Myrtle Beach rebounds to beat Wilson despite injuries - Myrtle Beach Sun News

MYRTLE BEACH -- It's been a trying seven days for the Myrtle Beach football program.

A loss to Conway in the Victory Bell rivalry.

Tape from the game needing to be sent to the S.C. High School League for further evaluation.

And four key players out of the lineup with injuries.

Much like the past three years, region play turned out to be just what the Seahawks needed.

The Seahawks rebounded from the long week by beating Wilson 31-6 Friday night at Doug Shaw Stadium. It extended Myrtle Beach's streak to 15 victories against region foes.

Despite a sloppy first half, the Seahawks took control with a 17-point third quarter. The period included a 24-yard Kerry Chestnut fumble return for a touchdown with 4:29 left in the quarter.

It didn't matter that Wilson dominated every statistical category during the first half.

Myrtle Beach's Chocolate Wilson took the opening kickoff 88 yards to put the Seahawks up 7-0 just 19 seconds into the game. That's about all the Seahawks did early. Prior to a 1 hour, 25-minute weather delay midway through the second quarter, Myrtle Beach (5-1, 1-0 Region VIII-AAA) had run just six offensive plays (to Wilson's 26) and gained just one first down.

The Seahawks led nonetheless, courtesy of two Tigers' turnovers, one of which came inside Myrtle Beach's 10-yard line.

The Tigers (3-3, 0-1) were without regular starting quarterback Raekwon McCall, who reportedly suffered a head injury in last week's game. Wilson instead went with senior Brandon King.

He kept the chains moving early via the running game, and he and junior tailback Devin Borden combined for to top 100 yards rushing in the first half, and King recorded Wilson's only points of the game when he took a quarterback sneak into the end zone with 10 seconds left in the second quarter. The Tigers missed the extra point, though, and the Seahawks went into the break up by one.

But it didn't last.

The Seahawks took control in the second half, dispelling myths that it was susceptible in region play. Friday night's result happened despite all those injuries.

Receivers Jaquan Wilson (left ankle) and Tyrone Sutton, tailback Vincent Hoover and linebacker Octavius Thomas (back spasms) were all out with injuries. Defensive lineman Trey Vivian then exited the game in the second quarter with what appeared to be leg injury.