PREP FOOTBALL: Springwood holds off Hooper

LANETT — There were smiles all around at Springwood’s homecoming Friday night.

The alumni were smiling; they had a tent full of free food.

Taylor McDiamid was smiling, she was named the homecoming queen.

Trevor McCullough was smiling; he ran for one touchdown and passed for another.

But the biggest smile belonged to Springwood head coach Ronnie Sikes. He had just received a Gatorade bath from his team. Or maybe it was because he had just watched his Wildcats storm out of the second half and turn an 8-6 deficit into a 20-14 Springwood Academy
(7-3) victory over Hooper Academy (4-6).

“Tonight we didn’t want to get anybody hurt,” Sikes said. “The playoffs start next week and we were already in and hosting the first round. We went out there and played our hearts out. They outsized us, but our defense came to play.”

There weren’t many smiles in the beginning, though.

Springwood received the opening kickoff but couldn’t move the ball. A bad snap on the punt resulted in a safety and a 2-0 lead for Hooper with 10:08 to go in the first quarter.

Springwood’s next possession netted two first downs. Again, a big play on fourth down proved to be disastrous for Springwood. Hooper stopped Springwood’s fake punt and took over on downs on the Springwood side of the 50.

Hooper went deep on the next play. Their receiver slipped past the Springwood defense for a 44 yard touchdown pass. Hooper led 8-0 with 1:04 to go in the first quarter.

Springwood’s lone score of the half came on defense. Matthew Miller caused a fumble that was scooped up by Mick Burdette, who took it in for the touchdown to make it 8-6 at the half.

The third quarter was all Springwood. Given great field position by the defense, the offense went to work. Springwood’s first touchdown was set up with a 34-yard pass from McCullough to Matthew Miller, to put Springwood at the 10 yard line.

Two plays later, McCullough found Mick Burdette dragging across the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown to give Springwood their first lead at 12-8 with 6:22 to go in the third quarter.

Another big defensive series by Springwood resulted in Hooper punting the ball. The offense drove the ball down the field behind the passing and running of McCullough.

McCullough scored from the 2 with 48 seconds left in the third quarter. He passed to Burdette for the 2-point conversion to give Springwood a 20-8 lead going into the final quarter.

McCullough led Springwood in rushing with 58 yards and also had 72 yards passing on six completions. Wesley Willis finished with 40 yards rushing and Keon Brown with 38 yards.

Springwood will host Escambia next week in the first round of the playoffs.