By Lonnie Turner
The Dillon Wildcats used a record breaking performance by Avery McCall to stymie the Mullins Auctioneers 47-6 on Friday evening to earn a first place tie in Region 8-2A with the Loris Lions. The two teams will be playing for the Region title in two weeks in what will most likely be the Pee Dee game of the week.
McCall threw for four touchdowns, which tied a record held by three other quarterbacks, including Michael McLaurin, Travis Murphy, and TyQuan Hayes. The latter’s record of 260 yards and nine first downs thrown against Manning in 2010 was surpassed by McCall’s 294 yards and 13 first downs through the air. On the receiving end of three of the scoring tosses was Eri’Reon Hayes, the top receiver on the team with 18 receptions, 434 yards, and nine touchdowns. Hayes netted 98 yards on the three catches.
Six other Wildcats were on the receiving end of the other 13 passes completed, including Jay Johnson with four catches and 67 yards; Daeshawn Davis (three for 33 yards); C.J. Sowells (two for 43 yards); Johnny Allen (two for 29 yards and a touchdown); Ethan Hayes (one for 27 yards); and DaQuan McRae caught one for a three yard loss.
With the passing game clicking on all cylinders, Anthony Blue put the Wildcats on the board first with a 23-yard run on the third play of the Wildcats opening drive. The senior running back, who was neglected by the Shrine Bowl committee, rushed for 83-yards on just five plays, all in the first quarter, and ran for his 10th touchdown rushing for the season. Blue’s early touchdown came on the heels of back to back completed passes from McCall to Daeshawn Davis and Hayes.
Hayes scored on two more throws from McCall before the first quarter came to an end with the first coming on a second down play for 47 yards. On a muffed kick-off following the touchdown, Isaiah Williams recovered at the Mullins 24, and McCall found Hayes again for six more points from 20-yards out.
With 44 seconds remaining in the first 12-minute segment, Damu Ford found his way into the end zone from the one following Blue’s final carry of the quarter and game for 30 yards and a first down at the one-yard line for a 28-0 lead. Place kicker Tara Grimsley was a perfect four for four kicking the extra points.
In the second quarter, the Hayes-McCall combination put six more points on the board when they connected for a 31-yard score. A bad snap from center sailed over the head of the holder on the PAT try, which ended the scoring in the first half with Dillon leading 34-0.
Mullins quarterback Riyon Gore completed a 17-yard pass to Keon Swinton in the first series of the second half for the initial first down for the Aucs, but the drive bogged down when Gore was sacked two times in a row to force a punt.
After taking the punt at the Dillon 37, McCall led the Cats with five consecutive completions for four first downs and hit Johnny Allen on a 17-yard pass for his first receiving touchdown of the season. Drew Covington kicked the point after to give the Wildcats a 41-0 bulge and with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter, the officials instructed the electric clock operator to keep the clock running, except during time outs.
The Wildcats defense scored the final touchdown when “Que” Bethea picked off a Gore pass at the Dillon 36-yard line, broke to the outside, picked up a wall of blockers, and went all the way into the end zone for a 64-yard touchdown. It was his second interception for a touchdown this season. Covington’s kick for the PAT was blocked.
Mullins managed to get on the scoreboard when the Wildcats lost their second fumble of the night at the 2-yard line. Gore passed complete to tight end JacQuan Mullins just across the goal line for the six points and a pass to Justin Hamilton fell incomplete on the two-point conversion attempt.
Gore finished the game with 164 yards on nine completions out of 19 attempts, but the Wildcat defense held the Auctioneers to minus 27 yards rushing on 16 attempts for the game. Ja’Monte McGill sacked Gore three times and Jalen Washington and J.T. Carmichael added one sack each. Shy’keem Blue led the tackle sheet with five solo and three assists.
The Wildcats will be on the road to Marion this Friday, October 18, and will be preparing for the Loris Lions at home on Friday, October 25.
