Cyclones ground game wears out Eagles in 63-33 opening night win

By Neill Kirkpatrick

Special to the HSSR

Bluffton – It seemed a little early for the season opener but Porter Gaud’s senior running back Jammall Fludd picked up where he left off last season as he rushed for 271 yards on 15 carries and crossed the goal line six times to lead the Cyclones to a 63-33 win over defending SCISA AAA champion Hilton Head Christian.

The game was called with 2:22 left when Porter Gauds Scott Tibbals suffered a horrific leg injury and had to be transported off the field. The HSSR wishes him a speedy recovery.

As season openers go this was an intriguing match as you had run heavy Porter Gaud going against pass heavy Hilton Head Christian and the game followed that script as each team relied on their strengths to move the ball at well against the other team’s defense.

Hilton Head Christian won the toss and elected to take the ball. Leading the Eagles offense on to the field was first-time starter at quarterback Reid McCollum (6-4,215). The junior led the Eagles right done the field accounting for 79 of the 83 yards as the Eagles covered the yardage in six plays to take the lead 7-0 when Taylor Sharp scored from the four. The big play of the drive was a 43-yard pass from McCollum to Harry Cunningham.

PG’s Tony Brown returned the ensuing kickoff 44-yards to give the Cyclones great starting field position at the 45. He also had 24 yards rushing on the drive that was capped off by PG quarterback Nolen Shuman going around the left side for a 22-yard touchdown. The point after was no good and left HHCA on top 7-6.

The Eagles came right back on the arm of McCollum as he went three for three for 62-yards including five-yard strike to Cunningham to put the Eagles up 14-6. The big play on the drive was a 47-yard strike to Harrison Arnholt that gave the Eagles a first down at the PG 10-yardline.

HHCA tried a surprise onside kick but the Cyclones recovered at their 47. Four plays later they were in the endzone as Fludd scored his first touchdown of the night on a 21-yard touchdown run. He took the ball off right tackle, then broke it outside and out raced everyone to the endzone. He added the two-point conversion the game was tied up at 14.

The Eagles got the ball back and proceeded to move it down field but on fourth down from the Cyclone 41, McCollum lofted a pass down the left side as his receiver came back to get the ball he but was held by the defensive back but no flag was thrown and the Cyclones turned the Eagles over on downs.

Starting from their 35-yard line it would take just two plays for the Cyclones to take their first lead of the game 21-14 when Fludd scored touchdown number two on a 63-yard run down the left side. The offensive line did a great job of sealing off the inside and that allowed Fludd to bounce it outside and do the rest.

On their next possession, the Eagles would tie the game up at 21. Starting at their own 22 they would go 78 yards in just six plays when the McCollum to Cunningham connection struck again on 48-yard catch and run.

The Cyclones would take the lead for good on Fludd’s third touchdown of the night. A 9-yard run up the middle. The big play on the drive was a 70-yard run by Shuman that gave PG a first and goal at the 10. The PAT took the lead for good at 28-21.

HHCA would come right back with a 10-play drive that covered 38 yards and ended when kicker Ian Kelley nailed a 47-yard field goal to cut the Cyclone lead to four at 28-24. Kelley is one of the top kickers in the nation.

There was just 2:08 left in the first half so all bets were on the Cyclones using their rushing attack to run the clock out. However, Brad Bowles and his offensive coaches crossed up everyone up. On second down Shuman took the snap and headed right like he was going to run the option again when he suddenly pulled a lofted a perfect strike down the right side to a wide-open Grayer Hyatt and he took it the rest of the way for a 78-yard touchdown strike. The score increased the Cyclone lead to 35-24.

The Eagles were not done as they went eight-plays moving the ball to the PG 21-yardline where Kelley put it through the uprights from 33-yards out and the teams went to the half with PG on top 35-27.

The second half started out much like the first as each team scored on their first possession. Starting at 20 the Cyclones needed just five plays to push their lead to 42-27. Fludd had three carries for 65 yards and scored number four on an 18-yard touchdown run.

Again, the Eagles came right back as they went 74 yards in 9 plays with McCollum scoring from the two. The two-point try was stopped but the PG lead was cut to 9 at 42-33. McCollum was 5-5 for 63 yards on the drive with a big throw of 49-yards to Joey Houpt.

That would be the last time that Eagles would score as the Cyclones defense would force two turnovers a fumble and an interception by Daven Brown.

Fludd would score touchdowns five and six on runs of 30 and 34 yards. He finished the night with 271 yards on the ground.

“My offensive line did a great job tonight and our defense stepped up when they needed to,” said Fludd after the game.

The Cyclones final score came on a 20-yard run by Shuman to move the lead to 63-33 with 6:55 to go in the game. Shuman had a great night as well as he rushed for 146 yards and two scores while going 3-3 through the air for 89 yards and a touchdown.

The credit for the offensive output goes to the offense line as they paved the way for over 500 yards of total offense with 487 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground.

McCollum had an outstanding night in his first start as he went 31-40 for 347 yards with two touchdowns through the air while rushing 20 times for 156 yards and a score. Cunningham had five receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns while Arnholt had six receptions for 107 and Houpt had seven receptions for 86 yards.

PG will head to rival First Baptist next while HHCA will travel to take on Battery Creek.