North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
The North Myrtle Beach High School Chiefs football seniors honored a fallen player last Friday during senior night at The Hank. Players, in no particular order, are Mike Cavallini, Bricey Gore, NyRay Hannah, Jahsan Grace, LaMontae Smith, Asa Parker, Joshua Shemanskis, Ty Hodges, Derek Robison, Parker Stephenson, Nigel Vereen, Thomas Moss, Tanner Morrison, Daylan Bennett, Keith Allison, Luke Porter, Josiah McKee-Pusateri and Aaron Hart.
By John Smithson
The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs football team celebrated an early-season senior night in only their second home game of the season with a 24-12 victory over the visiting West Brunswick Trojans last Friday night at The Hank.
The Chiefs 20 senior players and members of the Band of Chiefs and cheer team were all recognized and honored by the school and family members in the traditional senior night festivities before the game.
After that the Chiefs lost the coin toss to begin the game, but that was about all the significant damage they endured as they played a solid offensive game and continued their strong defensive play in their second victory of the season.
The Trojans kicked off to the Chiefs Jaden Wilson who returned the ball to the Chiefs 44 yard line. Will McNeely ran twice for 11 yards and a first down at the West Brunswick 39, but a Chiefs penalty, an incomplete pass and the Trojan defense necessitated a Nico Miller punt from the Trojans 43-yard line.
Jaquel Davis ran for a first down and the Trojans advanced to their forty-yard line before their drive stalled due to penalties. Their fourth down punt from their 33 was downed at the Chiefs 48. After a Chiefs illegal procedure penalty, the Chiefs LaMontae Smith zipped through the Trojans defense for first down runs of 19 and 14 yards and a first down at the Trojans 24. The Chiefs drive also stalled at the 20 and Nico Miller was called on for a successful 37-yard field goal and 3-0 Chiefs lead with 3:03 left in the first quarter.
Following the Chiefs kickoff the Trojans and Chiefs traded penalties. Two short runs, good defense by the Chiefs and another penalty on West Brunswick sent another Trojans punt into the air on the first play of the second quarter.
Reo Stevenson lost yardage on the punt return, but he began the Chiefs offensive series with three straight runs of 8, 4 and 5 yards to the Chiefs 48. On the next play Smith exploded through the Chiefs line and didn’t stop until he scored with 10:32 left in the second quarter and the Chiefs lead at 10-0 after Miller’s PAT.
The Chiefs were penalized on the kickoff and that gave the Trojans the chance for good field position on the kickoff. From the Chiefs 44 the Trojans stayed on the ground on a ten-play touchdown drive, the last ten yards a pass play to Nick Brown for the score, which remained 10-6 after the missed PAT.
The Trojans kickoff was returned by Asa Parker to the Chiefs 40. After McNeely ran for no gain, Lamontae Smith ran for 20 yards, I yard and 8 yards to the Trojans 31. McNeely finished the drive off with a 31-yard touchdown run and 17-6 lead with three minutes left in the half. Halftime came quickly as both teams were four and out.
The Trojans began the second half at their 32 after the kickoff and in two plays moved to the Chiefs 45. A pass to K’Veon Griffin was completed and Griffin was stopped by the Chiefs, but he rolled over the Chiefs defender and continued to the three-yard line and first and goal. The Trojans scored on the next play cutting the Chiefs lead to 17-12 after another missed PAT.
The Chiefs looked like they had a drive going following the kickoff to their 36. McNeely and Smith running plays advanced the ball to the Trojans 36 and a first down, but a substitution penalty on a third and seven play set up a failed fourth down run and the ball went over to the Trojans at their 28 yard line.
The Trojans advanced to their 47 but a bad snap for a 20 yard loss gave the Chiefs the ball at the Trojans 20. A seven yard run by McNeely, nine yard run by Jayden Wilson to the 4 and two short McNeely runs scored the Chiefs touchdown for a 23-12 lead and 11:56 left in the game. Miller’s kick made it 24-12
The Trojans followed the Chiefs touchdown with a last-gasp drive from their 21. They drove to their 40 and then Stanley ripped off a 39-yard run to the Chiefs 8. A loss and fumble on a run, holding penalty and the stiffening Chiefs defense turned the ball over to the Chiefs at the Chiefs 15.
The Chiefs stayed on the ground as they used up the last 7:56 of the clock with 14 running plays, the last of them McNeely’s 33-yard run to the Trojans 2-yard line. The game ended at the next referee whistle and the Chiefs could celebrate their second win of the season.
The Chiefs were grounded throughout this 24-12 win. They rushed for 348 yards. McNeely ran for 147 yards on 22 carries; Lamontae Smith added 148 yards in 14 carries. The Chiefs passed only four times. They did not fumble or give up an interception. The defense kept up its steady play with those seniors chipping in.
They will need the same type of game this Friday as they travel to Loris to meet the Lions. This brings us back to the rivalry that has always existed between these two schools. Go early and enjoy.
