SIMPSONVILLE — It might not have been the end to 2015’s schedule the Easley Green Wave (5-5, 2-4) had in mind, but following a 41-7 road loss to Hillcrest (8-2, 4-2), Easley finishes the season at .500.
From the opening of the game Halloween weekend, it was a nightmare for the Green Wave as the Rams would jump out to a lead and never look back, continually pounding Easley on both sides of the ball. Once Hillcrest began to gain momentum, Easley would continually shoot themselves in the foot.
Quintavis Ballenger would open the scoring for Hillcrest, scoring on a 4-yard run, taking a 6-0 lead. Easley would fail to move the ball on offense and the Rams would strike again as QB Collin Sneed hit Quentin Martin for a 30-yard TD pass and a 12-0 advantage. Easley would stumble again and be forced to punt following a three and out.
And that’s when the nightmares began.
Brian Spurgeon fielded the Easley punt at his 22-yard line and broke away from several tacklers before racing down the sideline for a 78-yard TD.
Hillcrest would kick off following the punt return for a TD and make a spectacular special teams play, leaving Easley at its own 12. The Green Wave would put the ball on the ground and have Hillcrest LB Isaiah Sayegh scoop and score from the 3, extending the Rams’ lead.
On the following possession Easley would be forced to punt once more only to have it partially blocked and sail out of bounds at the Easley 13.
Sneed connected with Spurgeon on the ensuing drive for a 9-yard TD pass and a 41-0 halftime lead. Dalton Black did connect with Carter Wiles for a 26-yard TD on the opening drive of the third quarter.