Vance runs over Hickory Ridge, will meet Harding in 4A semifinal showdown
Quarterback Nigel Summerville accounted for three touchdowns and running backs M.J. Williams and Kalen Clark each rushed for more than 100 yards as Vance strong-armed its way to a 49-21 victory over Hickory Ridge in the quarterfinals of the 4A state football playoffs Friday.
Vance coach Aaron Brand felt scoring early might be too much for Hickory Ridge to overcome. A 31-yard touchdown pass from Summerville to Jaylen Riley six plays into the game wasn’t enough to unsettle the Ragin’ Bulls, but three more Cougars scores in the second quarter made for an insurmountable 28-7 lead.
“We just never relinquished the lead,” Brand said. “We were able to get outside on toss (plays) with our sweeps. We just kind of put them to bed early and held on until the end.”
Vance (11-3), ranked No. 8 in the Observer Sweet 16, advanced to play Harding, a 36-7 third-round winner over East Forsyth, in the state semifinals next Friday.
The last time Vance and Harding met was in 2008 when the teams, neither of which finished with a winning record, played a meaningless non-conference regular season game that was won by the Cougars.
Williams and Clark benefited by Vance’s dominant ground game. Williams rushed for a game-high 194 yards and a score on 25 carries, and Clark added two touchdowns and 107 yards on 18 carries.
“I feel like their backers didn’t have enough speed to run with us,” said Williams, a senior. “So we wanted to keep it outside, cut it up sometimes when we felt like they were flowing.”
Hickory Ridge (11-3), ranked No. 13 in the Sweet 16, answered Vance’s early touchdown with one of its own on its first possession. Quarterback Dylan Ratliff, who passed for 189 yards by completing 17-of-30 attempts, scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns for a 7-7 tie.
Williams capped an 82-yard drive on a 4-yard run on the third play of the second quarter. Vance never relinquished the lead.
The dagger was a 50-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Marquise Blount. Vance pressured Ratliff for most of the game and Rob Leach forced the fumble when he knocked the ball from the quarterback’s hand.
Summerville completed 9 of 13 passes for 177 yards.
This story was originally published November 25, 2017 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Vance runs over Hickory Ridge, will meet Harding in 4A semifinal showdown."