Sports briefs for October 27th-November 2nd

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

May River gets first win of season

The May River football program registered its first-ever win on Oct. 21, outlasting visiting Battery Creek 6-2

Battery Creek was playing without three of its players – juniors Jelani Boyd, John DeLoach and Ahman Smalls – who were injured in a car wreck.

Each high school football team took the field for the first time in 21 days, following Hurricane Matthew. With the win, May River improved to 1-7 overall and 1-2 in Region 8-3A. Battery Creek dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-2 in the region with the loss.

May River finished with 175 yards of total offense in the victory.

Neither team scored in the first half. Battery Creek recorded a safety in the third quarter.

The Dolphins carried a 2-0 lead into the fourth period. But the Sharks wouldn’t be denied.

Dion Lollis scored the game’s lone touchdown for May River on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Sharks’ scoring drive covered 76 yards in nine plays.

During the scoring drive, May River freshman quarterback Joseph Tapscott completed 5-of-5 passes. Tapscott finished 11-of-18 passing.

Battery Creek’s only points came when a host a tacklers wrapped up Lollis in the end zone for a safety.

The Dolphins amassed 234 yards of total offense in the loss.

May River is scheduled to visit Wade Hampton on Friday, Oct. 28. Battery Creek has this week off. The Dolphins are slated to visit Bluffton on Nov. 4.

Hilton Head Island handles R.B. Stall, 38-7

Hilton Head Island claimed its fifth win in the 2016 high school football season in convincing fashion, beating visiting R.B. Stall 38-7 in a Region 8-4A game on Oct. 21.

Determined Hilton Head Island took the field for “Seahawk Strong Night” and didn’t disappoint its many fans in attendance for the emotional matchup.

With the win, Hilton Head Island improved to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in Region 8-4A. R.B. Stall stumbled to 3-5 overall and 0-3 in the region with the loss.

The Seahawks scored first and never trailed, limiting R.B. Stall throughout
the contest.

Hilton Head Island moved ahead early and never faltered. Tyler Hamilton returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give homestanding Hilton Head Island an early lead.

The Seahawks fared well in each quarter, winning following a lengthy layoff after Hurricane Matthew earlier in the month.

Aiding the Hilton Head Island attack, quarterback Collin Kaiser passed for
two touchdowns.

Sterling White provided another touchdown for Hilton Head Island when he blocked a punt and returned it 24 yards to the end zone.

In other scoring for Hilton Head Island, P.J. Franklin reached the end zone on an 8-yard run and Jonathan Orr drilled a 27-yard field goal.

Hilton Head Island is slated to visit Beaufort High on Friday, Oct. 28. Kickoff for the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort High football game is set for 7:30 p.m.

HHCA limited in loss to Bethesda Academy

Host Bethesda Academy prevented Hilton Head Christian Academy from returning to the win column on the gridiron when the two high school football teams met in a regular season matchup late last week.

Bethesda Academy beat visiting Hilton Head Christian Academy 24-6 on Oct. 21.

The loss dashed Hilton Head Christian Academy’s hopes of qualifying for the SCISA Class 2A State Playoffs.

With the loss, Hilton Head Christian Academy dropped to 1-6. Bethesda Academy improved to 3-5 with the win.

Leading Hilton Bethesda Academy to the victory, Trevon Pray rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown and added another TD on an interception return.

Bethesda Academy quarterback Nate Lattimore provided a dual-threat for the Blazers in the victory. Lattimore passed for 76 yards and one touchdown.

The Bethesda Academy signal-caller rushed for 48 yards and one touchdown in the winning effort.

Zach Doe scored Hilton Head Christian’s lone touchdown in the loss. Doe rushed for 52 yards for the Eagles in the setback.

Linebacker Chandler Edmonds paced Hilton Head Christian Academy defensively, recording 10 tackles.

Following Edmonds in the Hilton Head Christian defensive category, Craig Oliver posted seven tackles.

Contributing defensively in the short effort, Max Lowrey added six tackles for the Eagles.

Hilton Head Christian Academy is scheduled to visit Hilton Head Prep on Friday, Oct. 28.

John Paul II drops game to Colleton Prep Academy

Visiting John Paul II fared well early but couldn’t keep up with Colleton Prep Academy in a late-season high school football game. Host Colleton Prep Academy pulled away to beat John Paul II 56-21 on Oct. 21.

With the loss, John Paul II slipped to 0-9. Colleton Prep Academy improved to 8-1 with the win.

Rashad Battiste accounted for two of John Paul II’s three touchdowns in the loss, scoring from each side of the football in the late-season gridiron clash.

Battiste returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter.

