Photo by Jeff Blake/ColumbiaWeddingPhotos.com A.C. Flora's Terry Cherry gets by B-C's Michael Walker while returning a punt for a touchdown. In the season opener, the A.C. Flora football team encountered an athletic, dual- threat quarterback and a running game built on stretch and counter plays.

The result was a lopsided loss.

Against Brookland- Cayce in Week 3, the Falcons faced a similar foe. This time A.C. Flora emerged with a 29- 14 victory at Airport High School.

"We are adjusting well and getting smarter," senior lineman Thomas Hobbs said. "The new coaching staff is really helping us improve."

The numbers bear out that improvement. In the opener, Dillon rushed for 227 yards including six plays of 10 or more yards and two that lost yardage. Brookland- Cayce produced only 113 rushing yards, including three plays of 10 or more yards and eight that lost yardage.

The Falcons know such a learning curve is essential.

"We're going to be seeing (this type of offense) again," Hobbs said. "The quarterback at Lugoff is athletic … and maybe from a couple of other teams. We just want our defensive ends to contain and the defensive backs to be disciplined by staying in coverage until (the quarterback) commits to the run."

Photo by Jeff Blake/ColumbiaWeddingPhotos.com B- C's TK Graves rumbles for a touchdown past A.C. Flora's Connor Lewis and B- C's Bryan Robinson . The victory put A.C. Flora (2- 2) at .500, but the Falcons aren't happy.

"We're not satisfied (at 2- 2); we wanted more wins," said senior defensive back Tywon Pelzer, who recorded both of A.C. Flora's interceptions against the Bearcats (0- 3). "Our defense still needs to get better. Sometimes our defensive line doesn't keep the quarterback contained. Sometimes our defensive backs come off our men too soon.

"The key (to playing against an athletic quarterback) is staying on your man. If you come up before (the quarterback) crosses the line of scrimmage, you're going to get beat deep."

That happened only once against Brookland- Cayce: Marcus Kinley's 31- yard reception set up the Bearcats' first- half touchdown, tying the game at 7. Gollie Felder's 36- yard catch in the third quarter that led to B- C's other score was defended. T.K. Graves and Zack Warner accounted for the touchdowns on runs of 13 and 2 yards, respectively.

Photo by Jeff Blake/ColumbiaWeddingPhotos.com Brookland- Cayce's Jacob Baxter fumbles while being hit in the first quarter of A.C. Flora's 29- 14 win. "They had a good plan, and (quarterback Jon Rumph) is a very good athlete," coach Dean Howell said. "They tried to give him opportunities to make plays, and we have to get better tackling. We have some guys who are learning how to play fast and with technique, but …"

Zack Warner and Rumph alternated at quarterback for Brookland- Cayce. Rumph, the greater passing threat, threw for 108 yards on 5- of- 15 passing, although five of his incompletions went through his receivers' hands. Rumph (17- 27) and Warner (14- 52) also produced most of the Bearcats rushing yards.

After the Bearcats' first score, A.C. Flora responded with 16 second- quarter points on a sack in the end zone by Dustin Corley, a 1- yard run by Jalen Ayers and an 8- yard run by Ricky Williams. Cedric Cornelius (17 carries, 102 yards) and Ayers (10- 100) led A.C. Flora's running game, which produced 290 yards on 51 carries.

A.C. Flora's first touchdown came on a 51- yard punt return by senior Terry Cherry. Its last touchdown came on a 1- yard plunge by quarterback Stephen Cagle.

By that time, Brookland- Cayce's focus was divided. In the third quarter, coach Abby Bray, who had been ill, was taken from the sideline by ambulance after experiencing chest discomfort. According to the school, Bray was back at work on Monday.