Ardrey Kell 26, Providence 17

When Providence quarterback Drake DeIuliis found teammate Patrick Bloomingburg wide open for a 36-yard touchdown pass to put his team up 17-9 early in the third quarter, it seemed the Panthers had all the momentum.

Providence’s defense even forced Ardrey Kell to punt on its ensuing possession.

But Ardrey Kell coach Joe Evans said it was then that his team decided it wasn’t going to lose.

The Knights (5-3, 3-1) responded, scoring 17 points to turn a eight point-deficit into a 26-17 SoMeck 8 conference victory over Providence (4-4, 3-1).

Ardrey Kell senior quarterback Bryce Maginley was the driving force in his team’s comeback.

Maginely first helped his team steal back momentum late in third quarter when he scored on a 9-yard touchdown run and then found Cameron Lee Tully on a pass for the two-point conversion to tie the score at 17.

After the teams traded punts, Maginley went back to work midway through the fourth quarter, when he found a streaking Kirk Augustus on a 65-yard touchdown pass to put his team up 23-17 with 7:16 left.

Maginley and company also put the game away, setting up Jonathan McDaid’s 23-yard field goal with 3:28 left.

Maginley did a little of everything , going 8-for-15 passing for 192 yards and a touchdown pass, and rushing for 87 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.

He also spent most of the second half at safety for the defense.

Providence senior Jack King led his team rushing for 48 yards on 12 carries. He also filled in as the wildcat quarterback for much of the second half, and played his usual linebacker position for the entire game.

Quote: “Bryce Maginley is the best player in the city. He’ll play offense, defense, he’ll play special teams if you ask him to. He’s a leader and a captain, and our guys look up to him and love him. As a coach, I wish I had 100 more Bryce Maginleys on the field.” –Ardrey Kell coach Joe Evans, on his starting quarterback.

Records: Ardrey Kell is 5-3 overall, 3-1 in the SoMeck 8 conference; Providence is 4-4, 3-1 in the SoMeck 8 .

Worth mentioning: Ardrey Kell still controls its destiny in the SoMeck conference with three weeks to go with road trips to Berry and South Mecklenburg sandwich around a home game with Charlotte Catholic. ...The Ardrey Kell senior class recorded its first win over Providence, which was a big motivation entering the game, Evans said. ... Providence kicker Austin Kent made a 53-yard field goal in the second quarter with ease and was just short on a 54-yard field goal try in the first quarter.

What’s Next: Ardrey is at Berry in SoMeck8 conference battle next Friday night. Providence will host Harding in league play on Friday.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 10:50 PM with the headline "Ardrey Kell 26, Providence 17."