Mavs Bend But Don't Break, Beat Hillcrest 34-24

If Friday night is any indicator, fans of Mauldin football will be in for a 2011 season that is nothing if not exciting.

In their win over rival Hillcrest, 34-24, the Mavericks committed numerous penalties and had multiple turnovers.

However, Coach Doug Shaw’s squad also showed resiliency in fending off a challenge from a game Hillcrest team in the middle two quarters and made one big play after another on both sides of the ball and on special teams.

“We wobbled a little bit at times, but we never fell over,” a relieved Shaw said after the game.

In the end, Mauldin’s many offensive threats were just too much for the Rams to handle.

Returning veterans Reggie Lomax, A.J. Brown and Jordan Hallums led the way, with Lomax and Brown scoring two touchdowns each. But it was sophomore quarterback Dre Massey who was the first to earn Shaw’s praise in a postgame interview.

“He kept his poise (after throwing two early interceptions) and made the good decisions when he needed to,” Shaw said.

Hillcrest took their first and only lead of the game after picking off Massey and converting it to a field goal in the first quarter.

Mauldin proceeded to score the next 17 points. The first score came after the Hillcrest field goal, when Mauldin marched down the field and reached paydirt on a pretty Massey-to-Brown touchdown pass. After stuffing the Rams, Masssey led another drive that resulted in an Evan Rodgers field goal. Massey and Brown then connected one more time for a score and the Mavericks looked to be in control 17-3.

But Hillcrest ran back the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and suddenly it was a game again, 17-10. Mauldin fumbled the kickoff and Hillcrest had the ball deep in Mauldin territory with a chance to tie. But cornerback Xavier Smith saved the day with an interception in the end zone.

The Rams took the second half kickoff and methodically marched down the field to tie the game at 17. The celebration on the Hillcrest sideline didn’t last for long. Lomax took the ensuing kickoff and dashed 90-plus yards for a touchdown.

In a bold move meant to put some space between the two teams, Shaw then ordered an onside kick, which the Mavericks recovered. However, Massey was intercepted on the first play from scrimmage. Hillcrest proceeded to convert the turnover to a score and the game was tied again, this time at 24.

After Mauldin couldn’t advance on its next possession, Hillcrest took over with their eyes on taking the lead. But a Beau Craft interception led to a second Evan Rogers field goal and Mauldin had the lead again. Rogers’ subsequent kickoff pinned the Rams deep and the Mavericks were looking for more after a short punt from Hillcrest.

Without much resistance, Mauldin was on the march again and in short order, Lomax ran it in from a yard out and the Mavericks had a 34-24 lead.

Hillcrest responded with yet another long drive, this one ended when they fumbled the ball away inside the Mauldin 20. Two more drives were thwarted by interceptions from Teddy Thompson in the final quarter.

“We were looking around and waiting for the guy next to us to do something and that happens with a young team,” Shaw said. “But the mistakes we made were correctable and we’ll work on those this week in practice.”

Next week Mauldin travels to Woodmont. Friday night kickoff is 7:30.