Cane Bay ended a three-game skid with a 23-13 win over Bishop England Friday night.
“Our play has been a lot better,” Cane Bay coach Jeff Cruce said. “One or two plays here or there and we could be 5-1 as opposed to 2-4.”
The big number is 1-0 in the Region 6-AA standings. The Cobras meet rival Ashley Ridge for the second time in three weeks Friday, this time as a region contest.
The Swamp Foxes scored in the final four minutes to pull out a 37-34 win in the first meeting.
“We thought we let one get away from us,” Cruce said. “We’ve got to correct the mistakes we made in the first one.”
A year ago, the same scenario unfolded, with Ashley Ridge taking the money game and Cane Bay winning the region contest.
“We’ve played them three times and the games have been decided by a total of 11 points,” Cruce said. “It’s a good rivalry.”
It’s early in the region slate but Cruce can see the big picture. “The winner is guaranteed fourth in the region (and a spot in the playoffs),” he said.
Ashley Ridge (4-2) is coming off a 35-8 win over Garrett Tech. Quarterback Cameron Cox and wide receiver Seamus McKinney have been a prolific connection this season. McKinney leads the Lowcountry in receiving and had eight catches for 72 yards in the last meeting, including the game-winning 7-yard scoring reception with 3:45 left.
Cox also ran for over 100 yards against the Cobras last time.
Running back James Bishop stood out for Cane Bay in that game, rushing for 151 yards and three touchdowns.
In the win over Bishop England last week, the Cobras rushed for 282 yards. Fritz Simmons had 117 yards and Anthony Enos added 104 on the ground. Bishop chipped in 48 yards and a pair of touchdown runs (6 and 5 yards), his seventh and eighth of the season.
The other touchdown was a 10-yard run by quarterback Brandon Hall in the first quarter. Zach Wimmer made a 37-yard field goal with 2:29 left in the game to ice it.
Simmons has 397 yards on the year and Bishop has 347. Enos has 268 ground yards.
Defensively, middle linebacker Cullen Seabrook led the way with 12 total tackles, followed by linebacker Keenen Reid with 11.
Defensive lineman Cody Rose and defensive back Kyle Spearman made eight stops apiece.
On the season, Spearman and Seabrook lead with 51 totatl stops each.
After hosting Ashley Ridge Friday, the Cobras take on Garrett.