FAYETTEVILLE — Syheam McQueen could barely walk after Scotland defeated Pine Forest 27-21 in the third round of the state playoffs on Friday night.
After carrying the ball 28 times for 229 yards and three touchdowns, Scotland’s star running back was hurting. McQueen had limped off of the field in the game’s final minutes and spent the remainder of the contest watching from the trainer’s table.
He watched as the Scots punted the ball away with 1:41 left in the game. And he watched as Pine Forest quarterback Richard McEachern Jr. kept the ball on fourth-and-6 inside Scotland territory, only to be stopped inches away from a first down with 22 seconds left in the game.
McQueen anxiously waited with his team on the sideline as quarterback Tyler Barfield took a knee to lock in Scotland’s sixth trip to the Eastern Regional Finals in the last eight years.
No. 10 Scotland moved on to face a familiar foe in No. 5 Seventy-First next week. Seventy-First defeated Scotland 21-6 earlier this season in Sandhills Athletic Conference Action.
McQueen, who was icing one of his knees after Friday’s game, said he’ll be ready to go again.
“I know I’ll bounce back from this little injury,” McQueen said. “It won’t keep me down.”
McQueen’s night got off to an early start. He rushed for a 58-yard touchdown on the game’s first drive to give Scotland a 7-0 lead.
“We had to set the tone early,” McQueen said. “That’s how I felt. I came out here a little nervous. It’s been a while since I’ve felt nervous.”
After McQueen calmed his nerves with the early run, Pine Forest’s Kyle Dickerson missed a 25-yard field goal attempt. The Trojans would eventually even the score before the end of the first quarter on a 21-yard touchdown run by McEachern.
Scotland punted early in the second quarter, and a facemask penalty on the Scots helped push the Trojans deeper into their opponents’ territory. A 6-yard touchdown rush by D.J. Jones gave Pine Forest a 14-7 lead with just over seven minutes left in the first half.
Pine Forest’s Le’Vonte McLean intercepted a pass by Scotland’s Mandrell Johnson on the next drive, but the Trojans ended up turning the ball over on downs. Tyler Barfield then entered the game at quarterback for Scotland.
Barfield threw a 30-yard pass to McQueen to set the Scots up at Pine Forest’s 20-yard line with five seconds left in the first half. Barfield then connected with receiver Trey Chavis on a 20-yard touchdown pass as time expired.
The Trojans punted on the first drive of the second half. Facing a fourth-and-11 on the Trojans’ 19-yard line, Barfield completed a short pass to Chavis for a first down. That helped set up McQueen for a 6-yard touchdown run.
After another punt by the Trojans, McQueen scored on a second 6-yard run. After Scotland’s extra point attempt was blocked, the Scots held a 27-14 lead.
Freshman Ladarrius McNeill intercepted a pass by McEachern later in the third quarter, but the Trojans were able to force the Scots to punt on the next drive.
Pine Forest began the fourth quarter with a turnover on downs, but Scotland running back Joseph McKoy lost a fumble on the Trojans’ 15-yard line shortly after.
Jones then caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from McEachern to make the score 27-21 with 3:15 left in the game.
That led to Scotland’s punt with 1:41 on the clock.
Knowing that a score by the Trojans could decide the game, the Scots were able to force a fourth down. That’s when McEachen ran the ball out of bounds while reaching for a first down near the 20-yard line. After the spot of the ball was measured by the chain crew, it was determined that McEachern did not get enough yardage to keep the drive going.
“We keep finding a way to win,” Scotland head coach Richard Bailey said. “It was a rough game, and we didn’t have a lot of calls go our way. We did just enough. Smiley (McQueen) ran the ball hard. The offensive line had moments, but they were stacking the line.”
Barfield finished 3-for-3 for 61 yards and a touchdown.
For Pine Forest, Jones rushed for 112 yards on 19 carries. McEachern finished 9-for-23 through the air while also rushing for 77 yards.
