North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
Left to right are queen, Clara Cloninger; third runner-up, Jaelyn Faucher; second runner-up, Sydney Carroll; and first runner-up, McKenna Dailey. Not pictured is Bricey King who was voted the homecoming king.
By John Smithson
The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs Homecoming week ended on a sour note late Friday evening as the Conway Tigers used a second half rally to beat the Chiefs 35-28 in the first 6-5A region game of the season.
The Chiefs and Tigers traded possessions early in the first quarter before the Chiefs began a touchdown drive from their 40-yard line. The Chiefs Will McNeely, Jayden Wilson and Nigel Vereen moved the ball to the Conway 30 before Wilson took a handoff, ran left and spun out of a tackle for a 30-yard touchdown run and 6-0 Chiefs lead.
Two Conway offsides penalties and the Chiefs decided to try a two-point conversion, which McNeely ran for an 8-0 Chiefs lead. The Tigers went three and out and punted back to the Chiefs 31-yard line. After McNeely ran for no gain Mason Walker’s short pass to the left side was intercepted by Conway’s Gabe Williams and he ran down the left side for a touchdown and 8-7 score after the PAT.
Following the Conway kickoff to the Chiefs 37 after a 12-yard return by Jayden Wilson, the Chiefs began a ten-play drive into the second quarter and a two-yard touchdown run by McNeely. Nico Miller’s PAT made it 15-7 with 8:20 left in the half.
Conway started on their 20 after a touchback on Miller’s kickoff. On the second play from scrimmage the Tigers fumbled, and the Chiefs recovered at the Conway 23. Four plays later McNeely ran three yards untouched into the endzone, and the Chiefs lead was 21-7. The PAT was no good due to a bad snap.
Conway couldn’t move the ball after another touchback, and they punted to the Chiefs 40. McNeely rushed for nine yards on three carries but was stopped on a fourth and one at the Chiefs 49.
With three minutes left in the half Conway’s offense moved the ball to the Chiefs 27 and quarterback Noah Legg hit Christian Byrd for a touchdown with :52 on the clock and the teams went to halftime Conway trailing 21-14.
Conway started the third quarter on their 20 yardline following another touchback. The Tigers then began a 13 play 80-yard drive for the tying touchdown, with Noah Legg rushing or passing for yardage on a long drive to the Chiefs 21. Legg then completed a 16-yard pass to Javon Smalls at the Chiefs 5-yard line and eventually scored from one yard out. The Tigers had tied the score at 21-21 with 5:50 left in the third quarter.
Both teams were three and out before the Chiefs started a drive from their 39 following a Tigers punt. On a third and two play, Jayden Wilson burst through the line and “scored”, but the Chiefs were flagged for holding and eventually punted from their 35 yardline.
Miller hit a 54-yard punt and Conway began their possession at their 18. They were penalized back to their 14, but on a third and 14 play Legg passed to Javon Smalls, and he scored on an 86-yard touchdown pass and run. Conway led 28-21 with :20 left in the quarter.
An unsportsmanlike penalty on Conway resulted in a kick to the Chiefs 27 and a 40-yard return by Brayden Pagan to the Tigers 33. Mason Walker passed for 11 yards to McNeely and Wilson rushed for four yards to the Conway 22 as the fourth quarter began. On a fourth down at the Conway 17, Walker hit McNeely in the end zone for the tying touchdown with 10:37 left in the game.
Conway’s next possession ended in a fumble at the Chiefs 32, the ball recovered by Keith Allison at the Chiefs 33. The Chiefs went three and out and punted back to Conway at their 20 yardline.
The Tigers moved to their 35 but a penalty set up a third down and 18 play from their 30. Legg came to the rescue with a 39-yard pass play to Javon Smalls and first down at the Chiefs 31. Three ,plays later and facing a fourth and four yard play, Legg again hit Smalls for 25 yards and a touchdown to give Conway a 35-28 lead with 1:30 left in the game.
The Chiefs retuned the kickoff to the 34 but were called for holding. From the 24, three incomplete Walker passes and a penalty set up a fourth and 15 at the Chiefs 19. Walker then completed passes of 27, 7, 8 and 13 yards to Pagan and first down at the Conway 31.
The Chiefs comeback ended. Two incomplete passes, a holding penalty and a 14 yard sack of Walker ended it and the Tigers walked off with a 35-28 win.
McNeely scored three touchdowns and rushed for 131 yards on 28 carries. Walker was 7 for 12 for 80 yards.
Conway big plays in crucial situations made the difference.
The Chiefs travel to Socastee next Friday night.
