AIRPORT 26, S. THURMOND 19

PLAY OF THE GAME: On fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line in overtime, and with Strom Thurmond needing to get into the end zone to keep the game alive, Rebels quarterback Aramis Hillary's pass into the corner of the end zone to standout receiver Pooh Williams was batted down by Airport defensive back Akheem Sackel. Williams had burned the smaller Sackel on a number of occasions during the game, but Sackel's big play sealed the victory - and likely the Region 4-AAA title - for the Eagles of West Columbia

WHY AIRPORT WON: The offensive line of the Eagles never let up the entire game. Eventually, later in the game, they began to wear down the undersized Strom Thurmond defenders. Airport opted to go for a first down on fourth down during three drives and scored touchdowns on all three of them. The Airport offensive hogs opened up gaping holes and had a pair of players rush for more than 100 yards.

WHY STROM THURMOND LOST: An inability to keep its defense off the field. The Rebels ended up being the tough-luck losers in a game played between equally matched teams. Strom Thurmond is still dealing with the injury bug (two defensive starters were out along with starting tailback Oquendo Curry), but that's been the scenario all season so the team makes no excuses for it. Both teams missed a field goal, extra points (Airport missed two) and had a pair of turnovers (a fumble and interception) each.

STAR OF THE GAME: Airport tailback Brandon Larry rushed for 180 yards on 34 carries and scored two touchdowns. Whenever the Eagles needed a big run he had the ball. And when he didn't have it, quarterback W.T. Murden did, carrying the ball 17 times for 106 yards and converting several huge plays of his own.

QUOTABLE: "We just never made a stop there in the second half. Really, we struggled stopping them in the first half. We picked the ball and got a fumble down there deep and that's the only way we stopped them. You have to do better on third down. That's where we got killed. We have to pull for other people now and that's not what you want to do. If we win out we can still get a home playoff game and that's the way we're going to have to approach it." - Strom Thurmond Head Coach Lee Sawyer

RECORDS: Strom Thurmond (4-4), Airport (7-1)

WHAT'S NEXT: Strom Thurmond travels to Swansea next week while Airport plays host to Chapin.