Credit: Stan Awtrey
Credit: Stan Awtrey
The Elbert County Blue Devils (3-0) depended heavily on their playmaking quarterback Mecole Hardman to lead them to their 44-38 comeback victory against the Westminster Wildcats (1-2). The winning score came on the final play, a 6-yard run by Hardman.
"I was proud of the way our kids responded to adversity," Blue Devils coach Sid Fritts said. "I thought our kids did a good job in the second half battling there way out of it."
Hardman finished the game with 229 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries.
The Wildcats appeared to have full control of the game, but the drama of the second half resulted in their second consecutive loss.
"Those are the kind of games you like to play in non-region to get us ready," Wildcats coach Gerry Romberg said. "I'm proud of our guys and how they battled."
An early field goal in the first quarter was answered by a Hardman rushing touchdown in the second quarter. The Wildcats controlled the scoring for the rest of the half. The Wildcats scored their first touchdown on a short-yardage run by Ian Ude.
The Wildcats then intercepted a Blue Devils pass and forced a fumble on back-to-back possessions that led to touchdown drives. The Wildcats went into the locker room at halftime with a comfortable 24-6 lead.
The momentum swung to the Blue Devils for the entirety of the third quarter.
On the teams’ opening drive, Hardman ran the read option perfectly. L’akel Hood rushed for the first touchdown of the second half to spark the comeback effort. The Blue Devils immediately forced a three-and-out, and the read option produced another rushing touchdown for Hood.
With 4:26 remaining in the third quarter, the Blue Devils get an interception on their opponent’s side of the field. The turnover led to another Hardman rushing touchdown and the Blue Devils took the lead 30-24.
The fourth quarter didn’t start any better for the Wildcats as the Blue Devils returned an interception to the 3. That set up an easy score for Hardman to stretch the lead to 38-24.
Wildcats running back Isaiah Malcome had an explosive fourth quarter to keep his team in the game. He ran for a 32-yard touchdown to make it a one possession game with 8:45 remaining.
The subsequent onside kick recovery was fruitless for the Wildcats, but the following defensive stop led to a 57-yard punt return touchdown by Malcome to tie the game at 38 with just under five minutes remaining.
As the clock ticked down on the Blue Devils' final possession, Hardman took it upon himself to carry his team. Two huge runs, including a touchdown, by the elusive quarterback were called back because of penalties.
On a fourth and 11 with 2:30 remaining, the Blue Devils converted a first down on a fake punt run up the middle to keep the drive alive.
A 30-yard pass play put the ball at the 6 and then Hardman took a final snap at cut into the end zone for the winning score.
