Pageland Central romps past Abbeville

PAGELAND - Abbeville’s 10-game winning streak came to a screeching halt on Friday in Pageland as the host Pageland Central Eagles came on strong in the second half to take a 34-7 victory and claim the AA Upper State title.

Abbeville (12-2) rushed for 253 yards on the night, getting 88 from quarterback Jimmy Thackson, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Eagles (12-2) from winning their ninth consecutive contest.

The Panthers also passed for 77 yards, but a fumble in the end zone in the fourth quarter — recovered by Central for the score — helped put the finishing touches on this one.

Big plays paved the way for the Eagles all night.

Early in the game with a third-and-9 situation from his own 9, Central quarterback Jowan Henderson hooked up with Jiwan Funderburk for a 44-yard pass play that set up a score.

And with Abbeville on the march, defensive star Keagen Funderburk picked off a pass to thwart the drive and shift momentum back in favor of the home team.

The Panthers won the first down battle 15-14, and the Eagles were limited to 223 yards in total offense, with 172 coming on the ground.

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