Standout receiver Akia Booker had a touchdown in Byrnes' win over Northwestern, but the real star was junior receiver Greg McHam.
File photo by Randy Sartin
Most people predicted a high-scoring affair when No. 6
Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) and No. 25
Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) met on Friday.
But few expected Byrnes receiver
Greg McHam to be the difference maker.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior had the game of his life, hauling in four touchdown passes to help Byrnes survive, 32-28.
The game was a up-and-down battle with a bounty of scoring plays.
Byrnes just jumped out to an early 6-0 lead thanks to a touchdown pass from quarterback
Shuler Bentley to McHam.
However, Northwestern responded with consecutive scores, a long touchdown pass from
Mason Rudolph followed by a short touchdown run by the 6-foot-5 junior to take a 14-6 lead.
Byrnes struck back, as Bentley found McHam once more for a touchdown. Star receiver
Akia Booker pulled down the two-point conversion attempt to make it 14-14.
Northwestern had a chance to take the lead, but Rudolph fumbled inside the Byrnes 5-yard line to give the ball back to the Rebels.
It proved costly, as Bently and Booker hooked up again in the second on a 77-yard touchdown to take a 20-14 lead.
The Bentley-McHam connection came up big again for Byrnes, this time on a 33-yard score with under three minutes to play to give Byrnes a 26-14 lead.
Northwestern could rebound before the half, as Rudolph connected with
Dupree Hart on a 38-yard score with under a minute left in the second to narrow the gap to 26-21.
After a long drive, Rudolph and Northwestern punched in another score. Rudolph snuck in from the 1-yard line to give Northwestern a 28-26 lead.
Byrnes had an opportunity to take the lead, but its 32-yard field goal attempt was blocked. However, after forcing Northwestern to punt, Bentley found McHam yet again for a fourth score. The two-point conversion attempt failed, making it 32-28 with six minutes left.
With a chance perhaps to put the game out of reach, Byrnes came up short on fourth and inches with just over two minutes to play to give the ball back to Northwestern.
It was the Byrnes defense that came up big minutes later, stopping Northwestern on fourth down to preserve the lead and the win.
Byrnes (3-0) will host Clinton next week while Northwestern (3-1) will have a bye week before taking on Lancaster.
View Qwixcore game log here.
