By Thomas Grant Jr.
It was a “win-win” Saturday for the Blythewood football team.
The Bengals won the Justin Bethel “7-on-7” Gridiron Classic on its home field. Named after the Blythewood graduate who’s played 12 seasons in the NFL, the single-day tournament featured 10 schools from the Midlands and CSRA region.
Blythewood had two teams competing with the varsity squad claiming the $4,000 first-place prize. It played in six games, defeating Lower Richland 26-9 in the semifinal and edging A.C. Flora 18-16 in the final.
The Bengals’ second team consisted of junior varsity and first-year varsity players. Overall, head coach James Martin said the tournament gave quality playing time to many of his potential new starters, including rising junior quarterback Johnny Collins.
“It’s not always trying to hit the big touchdowns that a lot of people just love to see,” he said. “It’s just working our gameplan, what we’re going to do in the season and just work our way down the field.”
A.C. Flora earned $1,000 for the runner-up finish. Other participating teams included C.A. Johnson, Fairfield Central, Wade Hampton, North Augusta, Bethune-Bowman, Midland Valley, and Mauldin.
