TR, Blue Ridge Earn SC AAA Football Playoff Spots

Travelers Rest and Blue Ridge battled each other last Friday and the two rivals scored a combined total of 97 points. Blue Ridge took the win 49-48 in overtime and secured third place in Region 3 AAA with Travelers Rest finishing fourth in the five team region. Both teams earned berths in this Friday's first round games in the SC AAA playoffs. Travelers Rest will be on the road to attempt to end Clinton High School's 10-0 season and if the Devildogs play Clinton as tough as they played Blue Ridge an upset could be in the works. Blue Ridge travels to Chester.

TR spotted Blue Ridge a 21-0 lead in the first quarter last Friday but the Devildogs came back strong and the two rivals pounded each other through the remaining quarters. TR held a 42-35 advantage with 11:17 left in regulation after Caleb Mills hit Christian Nielsen for a twenty four yard touchdown pass play. But Blue Ridge refused to roll over and sent the game to overtime when Bryson Watts stomped his way for a 15 yard touchdown which tied the game at 42-42 only three minutes later.

In overtime Watts scored on a five yard run to give the Fighting Tigers a 49-42 lead. Travelers Rest answered with a 3 yard touchdown run to make it a 49-48 score. Rather than go for the sure tie and force another overtime TR went for the win by way of a two yard 2 point conversion attempt. The gamble failed and allowed Blue Ridge to steal the victory.

Game stats revealed TR relied on its great passing ability while Blue Ridge ran the football during most of its plays. TR had 462 yards of total offense while Blue Ridge had 447 total yards.

Caleb Mills led TR with 347 yards passing off of a 21 of 30 night which put SIX Devildog touchdowns on the scoreboard. TR held Blue Ridge to only -22 yards passing as the Tigers completed only 6 of 11 passes. Blue Ridge controlled the ground as the Tigers rushed for 469 yards off of 57 attempts. TR had 115 yards rushing off of 29 attempts.

FIRST ROUND GAMES - Upperstate AAA: Crescent at Powdersville; Blue Ridge at Chester; Southside at Daniel; Woodruff at Broome; Travelers Rest at Clinton; Walhalla at Belton Honea Path; Emerald at Chapman; Wren at Seneca. Uppersate AAAA: Aiken at Greenville, South Pointe at Greer; Riverside at Catawba Ridge; Easley at North Augusta; Midland Valley at Westside; Indian Land at Laurens.