Staff report
A.L. Brown started fast but couldn’t sustain momentum in a 23-14 loss to South Caldwell in Hudson on Friday.
Fourth-seeded South Caldwell (11-2) out-rushed the Wonders 328 yards to 67 in the second-round 4A playoff game.
The 12th-seeded Wonders (10-3) rushed for at least 200 yards in eight games this season but couldn’t do much on the ground against the Spartans.
With Jayln Cagle out with an injury and Sandon McCoy held to 60 rushing yards,QB Damon Johnson carried most of the offensive load for the Wonders with 193 passing yards.
Dominique Washington (four catches, 76 yards) and Brandon Dry (three catches, 69 yards) had solid receiving games.
The Wonders scored first, taking a 7-0 lead on Johnson’s 25-yard scoring pass to Sherrod Sutton and Nate Williams’ PAT.
But South Caldwell owned the second quarter with a long scoring drive (19 plays, 80 yards) and an 80-yard run by Cameron Wright.
The Wonders blocked South Caldwell’s first PAT attempt and a 2-point conversion failed after the second TD. South Caldwell took a 12-7 lead to halftime.
The Wonders opened the second half with a strong drive, and McCoy scored on a 12-yard run for a 14-12 lead.
But that was it for the Wonders offensively.
Tyler Goins broke an 82-yard run in the third quarter to set up a 6-yard TD burst by Wright, and South Caldwell tacked on a 2-point conversion to lead 20-14. The Wonders lost a fumble on a sack in the fourth quarter, and Will Benfield made a 23-yard insurance field goal for South Caldwell.
South Caldwell will play at Dudley next.
The Wonders won 10 games for the first time since 2012 and reached the second round for the first time since 2012.