Returning to the end zone, Battiste delivered another touchdown for the Golden Warriors in the third quarter.

Quarterback Nyleem Wright had a hand in on John Paul II’s other touchdown, completing a 50-yard scoring pass to Karl Johnson late in the contest.

Leading John Paul II on special teams, Johnson booted punts of 48 yards and 45 yards, respectively.

Colleton Prep Academy fared well throughout the matchup, excelling on offense and defense.

The War Hawks claimed their second straight win after suffering a loss to St. Andrew’s on Sept. 30.

John Paul II is scheduled to host Calhoun Academy for Senior Night on Friday, Oct. 28. Kickoff for the John Paul II-Calhoun Academy football game is set for 7:30 p.m.

Hilton Head Prep suffers loss to Northwood

Hilton Head Prep returned to action following a lengthy layoff but couldn’t notch its second straight win in the 2016 season. Visiting Northwood Academy, a familiar foe, defeated the Dolphins 47-29 in a high school football game on Oct. 21.

With the loss, Hilton Head Prep dropped to 2-5. Northwood Academy evened its record to 4-4 with the win.

Productive performer Max Orie was responsible for two of Hilton Head Prep’s touchdowns in the victory.

Orie broke free to return a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown.

Providing another touchdown on offense, Orie hauled in a scoring reception on a pass from Stone McDonald.

Two Hilton Head Prep players scored on lengthy runs during the high school football matchup.

Javonne Watson reached the end zone on a 60-yard scoring run.

Providing another touchdown on the ground, Rodney Sturgis hit paydirt on a 71-yard run for the Dolphins.

Hilton Head Prep, which had been sidelined following Hurricane Matthew, won’t have to wait nearly as long to take the field for its next contest.

A big rivalry game looms for the Dolphins. Hilton Head Prep is slated to host rival Hilton Head Christian Academy on Friday, Oct. 28.

Beaufort Academy falls to Charleston Collegiate 

Beaufort Academy owned a 28-14 advantage but couldn’t make its lead stick in a late-season high school football game versus against Charleston Collegiate. Host Charleston Collegiate battled back to beat Beaufort Academy 56-42 in the late-season contest on Oct. 21.

With the loss, Beaufort Academy dropped to 2-6.

Despite suffering the setback, Beaufort Academy still has an opportunity to reach the state playoffs.

The Eagles fell behind prior to the game’s final quarter. Beaufort Academy lost multiple fumbles and Charleston Collegiate was able to recover three onsides kicks in its winning effort.

Jalen Moon led the Beaufort Academy offensive attack, rushing for 207 yards and one touchdown. Moon excelled for the Eagles throughout the regular season contest.

Kevin Williams contributed 50 yards and two touchdowns on the ground for Beaufort Academy in the victory.

Jaxon Spratling, Jeffrey Hiestand and Edward McCormick added one rushing touchdown apiece for the Eagles.

Defensively for Beaufort Academy, McCormick registered a team-high 12 tackles. McCormick and William Tumlin each had one interception for the Eagles in the setback.

The Eagles, under the direction of head coach Scott Richards, boast wins over Northside Christian Academy and Faith Christian.

Beaufort Academy is scheduled to host Ridge Christian Academy on Friday, Oct. 28. Kickoff for the Beaufort Academy-Ridge Christian Academy football game is set for 7:30 p.m.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

No. 5 Bulldogs secure program’s first 7-0 start

The fifth-ranked Citadel football team defeated Wofford 24-21 in overtime on Oct. 22 at Gibbs Stadium, improving to 7-0 this season. The win was the Bulldogs’ first since 1998 in Spartanburg.

With the win, head coach Brent Thompson now holds the record for most wins most wins by a first-year head coach at The Citadel and is also the first coach in program history to win his first five SoCon games.

Wofford (4-3, 2-2 SoCon) got on the board first, scoring with 2:30 left in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. The Terriers look poised to score again just minutes later after Will Vanvick’s punt was blocked and recovered at the Bulldogs’ 19-yard line. But five plays later on 1st-and-Goal,, Ben Roberts forced a Wofford fumble and Whale Branch product Dee Delaney recovered to end the Terriers’ scoring threat. Wofford tacked on a field goal on the final play of the first half to take a 10-0 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, Wofford opened up the scoring with a successful 39-yard field goal to push the lead to 13-0 with 6:46 remaining.

Reggie Williams got the Bulldogs (7-0, 5-0 SoCon) on the board on 4th-and-2 with 1:41 left in the third quarter. Williams received the pitch, went around the right edge and scored easily form 34 yards out to make it a 13-7 game.

