MT. HERMON, N.C. — There’s never a bad time to have one of the most productive running backs in the nation on your roster. That’s even more so the case when you find yourself behind after giving up a late go-ahead touchdown.

Down four points to Southern Alamance with just over two minutes to play, Southern Nash turned to standout senior Tylik Mitchell and he responded with a 48-yard touchdown run after a direct snap to help keep the Firebirds unbeaten on the season with a 22-20 road victory Friday night.

Mitchell, who entered the week 10th nationally in scoring on the season, ran for 208 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns in a battle of traditionally winning run-based programs.

Southern Nash led 16-12 at the half and held onto that lead throughout an offensive struggle for most of the second half. But the Patriots (2-2) broke through that slog late in the game. Senior Justin Donley broke through on an 18-yard touchdown run with 2:11 to play, then teammate Drake Davis scored on a two-point conversion run to push the lead to 20-16.

Southern Nash, which was held to 16 yards of offense through the first 22 minutes of the second half, turned to Mitchell to salvage the road trip and their perfect record. He started the drive with a 10-yard run before just missing a long connection throwing to teammate Jonathan Hines. On the next play, he took that direct snap, bided his time waiting for a lane to develop behind the Firebird offensive line, then burst through the along the left sideline to put his team back on top, 22-20, with 1:02 to play.

Southern Alamance tried its best to get its air game — which the Patriots relied on more than normal — going again but missed on four pass attempts, giving the Firebirds the win.

Southern Alamance built a 12-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of touchdown passes. On the game’s first drive, the Patriots used a little trickery to get on the board. Senior back Justin Donley took a pitch from quarterback Nathan McNeal and then surprised all, including the Firebird defense, by winding up to pass just in time to find teammate Jacob Alexander streaking downfield for what became a 52-yard scoring play.

Donley and Alexander connected on the same play in the fourth quarter (for 38 yards) to set up the Patriots’ final score. Donley finished the night with a team-high 70 yards rushing and was 2-of-2 passing for 90 yards.

Just before the first quarter ended, McNeal rolled to his right on play action to find Jvan Hamby coming clear for a 15-yard TD pass. On both scoring drives, the Firebirds’ attempts to convert a two-point play failed.

The Firebirds got Mitchell going in the second quarter and added in timely runs from Luke Faulkner and Justin Hartsfield, to get on the board. Mitchell’s 13th touchdown of the season came via a 5-yard run and was followed by the first of two Hartsfield conversion runs of the quarter.

Southern Nash gambled on its next drive after stopping Southern Alamance on fourth-and-2 in Firebird territory, going for it on fourth down from their own 25-yard-line. The call went to Mitchell who stepped out of a couple of tackle attempts near the line of scrimmage and then rolled off a 72-yard run. Hartsfield scored on the next play, pushing Southern Nash ahead at the half.

SN 0-16-0-8—22

SA 12-0-0-8—20

Scoring Summary

SAL—J. Alexander 52 pass from J. Donley (run failed); SAL—J.Hamby 15 pass from N.McNeal (run failed); SNA—T.Mitchell 5 run (J.Hartsfield run); SNA—J.Hartsfield 5 run (J.Hartsfield run); SAL—T.Donley 18 run (D. Davis run); SNA—T.Mitchell 48 run (run failed)

Team Stats

Rushing: Southern Nash ; Southern Alamance 40-149

Passing: Southern Nash 0-3-0-0; Southern Alamance 8-18-169-1

Individual Stats

Rushing: SNA—T.Mitchell 19-208, L.Faulkner 5-21, J.Hartsfield 6-12, K.Battle 3-(-2); SAL—J.Donley 20-70, J.Alexander 12-47, D.Davis 5-20, N.McNeal 3-12.

Passing: SNA— K.Battle 0-2-0-0, T.Mitchell 0-1-0-0; SAL—J.Donley 2-2-90-0, N.McNeal 6-16-79-1.

Receiving: SAL—J.Alexander 2-90, D.Davis 2-30, J.Donley 1-6; R.Warren 2-28, J.Hamby 1-12,

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Source: highschoolot.com