Francis Scott Key has a young wrestling team that's been growing this season. Coach Bill Hyson has a lineup loaded with quickly developing and talented freshmen and sophomores. Last night, however, a more experienced South Carroll team gave Key a few tough lessons.

South Carroll turned the match around with a mild upset from Greg Eaton at 152 pounds, went on to win five straight bouts and took command in a 44-25 county victory at Key.

The Cavaliers gave Key (5-2 overall, 1-1 Carroll County) some big pointers on how to finish matches. The Eagles were leading or in command in at least four matches where they could only score decisions.

South Carroll (9-0, 4-0), however, scored five pins, a technical fall as well as a major decision and a forfeit.

"They exploited some of our inexperience," Hyson said. "We are young [and] we didn't do as well in catching the pins as [South Carroll] did."

Mike Willingham (12-2) started the five-match winning streak by pinning Chris St. Germain (145 pounds) in just 54 seconds to give the Cavaliers the lead for good, 17-13. Eaton then took to the mat against Gage Rindt, who had lost just once this season. Rindt had a 4-2 lead after one period, but Eaton put him on his back for a 5-4 lead after two.

Rindt took a 7-4 lead on a reversal with 31 seconds remaining in the third period. Rindt fought back one final time, reversing Eaton with 11 seconds left and nearly putting the Cavalier on his back right after that.

But Eaton (8-4) held him off for the 7-6 victory over Rindt (16-2). The win gave the Cavaliers a 20-13 lead - and was even bigger because Key forfeited the following match at 160.

"I gave it everything I had, 100 percent," Eaton said. "I got really nervous [at the end], but I just kept my cool."

Said South Carroll coach Dennis Frazier: "We're getting somebody stepping up like he did tonight and everyone else follows. We held up and we kept going."

Drew Winfield (160, 10-0) then took the forfeit and gave the Cavaliers a 26-13 lead. Tim Ferguson (171, 8-2) had to work hard in the first two periods against a stubborn Tony Morris but wore him down for a pin.

South Carroll's Mike Kincaid followed with a strong performance at 189 for the team's fifth straight win. Kincaid took a 7-0 lead over Josh Smith before pinning him at 3:50. That gave the Cavaliers a 38-13 lead and clinched the victory.

Key made it closer with pins from Tom Rush (215, 12-4, 10 pins) and heavyweight Ralph Stambaugh (10-2, eight pins).