With the Terriers on their heels, the pitch on the first play of their next drive sailed high and was recovered by Tevin Floyd at the Wofford 24-yard line. The Bulldogs wasted little time and Dominique Allen punched it in from one-yard out to give The Citadel a 14-13 lead with 12:55 remaining in the game.

Wofford answered on its next possession, rushing from 16 yards out to take a 21-14 lead after the two-point conversion was successful.

On their next drive, the Bulldogs were forced to punt and the Terriers took over on their own 21-yard line. After two rushes for no gain, Wofford tried to pitch the ball on third down but Kailik Williams picked off the pitch and returned the ball 13 yards to tie the game at 21-21 with 5:57remaining.

Ten plays and 43 yards later, Wofford lined up for a 49-yard field goal with 1:10 left on the clock but the Bulldogs defense came up big again as the attempt was blocked by Jonathan King. The Citadel was unable to get anything going offensively in its next drive and after punting, Wofford took a knee to send the game to overtime.

The Bulldogs started with the ball in the overtime period and after three plays were forced to settle for a field goal from 32 yards out but an offside penalty by Wofford gave the Bulldogs a first down. After two rushes by Tyler Renew and an incomplete pass, The Citadel again lined up for a field goal, this time from 21 yards out, and Cody Clark nailed it to make it a 24-21 game.

Two plays later, Joe Crochet clinched the win for The Citadel by forcing a fumble on Wofford’s second play of overtime that was recovered by Ben Roberts to seal the win for the Dogs. Crochet ended the game with a career-high nine tackles. Myles Pierce and Floyd led the Bulldogs with 12 tackles, a single-game career-high total for both linebackers.

The Citadel is scheduled to host ETSU at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29.

MEN’S COLLEGE GOLF 

Clemson places 13th at Golf Club of Georgia

Led by Austin Langdale’s two-under-par 70, Clemson had its best team round of the tournament with a two under par 286 on Oct. 23 at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate in Alpharetta, Georgia. The Tigers finished 13th in the 17-team field that included 11 of the top 25 teams in the nation.

Langdale finished with a 54-hole score of 219 after rounds of 72-77-70.  It was his first tournament of the year after undergoing shoulder surgery over the summer. The senior finished in a tie for 33rd with Clemson teammate Bryson Nimmer, who had rounds of 74-73-72 over the three days. Nimmer hails from Bluffton

Carson Young and Doc Redman finished in a tie for 43rd with 54-hole scores of 221. Redman had a one under par 71 on Sunday after rounds of 74-76 to open the tournament. Young had a 73 on Sunday after an opening round 72 and a middle round 76.

Josh Fickes had a 236 total for his three rounds and finished tied for 86th. Fickes is a Beaufort native.

Virginia and Texas were declared co-champions after 54 team scores of 856. Texas jumped from seventh to first with an 11-under par 277 on Sunday, the top round of the tournament.

GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS

The Beaufort Academy girls' tennis team finished runner-up in the state. Photo courtesy of Beaufort Academy.
The Beaufort Academy girls’ tennis team finished runner-up in the state. Photo courtesy of Beaufort Academy.

Beaufort Academy finishes second in state 

The Beaufort Academy girls’ tennis team finished second in the state, concluding its campaign with a runner-up finish.

Lowcountry Prep topped Beaufort Academy 5-3 to win the SCISA Class 1A tennis title at Pinewood Prep on Oct. 20.

The Beaufort Academy-Lowcountry Prep match featured multiple highlights for each girls’ tennis program.

Jayda Scheper, one of the state’s top girls’ high school tennis players, led Beaufort Academy in the state title tilt. Scheper swept singles and doubles victories for the Eagles in the setback.

Strong during her late-season outing, Scheper topped Lowcountry Prep’s Emerson Pate 6-1, 6-2 in the highly-anticipated No. 1 singles match.

In a doubles match, Scheper teamed with Abby Dalton to defeat the Lowcountry Prep duo of Pate and Kaitlyn Bellune 6-4, 6-2.

Weezie Gallant was responsible for Beaufort Academy’s only other point, defeating Lowcountry Prep’s Eileen Starnes in the No. 6 singles match.

Lowcountry Prep clinched the state championship when Sara Balding and Cooper Whitlock beat Beaufort Academy’s Lila Alcott and Emily Potter in a doubles match.

HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

Holy Trinity boys take first place

Under the coaching of Holy Trinity teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Tobin, the Holy Trinity boys cross country team (The Mighty Lions) placed first in their conference, and the girls (The Mighty Lionesses) earned third place.

Eighth-grader Mills Langehans earned first place overall in the conference for the second year in row.

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Whale Branch’s Dontray Lewis hurls the shot during a track and field meet Thursday at Beaufort