Beech nips Wilson Central in final minute

Buccaneers win battle of unbeatens

By JEFF NEAL

Correspondent

GLADEVILLE — Wilson Central dropped its first game of the season 17-14 to Beech in the final minute Friday night on an 18-yard pass from Lincoln Kenitzer to Parker Campbell.

The final score was set up by an interception off the arm of Jordan Roundtree when the Wildcats were going in for the possible clinching score and at worst a field goal that would have given them a 17-10 lead late in the ballgame.

"They made a great play. It was a heck of a throw and a heck of a catch,"

Wildcat coach Brad Dedman said after the game as Central slipped to 7-1 for the season and 4-1 in District 9-AAA. "I am just at a loss for words right now."

Beech running back Jalen Hurd was held to his lowest total rushing on the season as the Wilson Central defense held him to 21 carries on 75 yards and a touchdown.

Early on each team was feeling each other out. Both teams were held to a three and out early. Wilson Central got the ball at its 44-yard line and preceded to score the first points on the night on a short run by Trey Givens.

The key play was a 33-yard run by Colt Russell that put the ball at the 19-yard line. From there, Givens and Alex Price finished off the drive rushing the final 19 yards on five carries.

Beech came right back and tied the game on an 80-yard drive that took 14 plays. The scoring drive was capped by a 4-yard run from Hurd.

The rest of the first half was a battle of field position as the defenses stopped any chance of scoring by either team.

Halfway through the third quarter, Beech [8-0, 5-0] took its first lead of the game as the Buccaneers drove the ball to the 15-yard line. The quarterback lofted a pass into the end zone that was incomplete, but pass interference was called on the

offense, moving the ball back to the 30-yard line setting up fourth down.

Christian Peck came on to attempt a 47-yard field goal that just barely went through the uprights.

Wilson Central got the ball back on its 20 and proceeded to drive the ball 11 plays to regain the lead on a 1-yard run from Roundtree.

Givens on the drive carried the ball seven times for 44 yards. Chris Lee also had two catches for 13 yards.

Beech got the ball back and drove the ball to the Wildcat 46-yard line. On fourth down the Buccaneers went for it and could not gain the yardage, giving the ball on downs to the Wilson Central offense.

The Wildcats took over at the 44-yard line and promptly moved the ball into scoring position. A key play was a third-down completion to Lee leaving the ball at the 14. On a third-down play, Roundtree went back to pass and lofted the ball for the end zone where Parker Henry picked it off and returned the ball to the 32-yard line.

From there, Beech went on a 10-play, 68-yard drive capped by the pass to Campbell from Kenitzer.

Wilson Central got the ball back for one last gasp, but Roundtree threw the ball into the arms of Stephen Beech, who returned the ball inside the 10 and the Bucs ran out the clock to stay undefeated for the season.

"Two great football teams played here tonight and unfortunately one of them had to lose and unfortunately it was us," Dedman said after the game.

Wilson Central will be off next week and before playing Station Camp in two weeks on the road.