The Rock Hill Bearcats kept their conference slate on track Friday night, securing a tight 23-16 victory over the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets in a game dominated by defense and timely scoring.
The Bearcats led early in the first quarter onward, but Fort Mill consistently rallied to keep the outcome in doubt until the final minutes.
After an early second-quarter field goal tied the game 3-3, Rock Hill pulled ahead 10-3. Fort Mill answered with a score before the break, narrowing the deficit to 10-6 heading into halftime.
The third quarter saw the intensity ramp up. Rock Hill quickly extended their lead to 16-6. However, the Yellow Jackets refused to back down, executing a scoring drive that cut the Bearcats’ advantage to a single possession at 16-13. Rock Hill responded immediately to the threat, scoring a crucial touchdown and adding the extra point to push the margin back to 23-13 late in the third quarter.
Fort Mill managed one final rally early in the fourth quarter, kicking a field goal to make it 23-16 with approximately 11 minutes remaining. The Bearcats’ defense stiffened in the final minutes, preventing the Yellow Jackets from finding the tying touchdown and securing the seven-point victory.
Fort Mill is at Northwestern next Friday.
