Benedictine wide receiver Kenny O'Neal dances along the sideline after making a reception during Friday night's game against Wayne County. --Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News   Wayne County's Antonio Atkins fumbles the ball after being tackled by BC's Bryan Gray during Friday night's game. --Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News Click on the button above to read more our high school football coverage.

BC's defense leads comeback

Cadets' defensive unit holds Wayne County to just 47 second-half yards and ignites Benedictines' rally for victory.

By Victor Fernandes
Savannah Morning News

At this rate, even Josh Mallard may jump on the Benedictine defense's bandwagon.

"He would praise them for the way they played in the second half," said BC coach Tommy Brackett following the Cadets' 21-17 comeback victory over Wayne County Friday night at Memorial Stadium. "That was one of the best defensive second halves I've ever been a part of. I can't remember too many like that.

"I compare it to the second half of the (state playoff) game against Northside-Warner Robins in '96. They just stepped up."

Last weekend, Mallard, the leader of the 1996 Cadets' defense and now an Indianapolis Colts' defensive end, questioned Brackett about his well-publicized comparison of his current defense with that year's unit.

However, Mallard couldn't question the defense's gutsy performance in the second half, which sparked the Cadets' rally from a 17-7 halftime deficit. After allowing 159 yards and 10 points in the opening half -- more than the previous two games combined -- the Cadets held the Wayne Co. offense to 47 second-half yards.

The unit made its mark to start the second half in lightning-quick fashion. Senior defensive tackle Sean McMurrian's fumble recovery -- his third in two games -- and 19-yard return gave the offense the ball at the Yellow Jackets' 3-yard line. Jared Spivey dove in from 2 yards out three plays later to slice BC's deficit to 17-14.

"We needed a big play," McMurrian said. "Then next thing you know, Kennard makes a big play."

Kennard Allen, a senior safety, picked off Josh Roberts' pass on the ensuing possession, the second of three BC interceptions in the game. His 25-yard return set the offense up at the Yellow Jackets' 2-yard line. One play later, D.J. Jones' 2-yard run capped a 14-point binge in 1 minute, 13 seconds and gave the Cadets the lead for good, 21-17.

"(Brackett) says we're as good as the 1996 (defense)," Allen said. "I believe it."

Said Brackett, who also received two interceptions from Andrew Sauers, his third and fourth of the season, "I may have to extend (my praise) from the front seven into the secondary."

The defense then needed a final stop, and the Cadets got it, as Roberts' fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 1:14 left in the game.

"That was a real test for us," Allen said. "We hadn't been down this year, so we had to step up."

The Cadets spotted Wayne Co. a 7-0 lead 1:40 into the contest, as Wayne Co.'s Darell Vaughn returned an interception 38 yards for a score. Later in the opening quarter, Antonio Atkins' scintillating moves led to a 37-yard scoring run as the Jackets regained the lead at 14-7. Then with 7:14 left before halftime, Zac Smith padded the Jackets' advantage to 17-7 with a well-struck 41-yard field goal.

Meanwhile, BC's offense couldn't regain the cohesiveness it had on its opening series, when Matthew Dotson's game-tying 54-yard touchdown pass to Kenny O'Neal capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive. The Cadets amassed only 63 yards the rest of the half. Dotson misfired on 10 of his final 12 pass attempts after connecting on four of his first five for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Worse, the defense couldn't adjust quickly enough to the Yellow Jackets' impressive blend of quickness and power. So it appeared the 10-point cushion would be enough for the Yellow Jackets, but the Cadets' defense wouldn't allow it.

"There's a calm about them," Brackett said. "I can't explain it. They came out (for the second half) ready to play."

Sports reporter Victor Fernandes can be reached at 652-0349 or victorf @ savannahnow.com.