CATFIGHT IN DILLON. TIGERS UPSET THE WILDCATS IN A MONDAY NIGHT THRILLER
Photo Credit: Steven McCartt All Rights Reserved
The Wilson Tigers traveled to Dillon County on Monday night to take on the Wildcats in a game that was rescheduled from Friday due to inclement weather. Last season, Dillon got the better of Wilson, beating them 22-0 at Wilson. Head Coach Brian Wilson and his Wilson Tigers were looking to get back in the win column after a bittersweet 29-28 2OT loss last week on the road at Gilbert. On the other sideline, you have Coach Roller and his Dillon Wildcats, who are coming off a blowout 41-0 win against Soccastee.
This game was loaded with talent on both sides. On the Dillon sideline, you have QB Khayel Sam Fong-Talia, who recently earned his first Division I offer from BYU, and his primary target, North Carolina commit Zamaurious Robertson. On the Wilson side, you have standout athletes like MyQuan McWhite, Jaden Boston (who also has a couple of college offers).
Photo Credit: Richard Sprauge Jr All Rights Reserved
Photo Credit: Richard Sprauge Jr All Rights Reserved
This game was a war for all 4 quarters, and in the end, thanks to a stellar 2-minute drill drive led by QB Tristen Howard, the Wilson Tigers took down the Dillon Wildcats 26-21 and played spoiler to the Wildcats' senior night celebration.
Photo Credit: Carter McGill All Rights Reserved
The game
The game was a defensive battle throughout the first half. Dillon started the scoring mid-first quarter as they handed the ball off to Daniel Capehart to give the Wildcats an early 7-0 lead. Wilson would respond as QB Tristen Howard would find his receiver, Kayden Bethea, to tie the game at 7. Wilson would again find the endzone before the end of the half, as Howard snuck into the endzone to score his second touchdown of the game to give the Tigers a 13-7 lead.
Coming out of the half, Dillon would find pay dirt again as Daniel Capehart found the endzone, and tied the score at 13 heading to the final quarter. Early in the 4th quarter, Wilson’s got the ball, it’s fourth down, they go for it, and Triston Howard found his man, Kayden Bethea, all alone to give the Tigers a 20-13 lead.
Photo Credit: Steven McCartt All Rights Reserved
This game, however, was far from over as Dillon would get the ball back with three minutes on the clock, needing a touchdown and an extra point to tie. Daniel Capehart, yet again, found the endzone to cut the lead to 1. Instead of kicking it, Coach Roller rolled the dice, went for 2, and QB Fong-Talia got the conversion to put the wildcats up one with 1:39 to play.
The ball was now in Howard's hands, and he led the Tigers down the field surgically and found his man, Davon Bowman, in the endzone with 35 seconds remaining to win the game for the Wilson Tigers.
My MVP: Tristen Howard
Photo Credit: Steven McCartt All Rights Reserved
This game came down to a two-minute drill, and Tristen Howard played it perfectly. He played well all night, racking up four total touchdowns, three through the air and one on the ground. He said after the game in an interview, “We got an opportunity to come out here and win a game, and that's all we need is an opportunity.” The Tigers and Howard definitely took advantage of their opportunities and pulled out an incredible victory over a feisty Dillon team.
What’s next for these teams:
Wilson is back at home this week to face off against cross-town rival West Florence and looks to build on a huge win. As for the Dillon Wildcats, they will play Marion on the road Friday, hoping to build some momentum after a tough and grueling loss.
