Eagles win abbreviated road opener 36-0
By Wes Kerr
LowcoSports.com
Even Mother Nature couldn’t hold down a motivated Beaufort Academy squad on opening night.
After a one-hour delay from a pop-up thunderstorm, BA’s Devin Fripp secured the second-half kickoff, eyed an open crease on the right side, and let his speed do the rest — 91 yards to the house, delivering a dagger to any hopes of a Hilton Head Prep comeback.
Fueled by a surge in the second quarter with two quick-strike touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Nic Shuford Jr., Beaufort Academy blitzed Hilton Head Prep 36-0 on the road Friday in a shortened affair. The contest was halted and called early in the fourth quarter due to the darkness shortly after 8 p.m.
“That’s a big win right there,” BA newcomer and Whale Branch transfer Rahiem Saunders said on Lowco Pigskin Live. “Yesterday at practice we said, ‘I believe’ together, and we had the belief we could do it together and pull off the win.”
Hilton Head Prep held its own early in a defensive struggle, as both units were able to neutralize explosive plays in the ground game. Despite a promising opening drive, the Dolphins were unable to come away with points after a holding penalty just outside the BA 40-yard line stymied the early success from running back Davis Cargill. On the defensive side, Paulie Smith came up big to stuff senior back Nych Underwood before an incompletion gave the ball back to the Dolphins.
The game began to turn when the Eagles started going to the air. A pair of long bombs — a 49-yard dime to Fripp followed by a 66-yard strike to Jace Paulk — caught an inexperienced Hilton Head Prep secondary off guard for a sudden 14-0 lead. The frustration boiled over quickly for the home side in a horrid two-play sequence, as Wyatt Harmer threw into double coverage right into the hands of BA’s Ben Davis, and Underwood took it the distance for a 45-yard score on the first play of the ensuing drive. Just like that, it was 22-0.
“We’ve got a great offense,” Saunders said. “Nych balls and balls. He kept telling me after every play not to get tired and keep going. I had a lot of energy before the game, and the heat was wearing me down, but he just kept telling me to keep going.”
The Dolphins had a golden opportunity to get back in the game before halftime with Harmer’s 46-yard completion to Finnian Rooney, but a hungry BA defensive line forced a couple of wayward throws to keep the shutout intact.
There was hope that an hour-long delay due to weather could turn the momentum around for the Dolphins, but that thought was wiped away on the opening kickoff of the second half. A brilliant return by Fripp put him in the end zone for the second time and put the game out of reach for a stunned Hilton Head Prep sideline.
Beaufort Academy’s ferocious defensive front shut down a Dolphins group looking to make a response in large part due to the beastly play of Saunders on the line. Reserve quarterback Ben Davis capped off his stellar game in the fourth, finding Paulk on another deep ball for a 61-yard touchdown.
With darkness falling in Sea Pines, the game was called shortly after to give BA the season-opening road win.
Shuford was sensational in his first game under center, completing 8 of 10 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns and adding 63 yards on six carries. Paulk led all receivers with five catches for 140 yards and two scores, while Fripp reeled in two receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown along with his kick return score, and Underwood excelled on the ground with 147 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
Cargill was productive for the Dolphins in the season opener, recording 83 rushing yards on 14 attempts and an eight-yard reception.
Beaufort Academy (1-0) travels to Carolina Academy on Friday, while Hilton Head Prep (0-1) will look for some redemption at home on Friday against St. Andrew’s (Ga.).
