Northwood Academy Edges Pinewood Prep 44-43 In SCISA AAAA Overtime Thriller

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher 

Summerville---Some games leave us wondering what a rematch might look like, should the same two teams battle again in the SCISA AAAA playoffs, and Northwood Academy’s thrilling 44-43 come from behind overtime win over host Pinewood Prep on October 9 was such a game. 

Northwood Academy head coach Johnny Waters shared some thoughts with the HSSR after the game. “This game is one for the books,” said Coach Waters. “I can’t ever recall being down 19 points in the third quarter and coming back and pulling out a win. I am super proud that our team kept fighting back, after it looked like it was not our night midway through the third period.

“Give kudos to Pinewood for stopping us in the first half, and it took us a while to make adjustments against their defense, but we finally did,” said Coach Waters. “I was really proud of the way our quarterback (Kevin Johnson) played and wide receiver Drew Wolfe is our dude catching the ball. 

“It was truly a team win, and our defense made some key stops when we needed it most,” said Coach Waters. “We have a bye week coming up, but in two weeks we play at Porter-Gaud and a win against them should give us home field throughout the playoffs. We also have a tough opponent in Laurence Manning at the end of the regular season. This game tonight was two good teams going right at it.”   

Pinewood Prep is head coached by former South Carolina, and NFL player DeVonte Holloman. “There were a lot of big plays for both teams in this game, on both offense and defense, and I told my kids there were 100, or so plays in the game, and you never know which one is going to determine the winning team, but Northwood made just one more play than we did tonight. 

“We play them one game at the time, and while this loss takes us out of the driver’s seat, we are not going to give up and we can still reach our goals this season despite the loss,” said Coach Holloman. “Both teams still have to play Porter-Gaud so anything can happen. 

“My message to the team after the game, and we experienced a loss at Wilson Hall last season about this same time, was that one game does not define our season,” said Coach Hollomon. “We are going back to work with our best football ahead of us.”     

After Northwood Academy took a 10-7 halftime lead the opening two periods was a battle of the defenses but that changed in the second half. 

Both teams surely ate some halftime spinach, as they produced 70 second half points, with Pinewood Prep outscoring the Chargers 22-7 in the third period to take a 29-17 lead into the fourth quarter. Northwood dominated the fourth quarter, when they outscored the Panthers 27-14 to win the game in overtime.

NW took a 3-0 lead with 3:53 left in the first period on a 27-yard field goal by senior prospect Elliott Parrott when their 15-play drive stalled at the 13- yard line.

With 9:53 left in the second period, Pinewood QB Silas Brawner (6-6,210) hit WR Tre Green (6-2, 175) on an 89-yard TD bomb and Kai Remmel’s PAT gave the Panthers an early 7-3 lead. 



With 5:20 left in the first half soph Charger WR Aiden Rutledge hauled in an 18-yard pass for a TD with Parrott’s PAT giving the Chargers a 10-7 lead at the break.

On the first play from scrimmage in the third period, Panther senior WR Lavoris Lucas scored on an 80-yard reverse play that completely fooled the Charger defense. The PAT put the Panthers on top 14-10 with 11:42 left in the third.

Pinewood’s defense then forced a NW punt, taking possession at their 34-yard line. Eleven plays later Brawner tossed a four-yard scoring reception to Green, and the PAT made it 21-10 at the 6:35 mark of the third. Then on their next possession the Panthers made it 27-10 on Brawner’s 14-yard scoring reception to Green with 4:00 left in the third. Grayson Salego converted a two- point conversion on a short run to make it a 29-10 score at this point in the game. 

On the ensuing kick-off Rutledge had a good return down to the Panther 30-yard line. On the first play Charger WR Drew Wolfe caught a pass from Johnson and out-ran everyone to the end zone to make it a 29-17 game after the PAT with 3:37 left in the third. 

Trailing the Panthers back 12 to start the fourth quarter, the Chargers capped off an 8-play drive that culminated with a 26- yard TD pass from Johnson to Wolfe with 11:06 left in the game. The PAT cut the deficit to 29-24.

On Pinewood’s next possession, the Charger defense forced a three-an-out, and NW started their next scoring drive from the Panther 46-yard line after a short punt. On second down, Johnson tossed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Rutledge to give the Chargers a 30-29 lead with 9:20 left in the game. A two-point conversion failed. 

Pinewood began their next scoring drive at their 27-yard line, and 12 playa later Brawner tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Lucas with 5:38 left in the game, and a two-point conversion by Damian McDonough, put Pinewood back on topo 37-30. 

The Chargers began their final scoring drive in regulation from their own 25-yard line. On second down Johnson got loose on a 38-yard scamper and then RB Antuan Faison had a 25-yard second effort run that gave NW a first down at the Panther 14. Faison then scored on a 14-yard run and the PAY tied the game at 37 with 4:16 left in regulation. 

Pinewood appeared to have scored on a 50-yard pass from Brawner to Green on their final possession in the 4^th period, but a holding call nullified the play. 

Northwood had one last chance to win the game in regulation, but Johnson’s pass was intercepted in the end zone as time expired by FS Harrison Reynolds forcing over-time. 

The Panthers took first possession from the 10-yard line in OT. Green scored on a 10-yard pass, but the PAT hit the crossbar giving Pinewood a 43-37 lead. 

Northwood Academy then scored on a 10-yard pass from Johnson to Wolfe and the PAT by Parrott gave the Chargers a 44-43 win. 

 For the game Johnson led the Chargers on offense completing 18-of-30 passes for 144 yards and five TD’s. Michael Polite led the Chargers in rushing with 68 yards on 19 carries. Aiden Rutledge was Northwood’s top receiver with 8 catches for 94 yards and two TD’s. 

Brawner, a PC commitment, led the Panthers’ offense completing 20-of-33 passes for 336 yards and five TD’s. Lucas scored on an 80-yard TD run to lead the Panthers on the ground. Green, a top basketball prospect, had a career night with 10 receptions for 161 yards and four TD’s. 

 Both teams have a bye on October 16. Northwood Academy will next play at Porter-Gaud on October 23 while Pinewood Prep will October, 23 Laurence Manning.