Easley sends Wren on the road for playoffs

PIEDMONT - In Chad Smith's eyes, a tough four-yard run is the epitome of offense.

That's what Easley does: grind the ball incessantly, relentlessly, constantly on the ground, driving opponents into submission.

So it's kind of funny, really, that the game-changing play here Friday night was actually supposed to be a pass.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Wren had erased two-thirds of Easley's 21-point lead, and threatened to take control of the teams' crucial Region 1-4A game.

Easley faced a third and 13 at its own 27, and Smith, the Green Wave's head coach, called a fullback pass for Andrew Gilstrap.

It gained 14 yards and extended Easley's drive, and moments later, Troy McGowens dropped the hammer, sprinting for a 56-yard touchdown that sealed the Green Wave's 35-21 win over Wren.

Easley improved to 10-1 (5-1), and will host a home playoff game next week. Wren fell to 8-3, 4-2, and will likely travel for its playoff opener.

Easley rushed 65 times for 344 yards and held the ball for 30:51.

Wren coach Jeff Tate wasn't concerned about taking a trip; he just wants to keep playing.

"We're in the playoffs," Tate said. "I don't care where we're playing. It don't matter if we're in Timbuktu. We're playing. I'm not concerned about where we play, we just want to play."

Easley consistently harassed Wren quarterback Caleb McClain, sacking him four times. McClain completed 15 of 27 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Easley held a 14-7 halftime lead following a first half dominated by the run — and a well-placed pass.

On fourth and goal at the Wren 2, Brandaun Addison bulled right for a touchdown, giving Easley a 7-0 lead with 1:55 left in the quarter.

Easley extended its lead with a little trickery. Facing a third and 5 at the Wren 42, Gilstrap took a throwback and uncorked for Bradley Morgan, who hauled it in for a stunning 42-yard score, giving the Green Wave a 14-0 lead with 10:50 left in the half.

Wren cut the deficit in half with a quick-strike, six-play, 45-yard drive. McClain connected with Brandon Coleman over the middle for a 15-yard score, pulling Wren within 14-7 with two minutes left in the half.

Easley extended the lead back to two scores on the first possession of the second half.

When Addison cashed in his second score of the night — a two-yard run — it capped off a 12-play, 84-yard drive, and Easley led 21-7 with 6:20 left in the quarter.

Moments later, the Green Wave applied the hammer. Defensive end Patrick Ledbetter made a leaping grab of a McClain screen, snatching it down from the air and rumbling 12 yards to the Wren 27.

Easley quickly cashed in the opportunity. Four plays later, C.J. Fuller hurdled a defender at the line of scrimmage and bounded 14 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 28-7 with 4:27 left in the quarter.

Wren showed off its quick-strike offense, moving 64 yards in five plays and 44 seconds early in the fourth quarter.

McClain passes to Coleman (21 yards) and Jackson (27) set up first and goal at the nine, and McClain and Coleman connected for the second time from nine yards out, cutting the Easley lead to 28-14 with 11:24 left.

The Green Wave was driving for the game-clinching score inside the Wren 20 when Wren defensive back Anthony Berendsen scooped up a bad snap, giving the ‘Canes life.

Two plays later, McClain connected with Jordan Caldwell for a 69-yard gain to the Wren 7, setting up Levi Bufford's five-yard run that cut the lead to 28-21.

Following Gilstrap's big run, McGowens applied the final blow. He finished with 126 yards and the score on 14 carries.