How Benedictine dominated in all phases to beat Troup and advance to Class 4A title game

Benedictine coach Danny Britt took a moment to appreciate what his football team accomplished Friday night after the host Cadets had perhaps their best performance of the season in a 42-21 state semifinal win over Troup at Memorial Stadium.

Before Britt took over the team in 2011, the program had reached the state semifinals twice in school history in 1957 and 1978. Now the defending state GHSA Class 4A state champions will be playing for their fourth state crown in Britt's 12 years at the helm.

BC (12-2), which entered the playoffs ranked No. 4 among Class 4A teams by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will face No. 1 Cedartown, which beat North Oconee 28-20, in the title game set for 3:30 p.m. Friday at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta.

The Cadets advanced by dominating in all phases of the game. The defense shut down Troup, and the offense was clicking as BC took a 35-0 lead into halftime. The Tigers scored 14 points in the fourth quarter against BC's second-team defense.

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"You guys came out with the eye of the tiger and played a great game tonight," Britt told his squad after the game. "You were ready and took care of business. There had only been two BC teams that reached the state semis in the first 105 years. Now we've got a chance to win back-to-back championships. So don't take this for granted — we've got another championship to go win next week."

BC wasted no time getting to work as the Cadets went 66 yards in six plays on their opening drive, capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Luke Kromenhoek to Za'Quan Bryan. Kromenhoek's 35-yard pass to Bryce Baker was the key play in the drive.

After forcing a turnover on downs, BC went 84 yards in six plays as Kromenhoek connected with RaSean Matthews for a 22-yard score.

Na'Seir Samuel had a 14-yard scoring run at the end of the first quarter, and Houston Jackson took one around right end for a 9-yard scoring run in the second quarter. After BC blocked a punt, Kromenhoek fired a laser over the middle that Bryan reeled in for a 25-yard score that put BC up 35-0 with 1:58 left in the half.

Three coaches from Minnesota, including head coach P.J. Fleck, were on hand to watch Bryan, the Cadet senior committed to the Gophers. Florida State quarterback coach Tony Tokarz was on the sideline watching Kromenhoek, a Seminole commit, along with Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.

The Cadet duo didn't disappoint. Kromenhoek completed 9 of 15 passes for 215 yards with three touchdowns. Bryan had five catches for 76 yards and the two scores, while adding 18 yards rushing on two carries, and helping lead the defensive effort at safety.

"We have the experience of winning it all last year, and we came in with the mentality that we were going to get the job done and get back to Atlanta with a win tonight," Kromenhoek said. "RaSean (Matthews), Za'Quan (Bryan) and Houston (Jackson) came up with some big plays. Now we're back in the championship game, and we're determined to go get it done next week."

The Cadets' defense was focused on stopping Troup's junior quarterback Taeo Todd, who entered the game with 1,959 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns to go along with 26 touchdown passes and 2,216 yards through the air.

BC held Todd, who has an offer from Georgia Tech, to 40 yards rushing on 19 carries. He was 17-of-25 passing for 243 yards and three scores, but 195 of those yards, and all three touchdowns, came in the second half when the game had already been decided.

"We were more worried about his running ability," said Cadets linebacker Wilkes Albert, a junio. "We were focused on trying to contain him. We didn't want to let him get out in space. We kept eyes on him and tried to minimized his big-play ability. Our defense did a great job, like we've done all year. We have 11 guys who fly to the ball on every play."

Samuel led BC with 55 yards rushing and the score on 11 carries. The Cadets got big-time performances from Jackson — a junior who ran for 38 yards and a score on six carries — and Matthews, who had two catches for 71 yards and a score and a 30-yard touchdown run.

BC needed them to step up under pressure as they played without two of their stars. Baker went down in the first quarter with an ankle injury and was in a boot on crutches watching from the sideline after that. Britt said trainers are hoping it's a bone bruise and not a high ankle sprain, which might allow him to return for the title game.

Britt praised the play of senior Keiran Glover, who came in at linebacker when Baker went down and played an excellent game.

"Keiran rotates in there at linebacker and plays so much we consider him a starter," Britt said. "That experience paid off tonight and he had a tremendous game for us defensively

The Cadets were without sophomore Thomas Blackshear, who has 41 catches for 641 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, for the second game in a row. Britt said Blackshear was out due to disciplinary action from the school, but he hopes the standout can return for the title game.

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Benedictine beats Troup to advance to Class 4A state football championship