3
0
As the clock inched closer and closer to zero, the tension was rising on the Stewarts Creek sidelined.
Smyrna was driving but the result was already determined. The Red Hawks led 21-0 and just needed the clock to hit that magical number before the celebration could commence.
An interception off of a tip by Daniel Williams sealed the deal 12 years of frustration were finally unleashed. Stewarts Creek had not only beaten Smyrna for the first time, but also put itself in the drivers seat to secure the No. 1 spot in Region 6-5A.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Stewarts Creek coach Ben Caudill said. “I’m so proud of what this team has been able to do. We did not have our best game in the first half but we got the momentum in the second half and didn’t give it back. I can’t say enough about our defense.
…they were the strength of the game tonight for us. They kept us in it until our offense could finally get going.”
Since their first meeting in 2013, this series has produced nothing but heart break for the Red Hawks (7-1, 3-0).
Smyrna (4-4, 2-1) was 10-0 against Stewarts Creek entering the night. The Bulldogs dominated the series early on with blowout win after blowout win but recent history has seen much closer games.
That includes a three-point win for Smyrna in 2019, a two-point win in 2021 and a 19-18 win for the Bulldogs last season.
“This isn’t just a ‘this year’ thing for me,” Caudill noted. “In 2019 we snapped it over our punter’s head twice and they landed on 14 points. The 2021 game saw our kicker get kicked out of the game and we had to go for it on fourth down in a field goal situation.
…last year we were right there and lost by a point on the last play. All these things and the culture of this team is what makes tonight special.”
Red Hawks take control in the second half
Friday night looked like it was about to be one of those low-scoring and close games that the two sides have gotten used to playing against each other.
The teams entered halftime tied at zero. Neither side could get much going in the first half with each crossing midfield a handful of times total.
It was until late in the third quarter that the Red Hawks finally broke the deadlock. Stewarts Creek started with a short field and quickly marched into Smyrna territory. Jerry Taylor then rolled to his left, found Grady Harvey in the middle of the field and Harvey did the rest just crossing the line for six.
Momentum was on Stewarts Creek side from that point on. Keilan Harris recorded one of his five sacks on the night on Smyrna’s next drive forcing the Bulldogs to punt again. Caleb Floyd scored on the Red Hawks’ next drive and the mood in the stadium quickly shifted to a simmer waiting for that final push.
Fittingly, it was Harris who put the final touches on the night. He scored the game-clinching touchdown with 2:07 remaining.
“This means everything to us,” Harris said. “We’re putting our names in the history books. We put everything into this and I waited a whole year to get my get-back.
…we lost by a point last year and that wasn’t going to happen again. I put my heart into this and it shows on the scoreboard.”
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