RESILIENCE IS KEY

10/30/2012 RESILIENCE IS KEY Ninety Six's Watson finds success with what he's given

Ninety Six’s Hunter Watson was named Index-Journal Player of the Week after the team’s victory against Abbevlle last Friday night. (Index-Journal } file) By SCOTT CHANCEY NINETY SIX - Hunter Watson was handed the reins to the Ninety Six High School starting quarterback job as a freshman. Now a junior, he engineered the winning drive Friday against Abbeville, which was then ranked No. 1 in Class AA (the latest media poll has the Panthers sixth). After throwing two interceptions Friday, Watson - the Index-Journal's Player of the Week - responded with a 53-yard drive in 2:13 while completing four passes in a row. He finished off that drive by scrambling into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown with fewer than 10 seconds remaining in the game. Trailing Abbeville 20-19, Ninety Six then tried a two-point conversion designed to be a pass from receiver Jo-Jo Chaney to none other than Watson. "The (Abbeville defensive back) sunk back on (Watson), and Jo-Jo was able to run it in," Ninety Six coach Chris Liner said Monday, recalling the play. And that was the game. Ninety Six 21, Abbeville 20. Watson, despite the two interceptions, finished the contest with 202 yards on 12-of-24 passing and completed a career-long 92-yard touchdown pass earlier in that game to Ryan Booker. "It was just an awesome game to play in; the atmosphere was great," Watson said. "We just fought until the end and came out on top." Sometimes, when a quarterback is declared the on-field leader, he tries to do too much. If there is maybe a defender - or two, or three - with a crucial play needed to be made, Watson has, at times, tried to complete that pass, anyway. MORE IN TODAY'S INDEX-JOURNAL