Nail biter: Gamecocks come from behind to beat WS Neal

The New Brockton Gamecocks (4-2) came from down 26-8 in the third quarter to score 22 unanswered points and capture a 30-26 win over the Class 4A WS Neal Eagles (0-5) on Sept. 24 on the road.

The Gamecocks got a chance to spoil WS Neal’s homecoming despite getting down 26-8 late in the third quarter.

WS Neal jumped out to an 8-0 lead after returning a Gamecock interception for a touchdown and scoring a 2-point conversion. New Brockton quarterback Brayson Carr – subbing for starter Kaden Cupp for the second straight week – responded with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Matt Smith and then Carr found Jaxon Whitworth for a two-point try to tie things up 8-8 heading into the second quarter.

The Eagles returned another interception for a touchdown in the second quarter and took a 14-8 lead into halftime after a failed two-point try.

The Eagles extended the lead to 20-8 after another failed two-point try and then WS Neal returned its third interception for a touchdown to go up 26-8. The two-point try was no good.

Then, the Gamecocks got rolling as Carr found Tre Boland for a 55-yard touchdown pass with 3:00 left in the third quarter. The PAT cut WS Neal’s lead to 26-15.

In the fourth quarter, Carr hit Boland for a 33-yard touchdown pass and then tossed a two-point conversion to freshman Baylon Foster to cut the lead to 26-23. Late in the fourth quarter, Drew Cashin scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to give New Brockton its first lead 30-26 after the PAT.

WS Neal still had a chance to win, however, as the Eagles drove into New Brockton territory with time enough for just one play. Boland stepped up to be the hero once again as he intercepted a WS Neal pass near the goal line to seal the thrilling win for the Gamecocks.

“I’ve said this a couple of times but I really think the good Lord is doing work in our team and we’re learning and growing as people and we’re just blessed to be a part of it and be doing it together,” New Brockton coach Zack Holmes said. “Friday night I think a lot of that came together because we showed a lot of grit, toughness and resiliency that, honestly, I haven’t seen in three years. It went up a level Friday night.

“To be down 26-8 with 3:00 left in the third and to come back and win is absolutely incredible. It was almost like it was never in question that they would come back and win, which is outstanding for the culture of the team.”

Despite throwing three pick sixes in the game, senior Carr also threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, two of which came in the second half.

“Brayson’s toughness and resiliency to keep going out there and slinging it was huge,” Holmes said. “He did a really good job for us and I think obviously the more reps he gets the better and better he’ll be. Experience is the best teacher and we saw that in the game.”

Cupp also continued to grow as a team leader despite not being on the field.

“He has done an outstanding job continuing to be a part of the team and continuing to be a leader,” Holmes said of Cupp. “Against Wicksburg it felt like we came apart when the chips were down but on Friday night when the chips were down we came together and Kaden played a huge role in that.

“He was coaching Brayson every time Brayson came off the field and encouraging him and was doing an outstanding job with that. It’s cool to see him continue to work on his leadership skills and being able to grow even more as a player even when he’s not able to be on the field.”

Boland, the son of former Auburn player Todd Boland, will go down in New Brockton history with his performance catching nine passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns along with five tackles and the game-winning interception on defense. His 221 yards receiving is the highest total in at least the past two decades.

“Tre is an outstanding football player and has been the whole time I’ve been here,” Holmes said of his tight end. “He plays with great toughness and does an outstanding job. He’s a Gamecock through and through and the ultimate team guy.

“He stepped up and did what we needed him to do to win. He played extremely hard on both sides of the ball and made a bunch of plays on both sides. I don’t know that he ever came off the field.”

Foster also had a big night with six tackles and his second-career interception on defense along with three catches for a career-high 51 yards on offense. JaMarcus Brown rushed for 66 yards on 13 carries, while Cashin rolled up 49 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Cashin also had four tackles and a tackle-for-loss on defense.

Matt Smith added three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown on offense along with two tackles and a tackle-for-loss on defense, while cornerback Karyus McNabb had a career-high eight tackles and a tackle-for-loss on defense.