off its big-play ability, as Rice ran the ensuing kickoff back 97 yards for a touchdown.
Benedictine responded quickly as Cannon found Josh Washington down the left sideline for a 65-yard gain, which set up Smart Jr., who ran for 12 yards before scoring from three yards out on the next play. Cannon hit Bennett Conaway for a two-point conversion pass as the Cadets went up 30-27 with 9:42 left for the last score of the night.
"That was a great game," Benedictine coach Danny Britt said in a phone interview afterwards. "I told the guys it was going to be a heavyweight bout, and they needed to keep throwing punches, and that's what they did.
"I thought Cannon did a great job and was really gritty in the rain. He did a great job running, sometimes on scrambles and sometimes on designed quarterback runs. He adds that element to our offense with his legs. He missed a couple open receivers early on, and we let him know about it. But he kept his cool and took the coaching and fixed those mistakes. It was a great night for Stephen, and our entire team."
Smart Jr. rushed for 43 of his 59 yards (on 21 total carries) in the second half with the two fourth quarter touchdowns. Frazier had seven catches for 52 yards and the score and Mallard had three receptions for 55 yards. Washington had two grabs for 84 yards and Cole Henderson had two receptions for 51 yards for the Cadets.
The Cadet defense did a great job shutting down Jamir Boyd and Tayshaun Franklin, Ware County's stellar senior one-two running duo. They combined for 46 yards on 20 carries as the Gators rushed for 63 yards and had 201 yards of total offense on the night.
Junior LaDamion Guyton, the 5-star edge headed to Texas Tech, and senior tackle Kam Cody, a Clemson commit, were instrumental with their play up front.
Benedictine opened the season with a last-second loss on the road against the Class 6A power Colquitt County before losing to nationally-ranked Buford at home, but the Cadets have reeled off three straight wins and look to be getting into playoff form.
Benedictine opened the season with a last-second loss on the road against the Class 6A power Colquitt County before losing to nationally-ranked Buford at home, but the Cadets have reeled off three straight wins and look to be getting into playoff form.
