Miscues by Rebels benefit Wildcats

9/29/2012 12:46:00 AM Miscues by Rebels benefit Wildcats

CHRIS LINER By FRANK BUMB NINETY SIX - Ninety Six High School's football team had as good a first quarter as a football team could have on its way to a 35-15 victory against Region 2-AA foe Mid-Carolina. The Wildcats even scored on a lucky break, with Reid Slack pouncing on a Brandon Cheatham fumble in the end zone for the score to give Ninety Six an early lead. Mid-Carolina did itself no favors as a botched reverse on the kick return sacrificed field position. After six plays, the Wildcats forced a punt and scored on their first play on a 54-yard pass from Hunter Watson to Christopher Prater. Mid-Carolina's misfortunes on kickoffs continued as a skied kick was pounced upon by Cedric Williams to give the Wildcats another opportunity to score. Brandon Cheatham capped the 32-yard drive with a 5-yard run to give the Wildcats a 21-point advantage against the stunned Rebels. "We've had opportunities these past two weeks and really all season to make plays, but just didn't make them," Ninety Six coach Chris Liner said. "Tonight, we made some really good football plays." But the Wildcats were not afforded the opportunity to waltz through the second half, as the Rebels came out fired up and scored on a 26-yard run by Nick Sims-Metts. The next Wildcat possession saw the Mid-Carolina faithful become irate after Watson was ruled down, taking a potential fumble recovery away from the Rebels. After a false start, Watson and the Wildcats responded with a 57-yard strike to Ryan Booker to silence the crowd and put things out of reach for the Rebels. "We answered when things got rough," Liner said. "This season we've had some adversity and hadn't really stepped up, but tonight we said, 'So what?' and came right back. I couldn't be prouder of our guys and our coaches." MORE IN TODAY'S INDEX-JOURNALwww.indexjournal.com