Photo by Jeff Blake/ColumbiaWeddingPhotos.com Airport’s Ryan Smith scores a touchdown against Brookland–Cayce. The Airport Eagles capped off a perfect 10–0 regular season with a 39–17 win over rival Brookland– Cayce Friday, October 30. The Eagles overcame a slow start in the first half to pull away from the Bearcats in the second half and finish with an unblemished record heading into the first round of the playoffs where they will meet Darlington at home.

Airport quarterback W.T. Murden completed 10 of 12 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns, along with rushing for 163 yards on 15 carries and adding another score. He received help from running back Ryan Smith who rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.

Quarterback Jonathan Rumph led the Bearcat attack completing 14 of 26 passes for 183 yards, but he had no touchdowns and tossed three interceptions. His main target was wide receiver D.J. Shipman who caught seven passes for 99 yards.

Photo by Jeff Blake/ ColumbiaWeddingPhotos.com Airport’s Josh Salley returns a kickoff for a big gain against B–C. Brookland–Cayce received the ball to start the game. Rumph completed passes to Shipman, Daishawn Brown, and Zack Warner to get the ball inside the Airport 10–yard line. After a pair of Gollie Felder runs moved the ball to the Airport three yard line, Warner threw a 3–yard pass to Jacob Baxter for a touchdown to give Brookland– Cayce an early 7–0 lead.

The Eagles responded on the next drive. After a pass from Murden to Josh Salley got Airport near midfield, Murden and Smith alternated running the ball to get the Eagles in the Brookland– Cayce red zone. Smith finished off the drive with a 1–yard plunge to tie the score at 7–7.

Photo by Jeff Blake/ColumbiaWeddingPhotos.com B-C’s Gollie Felder returns a kickoff past Airport’s Charlie Crane. The score remained tied until the second quarter. After a block in the back penalty gave the Bearcats the ball at their own 23–yard line, Airport defender Shay Robinson picked off a Rumph pass and returned it to the Bearcat 2–yard line. Smith cashed in the turnover on the next play, running the ball in from two yards out. The extra point was no good, giving Airport a 13–7 lead.

Later in the second quarter, following a Brookland– Cayce punt that gave the Eagles the ball at the Bearcat 32 yard line, Murden found Salley for a touchdown pass. Again the extra point was no good, giving Airport a 19–7 lead.

The Bearcats responded just before halftime. After an excellent return gave the Bearcats the ball near midfield, Rumph used his legs to scamper 35 yards down to the Airport 16–yard line. The drive stalled from there, but kicker Caleb Kelly cashed in with a 31–yard field goal that cut the Airport lead to 19–10 going into halftime.

The Eagles came out at halftime and took control of the game. Three runs by Murden and a 13–yard pass to Sam McClellan found Airport near midfield. Later in the drive, Murden connected with Robinson for a 39–yard reception to put Airport inside the Brookland–Cayce 20–yard line. On the following play, Murden found Derek Cushman for a 14–yard touchdown pass, extending the Airport lead to 26–10.

Later in the quarter, the Eagles put together another scoring drive. Starting with the ball on their own 14, Smith ran 41 yards to the Brookland–Cayce 45–yard line. On the next play, Airport kept the pressure on when Murden found Cushman for a 15–yard gain. Two plays later, Murden finished off the drive with a 23–yard touchdown run to give Airport a 33–10 lead.

The Bearcats fought back. After a 12–yard run by Rumph, he connected on three passes to get the Bearcats inside the Airport 20–yard line. Felder found the end zone for the second time with a 17–yard touchdown run.

In the fourth quarter, the Eagles put together one last scoring drive to put the game away. After Robinson picked off a Rumph pass, Airport started at its own 8–yard line. A series of runs by Murden along with a 24–yard pass to McClellan and a personal foul penalty against Brookland–Cayce gave Airport the ball at the Bearcat 35–yard line. On the next play, Murden connected with Deonne Hopkins for a 35–yard touchdown pass to give Airport a 39–17 win.

On a side note, Brookland–

Cayce ballboys Tristen

Watts and Hunter Helms

completed a perfect regular

season, too. B–C head coach

Abby Bray says, “Tristan Watts

and Hunter Helms are two

outstanding ballboys. They

have been our ballboys all ten

games this year, and we are

very proud of them. They

work hard, never complain,

and are true Bearcat supporters!

The entire Bearcat team

and coaching staff appreciates

these two fine boys.”