SECOND HALF STING: Speed, Defense Lifts Yellow Jackets over Vikings in State Football Playoffs

For two quarters of Friday night’s NCHSAA 1AA football playoff opening round contest in Bessemer City, the Vikings defense stymied the host Bessemer City Yellow Jackets. Touchdowns on the first three drives of the second half eventually sounded the death knell to the season for Avery, however, as the Jackets took a 33-9 victory.

Avery opened the game on offense and utilized the Wing-T offense to run the football. The Vikings gained a first down, but Bessemer City quickly adjusted, forcing an Avery punt. Bessemer City’s offensive speed was prevalent with its first offensive series. Wide receiver Raheem McMiller took an end around for a 29-yard gain, with an Avery penalty tacked onto the end of the run to set the Yellow Jackets up in the Avery red zone.

Three plays later Logan ran around the right side inside the Viking 10-yard line. Logan was separated from the football on the run, however, and Colton Blackburn fell on the ball to give Avery the first big break of the contest.

With the turnover, the Vikings gained a first down, but could get only as far as their own 24-yard line. Avery looked to draw Bessemer City offside on a fourth and less than a yard, but a false start by the Big Red forced Avery to kick the ball back to the Yellow Jackets.

Bessemer City wasted little time in scoring its first points of the game as Xavier Logan topped a three-play, 54-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown jaunt. The PAT gave the Yellow Jackets a 7-0 lead with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.

Avery held possession of the football for the opening minutes of the second period and marched with its ensuing drive following the Yellow Jacket touchdown to the BC 30. The Vikings opted to go for it on a fourth and inches play, and Bessemer City rose up to stop the Alex Villanueva quarterback sneak shy of the marker, turning the football over on downs to the Yellow Jackets.

The Avery defense rose to the occasion and forced Bessemer City to punt the ball back to the Viking offense with 5:30 left in the half. From that point, Avery chewed up the clock as well as yardage, driving inside the Bessemer City 5-yard line. Key to the drive was a fourth down conversion pass from Villanueva to wide receiver Andy Gonzalez.

Avery got as close as the BCHS 1-yard line, but was unable to punch the football across the goal line, so the Vikings settled for an Andres Castaneda field goal as time expired, drawing Avery to within 7-3 at halftime.

Bessemer City seized control of the game early in the second half. Less than a minute after a short kickoff, the Yellow Jackets took advantage of positive field position to extend its lead. On the third offensive play of the half, Xavier Logan slipped through the Vikings secondary for a 37-yard touchdown carry, bolstering the home team’s advantage to 14-3.

The stern BC defense held the Vikings to a three-and-out to force a punt. With its next drive the Yellow Jackets took a more methodical approach, as the team maneuvered 61 yards over ten plays. A key third down conversion pass play from Logan to McMiller picked up a first down. Avery’s defense buckled down to force a fourth down from the Viking 11. Bessemer City went for the first down and managed to reach the end zone on a corner route from Logan to Terrance Dawkins. The PAT failed, but the Big Red was behind 20-3.

Avery looked to get things going offensively, but the team’s lone turnover occurred when Alex Villanueva was hit from behind on a pass attempt. BC’s Kameron Wilson was at the right place at the right time to possess the football for the Yellow Jackets inside the Avery 15 yard line.

The Yellow Jackets effectively secured the game as it capitalized on the Viking error. Three carries by Jhalen Adams eventually pushed the Yellow Jackets to pay dirt. Another extra point attempt failed, but the 19 unanswered Bessemer City points left the Jackets leading the Vikings 26-3 as the fourth quarter got underway.

The Vikings turned the football over on downs as they tried to piece together a scoring drive. Bessemer then looked to add to the lopsided score when Logan completed a long touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Corry, but a penalty against the Jackets negated the score.

Reaching deep and displaying great pride, Avery forced a Bessemer punt and on its ensuing offensive series scored its only touchdown of the game. The Vikings moved 84 yards with nine plays in just under three minutes of clock time. Villanueva connected with Andy Gonzalez on a 37-yard pass completion, then Villanueva called his own number for a two-yard touchdown run to cut the margin to 26-9.

Bessemer City added a final score to provide for the final margin of victory when Logan found open space for a 20-yard touchdown run.

Bessemer City out-gained Avery 336-208 in the game, while its defense held Avery under the 13 point average surrendered during the regular season. Xavier Logan had 12 carries for 101 yards and three touchdowns, while teammate Jhalen Adams added 92 yards on 14 rushes and a score.

For the Big Red, Alex Villanueva was 14 for 23 for 133 yards, with 100 yards on nine catches from wide receiver Andy Gonzalez. Colton Blackburn led the Vikings in rushing with 13 carries for 56 yards.

Avery finishes its season with a 5-7 overall record, but return most of its roster next season, leaving hopes high that the Vikings can achieve even greater goals in 2010.