Through the Uprights

Second place in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference is on the line as Bessemer City plays host to Lincolnton tonight in the final regular-season game for both teams.

Both teams are locked into their conference playoff seeds (Bessemer City - 1A No. 1, Lincolnton - 2A No. 2) but it appears Lincolnton could improve its overall seed with another win.

Regardless, it should be a great game as both teams are loaded with athletes and speed.

Check back at 7:30 as I bring you the drive-by-drive action.

Lincolnton will receive the opening kickoff.

FIRST QUARTER
Lincolnton QB Brandon Wilson hit Carnell Wilson for a 47-yard gain on third and 23, giving the Wolves the ball at the BC 19.

Lincolnton reached the BC 4 but came up empty. The Wolves lost yardage on the next two plays and Wilson threw an incomplete pass on third down. Kevin Miller then attempted a 27-yard field goal attempt, but Reggie Williams burst through the line and blocked the kick, then picked up the ball and ran about 10 yards, giving BC possession at its own 41.

Bessemer City drove deep but also came up empty. The Yellow Jackets reached the Lincolnton 7 before backing up to 11 and then throwing an incomplete pass on fourth and goal from the 11. Logan threw a fade to Brandon Corry, who caught the ball out of bounds.

Lincolnton has made a couple of big plays and has a first down at its own 44 as we’ve reached the end of the first quarter.

End of first quarter: Lincolnton 0, Bessemer City 0

SECOND QUARTER
Lincolnton reached the BC 32 but BC brought down Wilson for a 6-yard loss on second down and Lincolnton will face a third and 16 play after a timeout. 9:09 until halftime, still scorelesss.

The Wolves were able to stick it in that time. On first and goal from the 6, Wilson ran a keeper up the middle and reached the end zone, putting Lincolnton ahead 7-0 after Kevin Miller’s extra point. 7:09 until halftime.

Bessemer City got a free play when they forgot to change the down marker. On what was actually fourth and 11, Logan hit Jayquan Mackey for a 24-yard gain, good for a first down at the BC 49.

Bessemer City again drove to the red zone but came up empty. On fourth and 4 from the 9, Adams ran a sweep to the right but couldn’t hit the corner, gaining only 1 yard. Lincolnton takes over at its own 8 with 1:21 remaining.

Lincolnton ran a few plays but didn’t appear to try seriously for another score, instead settling to run out the clock and go into the lockerroom with a 7-0 lead.

HALFTIME: Lincolnton 7, Bessemer City 0

Halftime stats
Lincolnton
First downs: 11
Rushing yards: 101
Passing yards: 95
Total yards: 196
Penalties-yards: 2-10
Fumbles-lost: 0-0
Individual leaders: Littlejohn 11-61 rushing; Wilson 7-21 rushing, TD, 5-8-0 passing, 95 yards; Thompson 3-19 rushing; Avery 2-0 rushing, 3-29 receiving; Carnell Wilson 1-47 receiving

Bessemer City
First downs: 5
Rushing yards: 47
Passing yards: 74
Total yards: 121
Penalties-yards: 1-5
Fumbles-lost: 0-0
Individual leaders: Logan 8-27 rushing, 4-7-0, 74 yards passing; Adams 5-8 rushing, Jap Mackey 2-7 rushing, Jayquan Mackey 1-5 rushing; Dawkins 2-32 receiving, Jayquan Mackey 1-24 receiving, James Setzer 1-18 receiving

THIRD QUARTER
BC’s McMiller returned the kickoff 31 yards to the BC 40, where BC will start the second half.

BC put together a nice drive and scored on a 28-yard pass from Logan to Jayquan Mackey, who stepped into the front left corner of the end zone. Extra point is pending, Lincolnton leads 7-6.

Adams’ run on the two-point conversion was stopped short despite a holding penalty that was declined. Lincolnton holds a 7-6 lead, 8:25 third quarter.

Bessemer City forced Lincolnton’s first punt of the night. After a 2-yard punt return by McMiller, BC takes over at its own 46, 6:57 in the third.

Logan overthrew an open Jayquan Mackey on a deep route on third down and BC will have to punt.

The punt went out of bounds. Lincolnton ball at its own 31, 5:24 third.

Another three and out for Lincolnton. After an offensive first half that resulted in only 7 points, this game has become defense-dominated. BC didn’t return the punt and has the ball at its own 28.

Three and out for BC. A short punt out of bounds gives Lincolnton possession at its own 48. Lincolnton is winning the field position battle. 1:42 left in the third.

Nothing doing for Lincolnton. The Wolves again failed to pick up a first down and punted it out of bounds at the BC 25. 17 seconds left in the third.

BC ran two plays for a net of two yards and we’ve reached the end of the third quarter.

End of third: Lincolnton 7, Bessemer City 6

FOURTH QUARTER
The first turnover of the game went against Bessemer City as Jalen Littlejohn picked off Logan and returned it 30 yards to the BC 11. Three Dee Littlejohn rushes later, Lincolnton got on the scoreboard again. Littlejohn took it in from 2 yards out and Miller’s extra point was good. Lincolnton 14, Bessemer City 6, 10:34 fourth quarter.

McMiller picked up 23 yards on the first play but BC couldn’t get much else going and punted with 7:45 remaining. Lincolnton ball at its own 27.

Lincolnton couldn’t ice away the game after reaching the BC 19. On fourth and 6, Wilson was picked off by McMiller, who took it all the way to the Lincolnton 21. Still 2:54 remaining.

BC again came up short and Jalen Littlejohn probably just sealed the game with his second interception of the game — a pick in the end zone on fourth down. Lincolnton takes over at the 20 with 1:41 remaining.

Three QB kneels ends this game. Lincolnton wins 14-6 to finish second place in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference.

Thanks for following the blog. Be sure to check out the recap later tonight on gastongazette.com and varsitync.com.

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