Roger Lee

Quarterback Dalton Saunders led the Green Wave to a win over Fort Dorchester Friday.

Fort Dorchester took a 7-point lead into the half Friday night, but Summerville only needed 10 seconds to remedy that.

The first half of Friday night’s rivalry game belonged largely to Fort Dorchester. Unfortunately for the Patriots, in the second half Summerville quarterback Dalton Saunders and receiver Cody Reese connected for two monster touchdown passes and running back De’Angelo Henderson did his thing as Summerville rallied for a 28-21 victory.

Fort Dorchester (2-2) entered the break with a 14-7 lead courtesy of a pair of Ja’San Bradley touchdown runs. Then Summerville (3-1) quickly reminded the Patriots of their big-play ability, scoring on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Saunders to Reese only 10 seconds into the second half. Bryan Jordan added his second of four successful extra-point kicks on the night to tie the game.

“The defensive backs were cueing in on the fake so I was wide open,” said Reese, a senior wide receiver. “We picked up on what they were doing and after that, it was all over. I’ve never lost to Fort and that is a great feeling.”

Late in the quarter, Henderson seemed to be trapped in the backfield by three Fort defenders for a loss, but he reversed field and rushed 49 yards down the left sideline for Summerville’s go-ahead score.

The Wave's final score was set up by a defensive stand. Summerville's  Adam Blocker and John Higgins combined for a sack, which was followed by a sack by Parker Bridges. Defensive back Matthew White then picked off a Patriot pass on the final play of the third quarter.

The Wave added a 52-yard TD pass from Saunders to Reese for a 28-14 advantage with the PAT.

The Patriots got on the board again with 4:35 remaining in the fourth quarter with a 19-yard pass from Ethan Long to CJ Miller. The Fort caught a break on the kickoff when they tackled Henderson at the Summerville 1.

However, the Wave dug itself out of the hole with a 26-yard pass to Chris Williams and a 47-yard run by Henderson. The Wave was poised to run the clock out, but T.J. Smith picked off a pass in the final minute.

The Fort was not able to capitalize on the pick because Smith fumbled the ball on the return and Wave offensive lineman Trey Goettee recovered to give Summerville a first down with only 37 seconds remaining.

The Patriots out gained Summerville in the first half of the game, when it netted 185 yards on its first three possessions to Summerville’s 103 on its first three. Fort Dorchester controlled the ball in the half, possessing it for 18 minutes, 32 seconds while Summerville only had it for 5:28.

But Summerville made a defensive stop late in the half and drove 59 yards before TJ Freeman and Rashawn White ended the drive with a sack to preserve the Patriots’ 14-7 lead entering the break.

Saunders completed 9 of 15 pass attempts on the night for 251 yards and three TDs but did throw one interception. Reese made three receptions for 130 yards. Williams made five catches for 75 yards, including one for a 20-yard TD for Summerville’s first score. Henderson carried 17 times for 188 yards.

For the Patriots, Long completed 18 of 31 pass attempts for 156 yards and the TD, but threw two interceptions. Senior CJ Miller finished with seven catches for 70 yards. Bradley rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries and Sean Bright rushed for 59 on 13 carries.

The Wave defense was led by linebacker Adam Blocker and lineman John Higgins, who had 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks each.

Lineman Rashawn White led the Patriots’ defense with 8 tackles and defensive back Brady Herron had six.

FD – Ja’san Bradley 1 run (Ryan Grainger kick)

S – Chris Williams 20 pass from Dalton Saunders (Bryan Jordan kick)

FD – Bradley 3 run (Grainger kick)

S – Cody Reese 66 pass from Saunders (Jordan kick)

S – De’Angelo Henderson 49 run (Jordan kick)

S – Reese 52 pass from Saunders (Jordan kick)

FD – CJ Miller 19 pass from Ethan Long (Grainger Kick)

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.

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