By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

VINCENT — It was a wild couple of nights for the Vincent Yellow Jackets, who battled the elements, the Francis Marion Rams and even themselves on their way to a 26-24 win on Oct. 11.

The Jackets played host to the Rams on Oct. 10, opening up a 26-22 lead with five minutes left in the third quarter.

Then Mother Nature struck.

Lightning and heavy rains forced officials to suspend play, moving the game back to Oct. 11 to finish.

“In 18 years of coaching, I have never had a (game) suspended,” Vincent head coach Jason Hill said on Oct. 10. “(Especially) with these implications.”
Those implications being that it was a must-win game for the Rams, as Francis Marion ran the risk of being eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. For Vincent, a win meant clinching a spot in the postseason.

When play resumed at 6 p.m. on Oct. 11, the action heated up. Vincent surrendered a safety on a botched punt, cutting their lead to two. The Rams marched all the way to the four yard line with 12 seconds remaining. The Rams then fumbled going in, and Michael Norwood pounced on the loose ball at the one to seal the win for the Yellow Jackets.

Jace Green led scoring for the Jackets, hauling in two touchdown passes while blocking a punt on special teams. Tavius Smith scored the opening touchdown of the game on a rush, and Ar’Shon Willis tossed the two touchdown passes to Green, in addition to an 8-yard rushing touchdown and three interceptions on defense.

The playoff bound Jackets move on to face Pickens County on the road on Oct. 17.