by Austin Silvey @SilveyESP
GREENVILLE, SC -- The Wren Hurricanes have been nothing short of stellar this season offensively. During the regular season, they averaged 57.4 points per game. They scored over 50 points in eight of ten games and over 60 points in six games; including a four game stretch early in the season.
In their first two playoff games vs Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Greer, they scored 56 and 65 respectively for an average of 60.5 points per game. Wren is 10-0 in games they scored over 50 points, going into the third round matchup with Greenville, and 0-2 when they scored fewer. The point is, this offense has been lights out and virtually impossible to defend all season.
Friday night at Sirrine Stadium was the proving ground for Jeff Tate's salty defense. What most thought would be an offensive shootout turned into a grind-it-out game for a Wren team that is hungry to make an appearance in Columbia on December 7.
In a 17-7 victory over the Red Raiders of Greenville, the juggernaut offense of Wren was held to only 42 total plays, EIGHT first downs and 153 yards in just 13 minutes of possession time. Senior quarterback Joe Owens had his worst performance of the season, going 10/25 for 111 yards and two interceptions. Even the solid ground attack had a hard time finding any holes to run through, amassing just 42 yards rushing on 17 attempts.
Defensively, the Hurricanes faced 79 plays run by Greenville and gave up 20 first downs, 313 total yards and 35 minutes of possession time. But when it mattered most, they found a way to make plays.
Junior linebacker Reed Morrissey had the two biggest plays of the game, both coming on interceptions. Halfway through the second quarter, he housed an interception that gave the Hurricanes a 10-0 lead. The second interception came with two seconds left in the fourth quarter as Greenville was trying to score quickly to make it a one possession game. He jumped in front of a Prometheus Franklin III pass and sealed the victory.
The only Greenville score came on a trick play that involved a double pass in the third quarter.
Senior linebacker Carson Galloway led the team with 9.5 tackles in the game, followed by Nick Morgan (6.5), Luke Schuller (6.5), Dez Frazier (6.5), Reed Morrissey (5.5) and Briggs Cox (5). [For Full Stats, click here]
With the win over Greenville, the Wren Hurricanes sealed a home matchup with Ridge View. This will be the first time in school history that they have hosted an Upper State Finals game.
Wren has never made it to a State Title game but they will get a chance to earn their way to one next Friday night.
ความคิดเห็น