
James Island rode the bruising running of Martel Johnson to a 35-25 victory over West Ashley in the season finale for both teams at Wildcat Stadium on Friday night.
Johnson finished with 212 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Trojans finished 3-8.
The Wildcats (3-8) lost their final eight games of the season.
James Island senior quarterback Chris Wilkins, the Lowcountry's leader in passing yards, was 6-of-12 passing for 163 yards and one score.
"We just took what they gave us," Trojans coach John Patterson said. "And then once we got the lead, we just saddled up Martel and rode him to the end."
The Wildcats scored first as they went 76 yards in 9 plays, with quarterback K.J. Cohen scoring from 15 yards out. The Trojans answered quickly, as Johnson's 1-yard plunge capped an 80-yard drive in six plays.
Patrick Adkins' 31-yard field goal was the Wildcats' only other score of the half while the Trojans scored twice more for an 11-point halftime lead. Junior Bo Patterson returned an interception 76 yards for a score, and Johnson scored his second touchdown from 2 yards out to make it 21-10.
The Wildcats scored midway through the third quarter, as Cohen threw 15 yards to Rodney Scott from 15 yards to make it 21-16, and another Adkins field goal drew West Ashley to within 21-19.
The Trojans answered with a 77-yard drive of their own and scored on Wilkins' 1-yard quarterback sneak. The key play was a third-and-four from James Island's own 29, when Johnson ran 64 yards up in the middle to the West Ashley 7.
Another big play sealed the game for the Trojans. Wilkins hit a streaking Matt Porter, who made a great catch and took it in for a 68-yard TD for a 35-19 James Island lead.
Cohen hit Preston Bibler for a 4-yard score for the last Wildcat score.
For the Wildcats, Scott rushed for 116 yards on 14 carries, and Cohen had 83 yards on 20 carries. Cohen was 15-of-26 passing for 173 yards.
WA--K.J. Cohen 15 run (Patrick Adkins kick)
JI--Martel Johnson 1 run (Jeff Wilkins kick)
WA--Adkins 31 FG
JI--Bo Patterson 76 interception return (J. Wilkins kick)
JI--Johnson 2 run (J. Wilkins kick)
WA--Rodney Scott 15 pass from Cohen (pass failed)
WA--Adkins 26 FG
JI--Chris Wilkins 1 run (J. Wilkins kick)
JI--Matt Porter 62 pass from C. Wilkins (J. Wilkins kick)
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