AUGUSTA, GA – Just hold on to the ball and plow forward.

As the carries – and first downs – mounted, the 3:51 remaining on the clock turned to zero. Strom Thurmond survived a spirited late Laney rally to win on the road, 24-16, Thursday night, running down the clock to halt the furious comeback.

After the Laney offense gained huge chunk of yards late on its way to scores on consecutive possessions, the Rebels needed a drive.

With the ball at their 25, the Rebels kept on running, as Raleigh Yeldell, Darius Hammond and Malcolm Watkins kept possession and kept earning first downs onto Laney’s side of the field.

“We just had to execute as an offense,” said Hammond, who had a crucial 12-yard gain on the final possession. “The offensive line blocked and I cut off the blocks.”

The Rebels (2-0) had been up 24-0 at the half and even in the fourth quarter, as they took advantage of short fields in the first half, scoring on all three first-half drives that started in Wildcats territory.

As Laney committed penalties – one time doing it twice in a row to go back to its 10 – or had short punts or a turnover, Strom Thurmond capitalized.

The visitors scored on drives from 33, 44, and 42 yards out as the ground game did most of the offensive lifting. Though quiet for most of the second half, the rush­ing attack also came through late, finishing with 280 yards. Quarterback Yeldell led with 125 yards while running backs Hammond and Watkins added 101 and 54, respectively.

With the big early edge, it looked like the Rebels would ease to a win, but Strom Thurmond came up empty the last two quarters.

After a first half dominated by dropped passes and penalties, the Wildcats finally clicked in the fourth quarter. A facemask penalty on a third-down sack gave Laney life, and the Wildcats broke through as George Myers got 45 of his 79 rushing yards on a touchdown run.

Tharius Pryor then made a pick to give Laney the ball again, and the second score suddenly came when Leo Myers found Demarcus Nunnally for 24 yards.

Myers threw for almost 100 yards in the frantic final period, closing with 165 on the game. Following their second two-point conversion, the Wildcats needed a stop.

But the sure-handed Rebels backfield didn’t give Laney another shot, shutting the door with a physical drive.

“These guys haven’t faced a lot of adversity,” Strom Thurmond coach Lee Sawyer said. “Maybe this will open their eyes a little bit.”

STROM THURMOND 24, LANEY 16

PLAY OF THE GAME: Laney’s George Myers’ 45-yard run in the fourth gave the Wildcats new life and their first points.

STAR OF THE GAME: Needing yards late, Strom Thurmond’s Raleigh Yeldell churned forward as he finished with 125 rushing yards.

WHY STROM THURMOND: The Rebels got ahead early and made a long drive late.

WHY LANEY LOST: The Wildcats took too long to get going on both sides of the ball.

NEXT: Strom Thurmond at Saluda, 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2; Laney at Josey, 5 p.m. on Sept. 3.