Above: Despite dismal weather conditions, the Beaufort Academy Eagles won their first round SCISA 2A playoff game against Florence Christian, 33-25, at home Friday, Nov. 5, at Merrit Field. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
LowcoSports.com
In its first season playing 11-man football, Beaufort Academy earned a spot in the SCISA 2A playoffs. In Year 2, the Eagles are charting new territory, and they’re not done yet.
Jaxen Porter had a monster game on the ground and racked up nine tackles, and Braydon Dineen, Devonte Green, and Cody Dalrymple had big nights on both sides of the ball to help the Eagles hold on at home for a 33-25 win over Florence Christian on Friday, sending BA into the state semifinals.
Porter led a powerful ground game with 143 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and piled up nine tackles in one of numerous iron man efforts by the Eagles. Dineen was a steady 6-for-11 passing for 65 yards, rushed for 42 yards and a score on five carries, and added eight tackles and an interception on defense. Green added 61 yards on nine carries and made six tackles and recovered a fumble for a touchdown on the other side of the ball, and Dalrymple rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown on six carries and made six tackles.
BA bolted out to a quick 19-0 lead, as Green scored on the ground and pounced on a bad punt snap for the first two scores, and Porter punched it in from 3 yards out for an early three-score margin. Florence Christian answered with 19 straight points of its own to pull even early in the third quarter.
Dalrymple’s touchdown run and a Porter two-point conversion put BA back on top 27-19, and when FCS answered, the Eagles stopped the two-point try to preserve the lead. Dineen took over from there, scampering in from 11 yards then sealing it with a pick inside the BA 20 in the final minute.
BA (6-3) will travel to undefeated Williamsburg Academy for a semifinal matchup Friday with the winner facing Hilton Head Christian or Pee Dee Academy in the SCISA 2A title game Nov. 20 at Charleston Southern University.
