FLORENCE — After playing two years of JV and eight-man football, the Florence Christian Eagles finally got to host a varsity game in front of a packed house at their new stadium Friday night.
The decision to go for a two-point conversion, though, might have cost them a win.
With the score 24-23 at the 6:16 mark of the fourth quarter, The Byrnes Schools held Florence Christian out of the end zone on the conversion attempt and held on for the one-point win.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT
Florence Christian Eagles play the Byrnes Academy Trojans at Florence Christian School on Friday, August 29, 2008. Click here to view photos from this game.
Florence Christian had pulled within 24-23 when quarterback Michael Wilson scored on a 25-yard run.
After Florence Christian coach Jimmy Miles opted to go for two, running back Zeb Freeman was stopped short of the goal line.
Following the game, Miles said he wanted to go for the win in front of the home crowd.
“I was a little surprised with the amount of time left on the clock that they decided to do that,” The Byrnes Schools coach Jared Amell said.
The Byrnes Schools capitalized on two Eagles’ turnovers, including a third-quarter fumble recovery that led to the game-winning touchdown run by Trojan quarterback Lee Schurlknight.
Florence Christian also had two scores called back by penalties.
“We just made too many mistakes,” Miles said. “You can’t make that many mistakes and beat any decent football team.”
Schurlknight completed 12 of 28 passes for 190 yards while being intercepted once.
Wilson rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles, while Freeman racked up 160 yards on the ground.
“I think we’ve established a rivalry here in Florence,” Amell said. “Our goal is to win the state championship, but we wanted to be the best (SCISA) team in Florence, and I think we are.”
The Byrnes Schools travels to Robert E. Lee on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Florence Christian hosts Calhoun Academy on Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
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