GREENWOOD — For 3 quarters, h soccer was passing the check, tied whereas enjoying at probably the most storied Class 6A packages within the state.
However a handful of massive performs undid all that because the 5A No. 2 Panthers slowed down late, watching the seventh-ranked Trojans rating 28 unanswered factors, together with 14 in simply over two minutes of the fourth quarter, to drag out a 28-14 win on Friday, Oct. 16.
"We did what we wished to do," South coach Gabe Johnson stated. "Come out and play onerous and execute effectively. And I assumed we did that on either side of the ball.
"Then it felt like a complete collapse within the second half, and actually it was extra like three or 4 performs. We will't do this. Good groups make you play good for 4 quarters. We didn't do something that we didn't count on to do, we didn't do it lengthy sufficient."
The message for South (7-2), despatched loud and clear as effectively by Ironton, Ohio two weeks in the past, is it takes 48 minutes of sustained effort to beat a staff with the expertise and depth of Middle Grove (7-2).
"It takes actually onerous work," South senior linebacker Charlie Morris stated. "It takes self-discipline if you're drained. It takes focus if you're drained. Every little thing must be executed at a excessive stage if you're drained."
Johnson cherished what he noticed in response to the loss in Ohio final week within the rout of Brebeuf. That appeared to hold over, however proved robust to maintain towards the likes of Middle Grove.
"I assumed we got here out towards Brebeuf rather well," Johnson stated. "And (Friday), I assumed we have been good for 3 quarters. I didn't suppose we have been good within the fourth."
After the ultimate horn, it began to hit South's seniors that that is it. Every little thing is one and carried out from right here on out, and so the teachings absorbed should however put to make use of from right here on out. All stated and carried out, South felt higher after this yr's loss to Middle Grove than the 2025 model.
"I really feel good going into the playoffs," Morris stated. "I feel final yr, we have been just a little beat up and we actually didn't know what to anticipate enjoying them for the primary time.
"However the seniors who got here again this yr form knew what to anticipate with the physicality and the dimensions we have been going to see and the endurance of the opposite gamers. So, we gave all of it, and it fell away within the second half."
Trojans flip again the clock
General, South was outgained simply 334-310 and ran for 102 yards whereas senior quarterback Duncan Combs threw 43 occasions for 208 yards and a choose. However the protection recovered a fumble, picked off a go and likewise blocked a discipline objective.
Middle Grove combined in some old school Wing-T to spur the operating sport and get again inside 14-7 by halftime. The Trojans ran for less than 30 of its 139 yards within the second half, but it surely opened up the secondary for 2 lengthy landing passes.
South hadn't repped all that a lot towards the Wing-T. Eight completely different Trojans touched the ball on offense, retaining the protection on its toes.
"It’s robust," Morris stated. "We didn't count on them to run as a lot Wing-T as they did, however I feel we adjusted effectively, particularly after halftime. We shut it down they usually didn't that rather more. I feel we did an honest job of attending to the ball."
Middle Grove comes again
The tide began turning 17 seconds into the fourth quarter. South had pushed to the 1-yard line the place it confronted fourth down. A Panther rating would have modified the complexion of the sport.
The decision was a tush-push of quarterback Combs that had labored earlier, simply barely, on fourth-and-1 at their very own 20. However that was again within the first half with the Panthers have been profitable up entrance.
Middle Grove began taking up the road of scrimmage within the second half, and it was no completely different on this snap as Combs was stopped quick.
"Going for it on fourth and 1 down there was the correct name," Johnson stated. "I assumed he may need been in, however he wasn't. So we've received to line up and play protection."
The Trojans needed to punt however pressured a three-and-out on the opposite finish.
Sam Stolberg's punt got here down on the 9 and return man Brodie Tilton dropped it and had to return to the 1 to retrieve it. He started weaving his manner down the South sideline and finally discovered clear air to place the Trojans on high for the primary time all night time, 21-14, with 7:28 to play.
South went three and out, and on third and 11, CG's backup QB, who had been beginning late within the season after an damage to the starter, discovered Roman Youngs once more, slanting over the center for a 77-yard rating to make it 28-14.
"I felt good about the way in which our protection was form holding them, even thought we have been giving them some yards," Johnson stated. "It's simply not the way in which we wish to end. We've received to be taught from it.
"We've received to remain in it. When it received down, it looks as if we misplaced just a little little bit of ourselves."
Fast begin for South
Early on, South's offense was clutch, changing thrice on fourth down, one in every of them a 19-yard scramble by holder Jonathan Winstead on a discipline objective strive after bobbling the snap.
South scored on every of its first two drives, sandwiched round a Middle Grove fumble recovered by Easton Bellini, to take a surprising 14-0 lead at 3:19 of the primary quarter.
"We weren’t one-dimensional," Johnson stated. "So I feel it stored them off-balance. They needed to defend the run."
However CG shut off that faucet within the second half as South gained simply 32 yards on 19 carries. The Panthers gained simply one in every of their 18 first downs within the fourth.
"All of us knew that Middle Grove had been in a number of shut video games this yr," Morris stated. "Though they have been down, they weren’t panicking. They have been going to proceed to struggle, and we needed to match that. And we didn't match that as the sport went on.
"As seniors, we now have to maintain main and maintain on course."
CENTER GROVE 28, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 14
Bloomington South (7-2) 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 — 14
Middle Grove (7-2) 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 — 28
FIRST QUARTER
BS: Hayden Clark 2 run (Sam Stolberg kick), 9:04. BS, 7-0.
BS: Duncan Combs 11 run (Stolberg kick), 3:19. BS, 14-0.
SECOND QUARTER
CG: Jayden Biggertstaff 18 run (Dallas Cornpropst kick), 1:14. BS, 14-7.
THIRD QUARTER
CG: Roman Youngs 63 go from Evan Wischmeier (Cornpropst kick), 5:52. Tied, 14-14.
FOURTH QUARTER
CG: Brodie Tilton 91 punt return (Cornpropst kick), 7:28. CG, 21-14.
CG: Youngs 77 go from Wischmeier (Cornpropst kick), 5:15. CG, 28-14.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
Bloomington South (36-102): Hayden Clark 24-71, Jonathan Winstead 1-19, Myles West 4-7, Duncan Combs 7-5.
Middle Grove (31-139): Jayden Biggerstaff 13-66, Lange 6-40, Brodie Tilton 8-24, Evan Wischmeier 2-6, Elijah Williams 1-5, Jeramiah Guidie 1-(-2).
PASSING
Bloomington South: Combs 21-43-1-208.
Middle Grove: Wischmeier 9-15-1-195.
RECEIVING
Bloomington South: Mayson Lewis 9-41, Winstead 9-107, Connor Parker 2-51, Rey Kante 2-12.
Middle Grove: Roman Youngs 3-153, Guidie 2-16, Rhys Oliver 1-11, Warner Schatz 1-7, Biggerstaff 1-4.
This text initially appeared on The Herald-Instances: e
