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CLINTON, S.C. – Anchored by a three-touchdown performance from incoming sophomore quarterback Collin Hurst (two passing TD’s along with another of the rushing variety), the Presbyterian College football team’s blue squad outlasted a feisty white-clad unit by a 21-19 final tally under the lights of Bailey Memorial Stadium on Friday.
In a strong candidate for the most gripping Spring contest that the Blue Hose have showcased, head coach Steve Englehart (awaiting year three at the helm) engineered a 48-minute contest that stayed within a 14-point window from start to finish.
Ahead by eight going into the abbreviated 4th quarter while seeing that margin trimmed further, Team Blue preserved the victory by blocking a Team White field goal attempt with 4:12 on the clock, a play that would have swayed the outcome for a White win.
Presbyterian officially announced its fall schedule for the university’s 112th football team yesterday, now turning their attention to upcoming summer workouts for Englehart’s third season that will begin on August 29.
Coach Englehart’s Thoughts
“Tonight was a great ending to our spring schedule”, commented Englehart, who guided PC to a three-win turnaround last fall with three All-PFL first-teamers returning to the fray in 2024.
“There were many explosive plays tonight for our guys, and they were amped up to go against each other. I thought that all of our quarterbacks played particularly well, as did our more experienced defensive players that have been a staple of this program for a few years now.”
“This game was a nice preview to what we’ll see when the new season rolls around.”
First Half; Team Blue Leads 14-7
A five-yard loft from Hurst to junior Wyatt Hodges broke open the evening’s scoring with nearly seven minutes gone by, capped off with a successful PAT by Phil Steele Freshman All-American kicker Mack Mikko.
At the 3:08 stamp of the opening period, Team White evened the odds courtesy of Jacob Deller who returned a blocked field goal 78 yards in the other direction for a special teams TD.
Hurst was responsible for the tie-breaking score at the 4:03 clip of the 2nd stanza, converting in the red zone on a designed QB rush.
End of 3rd; Team Blue Leads 21-13
On top by seven at the halfway point, Team Blue found its largest lead (21-7) once Hurst struck again from 10 yards out in the direction of tight end Nathan Levicki.
Three minutes later, Team White retorted with a 28-yard connection from Warner Bush to Hunter Satterfield, although unsuccessful on the follow-up kick to make the new tally 21-13.
4th Quarter; Team Blue Holds On
With 10:17 on the ticker, Bush registered his second passing touchdown of the night on the longest scoring play from scrimmage: a 38-yard arc to newbie Jamari Haynes.
Now trailing by a deuce, Team White opted for a two-point conversion attempt only to be thwarted by Team Blue’s stout D.
In scoring range once more with the game teetering in the balance, Team White’s comeback bid was denied with a 44-yard field goal try that was stymied.
That allowed Team Blue to hold on for the 21-19 final decision, closing the book on Presby’s fall layout.
2024-04-13 03:08:27
#Team #Blue #Edges #Team #White #Annual #Football #Spring #Game
