Blackville-Hilda holds on to beat Denmark-Olar 20-12

           Denmark – It was Thursday night football in Denmark and the fans got their money's worth as the visiting Hawks from Blackville-Hilda High School came from behind to beat the homestanding and area rival Denmark-Olar 20-12.

           The game was a defensive struggle most of the night but also featured a battle between the sixth-ranked senior player in the state, according to High School Sports Report in Blackville Hilda’s Jaquel Holman and one of the top juniors in the state in Denmark-Olar’s Robert Bovain.

           While Bovain outrushed Holman 141 yards to 125 yards, it was Holman's edge in touchdowns,  3-2, that was the difference in the game.

           “We are always happy to get a win. This is rivalry game as we are separated by  eight miles," sid B-H head coach Kevin Jones. "I told our kids all week they have some really good players, they are fast and physical and we knew it would be a tough game."

           "My guys came out and performed really well. We have been preaching that we have to play four quarters of football and I felt like tonight we did that against a good opponent. We can build off this as we get ready for region play,” said D-O head coach William Raysor.

           The win improves the Hawks' record to 4-1 on the season as they head into their off week before they open up their region schedule against Ridge Spring-Monetta. Meanwhile, the Vikings fell to 1-4 and will host Edisto before beginning region play at Ridgeland.

           The game started well for the Vikings as they moved quickly into Hawks territory at the B-H 43-yard line before a penalty forced them into a third-down-and-13-yards-to-go situation. After Ny’Heem Brimfield hit DO’s top 100 senior Tykeem Ross for a 10-yard gain to bring up fourth and three, Bovain was stopped a yard short of the first down.

           Then something weird happened on the field. D-O thought it had made the first down and its offense stayed on the field. However, B-H’'s offense was also on the field and lined up to run a play. Quarterback Samari Williams took the snap and headed around the right end and took off down the sideline. D-O’s offense had to turn into its defense and finally tackled Williams at the Vikings 3.  On the next play, Holman scored his first touchdown of the night on a 3-yard run up the middle.

           Both Defenses would make their own statements on the ensuing possession for the opponent. First, Hawks strong safety Kaiden Aiken would pick off a pass and return 30 yards to the D-O 35.  The D-O defense responded by turning over the Hawks offense by allowing it minus 10 yards in four plays which set up the DO offense at the 45.

           On second down, Brimfield hit De’Antey Jamison with a 20-yard pass down to the Hawks 35. Brimfield picked up four yard on first down and then Bovain went to work. His 20-yard pickup gave the Vikings a first and goal at the 10. On his next carry, Bovain burst up the middle and scored the game-tying touchdown with 10:35 to go in the first half.

           From there the game turned into one big hit after another with D-O’s Charleston Brown controlling the inside and Ross and Bovain causing havoc on the outside. The Hawks' Jamarien Kirkland, Brandon Priester and Terrion Johnson were equally disruptive for the Vikings offense. Only 32 yards were gained by the offenses the remainder of the second quarter as the game was tied 6-6 at halftime.

           "We told the guys at halftime that we are in a dogfight," Jones said. "But I am proud of the kids] resiliency. We had a few breakdowns that we need to fix, but overall we are happy with the result.”

           The Hawks came out in the third quarter with a purpose. Starting from their 43 after Namair Anderson returned the kickoff 28 yards. Williams and Holman moved the ball to the D-O 18 before three incompletions and a no gain turned the ball over on downs.

           The Vikings would need just one play to take the lead. Bovain took the handoff and went up the middle, then cut left and outraced everyone to the end zone for an 82-yard touchdown. The 2-point conversion was no good, but the Vikings led 12-6.

           The game changed on the next Hawks possession as Jones decided to go to the wishbone offense and play smashmouth football. Getting behind their offensive line led by Jayden Dash and Cedric Walker, the Hawks went 60 yards in six  plays to tie the game at 12 when Holman scored his second touchdown from the 8. Williams' 2-point conversion put the Hawks on top to stay at 14-12.

           Anderson was key on the drive as he had three carries for 38 yards.

           D-O was unable to move the ball on its next two possessions as the teams headed to the fourth quarter with the Hawks clinging to their 2-point lead.

           Holman showed why he is one of the state's best players on the Hawks' first play of the fourth quarter. Having been bottled up most of the night by the Vikings, he finally found a crease, burst through the hole and went 65 yards untouched to increase the Hawks lead to eight at 20-12.

           The Hawks would move deep into Vikings territory for a first down at the Vikings 19. From there they lost a yard as the Viking defense bowed its neck to make the stop.

           The Vikings took over at their 20 with 2:55 on the clock. Bovain, who had moved to quarterback, completed two passes to Terrance Hinton and one to Jamison. A face mask penalty against the Hawks moved the ball to the B-H 44. Then with 1:13 left, disaster struck for the Vikings as Bovain’s pass went off the hands of his intended receiver and landed in the hands of the Hawks' Darius Jenkins. The Hawks ran out the clock for the win.