By the Numbers

1 Marvin Ridge’s Carson Cross had one interception, which was his sixth pick in the last three games.

2 Marvin Ridge backup quarterback Jake Cameron rushed for two second-half touchdowns.

4 Marvin Ridge had four quarterback sacks in the game.

293 Weddington quarterback Whitner Litton passed for 293 yards in the game.

306 Marvin Ridge rushed for 306 yards in the game.

Backup quarterback Jake Cameron rushed for two touchdowns and the Marvin Ridge defense forced a fumble on a strip-sack with less than a minute remaining as the Mavericks defeated Weddington 27-24 in a wild Southern Carolina Conference game on Friday, Oct. 20.

Marvin Ridge (9-0 overall, 5-0 SCC) will take its undefeated record to Sun Valley on Friday, Oct. 27. Weddington (6-3, 3-2) travels to Monroe on Friday.

“That’s two games in a row that it has come down to the last possession,” said Marvin Ridge head coach Aubrey Carter. “The kids responded and made plays for us.”

Cameron gave Marvin Ridge a 20-17 lead with a 20-yard scoring run with 8 minutes, 54 seconds left in the game and his touchdown run from the four upped the Mavericks’ lead to 27-17 with 2:50 left.

But Weddington quickly got back in it when Warriors’ quarterback Whitner Litton hit James Shipley for a 10-yard touchdown that cut the Mavs’ lead to 27-24 with 1:24 left.

Marvin Ridge recovered the ensuing on-side kick but Weddington got the ball right back at midfield when Mavericks running back Caleb Deveaux fumbled on first down with 1:11 left.

But two plays later, Marvin Ridge defensive end Cole Hopkins stripped Litton and Zach Stone recovered for the Mavericks at their own 45 with 54 seconds left. Marvin Ridge then ran out the clock to remain perfect on the year.

Marvin Ridge trailed 17-13 early in the fourth quarter and the Mavericks were driving when starting quarterback Bryce McLain left the game with an injury after Weddington was called for roughing the passer penalty on the play.

Cameron entered with the Mavericks at the Weddington 34 and he picked up four yards on first down before Caleb Woodley rushed seven yards for a first down. Deveaux went for eight yards on a first-and-15 to put the ball at the 20 and Cameron then swept around the left side of the Warriors defense for a 20-yard touchdown run and a 20-17 lead.

Marvin Ridge’s Carson Cross gave the Mavericks the ball back with just under seven minutes left in the game when the junior recorded his sixth interception in the last three game.

Cameron kept the ensuing drive going when he hit Sean Brown for 24 yards on third-and-17 from the 11 to put the Mavericks at their own 35. Three plays later, Deveaux raced 51 yards to the Weddington nine and Cameron then capped the drive with his four-yard touchdown run with 2:50 left.

Cameron rushed four times for 33 yards and he was 2-of-2 passing for 22 yards and Carter said the team and the coaching staff has confidence in the juniors ability to run the offense.

“We have every bit of trust in Jake,” Carter said. “He can run the entire offense, run the entire playbook. We have a ton of confidence in Jake and the players didn’t blink when Jake had to come in and play.

“The third-down conversion (to Brown) was huge. He makes a heck of a throw in a tight window to keep that last drive alive.”

Weddington took a 10-0 lead late in the first half when Litton hit Will Shipley for a 35-yard touchdown. But Marvin Ridge got on the board with four seconds left before halftime when Jason Stricker kicked a 42-yard field goal.

Stricker kicked a 29-yard field goal on the Mavs’ first possession of the second half to make it a 10-6 game and Marvin Ridge took its first lead of the game when McLain hit Brown for a seven-yard touchdown for a 13-10 lead with 3:22 left in the third quarter.

But the lead didn’t last long as Litton hit Will Shipley for a 68-yard catch and run that put the Warriors up 17-13 with 55 seconds left in the third quarter. Litton was 19-of-31 passing for 293 yards and three touchdowns.

But Cameron stepped in at quarterback and the Mavericks offense didn’t miss a beat and the defense came up with key stops as Marvin Ridge stays atop the conference standings.

Deveaux rushed 14 times for 141 yards for Marvin Ridge while Woodley added 105 yards on 18 carries.

“Our offensive line did a good job of getting some push,” Carter said. “I thought our running backs were really patient, hitting holes and running downhill. I thought they played extremely well in the second half.”

Scoring Summary

Marvin Ridge 27, Weddington 24

Weddington 3 7 7 7 — 24

Marvin Ridge 0 3 10 14 — 27

First Quarter

WHS – Williams 26 FG, 7:45

Second Quarter

WHS – Will Shipley 35 pass from Litton (Williams kick), 2:01

MR – Stricker 42 FG, :04

Third Quarter

MR – Stricker 29 FG, 8:37

MR – Brown 7 pass from McLain (Lopez kick), 3:22

WHS – Will Shipley 68 pass from Litton (Williams kick), :55

Fourth Quarter

MR – Cameron 20 run (Lopez kick), 8:54

MR – Cameron 4 run (Lopez kick), 2:50

WHS – James Shipley 10 pass from Litton (Williams kick), 1:24