By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
This is a friendly reminder on behalf of the area’s football coaches to not draw too many conclusions until the results count — and even then, to remember that it ain’t how you start, so much as how you finish.
The high school football season has arrived, ushered in extra early with Beaufort Academy’s 42-7 loss to Northwood Academy in the SCISA Kickoff Classic, and John Paul II kicks off Friday night at Colleton Prep, but in the meantime, folks are getting worked up about “scores” from scrimmages and jamborees, which rarely reflect accurately what might happen if the same teams played a complete game under ordinary circumstances.
So draw your conclusions carefully and don’t hold onto them too tight. This ride is just getting started.
With that said, Beaufort High got in its first scrimmage Monday night against Summerville, and coach Bryce Lybrand saw “some good, some bad” in a 40-33 loss, as is to be expected from the first live action of the season against someone in different jerseys and helmets. The Green Wave begin the season ranked third in Class 5A and provided the kind of stress test Lybrand likes to put his team through early to detect areas in need of improvement.
As the score indicates, Beaufort’s offense was in good form, with Samari Bonds and Amare Patterson connecting for three touchdowns, but the defense is a work in progress, which is typical for mid-August.
The Eagles open Aug. 23 at Fort Dorchester, which was in action in a four-team scrimmage at May River on Monday along with Whale Branch and Midland Valley. The Warriors held their own while punching above their weight against Class 4A and Class 5A schools, while both May River and Fort Dorchester — future Beaufort High opponents — displayed run-heavy attacks on offense. In a scrimmage. So take that with a grain of salt. They’ll play the games that count soon enough.
WB’s Hatcher on the mend
Longtime Whale Branch coach Jerry Hatcher was conspicuously absent from the sideline for Monday night’s scrimmage at May River — it’s hard to miss Hatcher’s bellowing voice and high-energy coaching style — but he will be back to full speed soon.
Hatcher had shoulder surgery last week and didn’t make the bus trip, but he was back at school Monday and expected to be back on the practice field Tuesday. The Warriors have a veteran coaching staff with several assistants who have worked under Hatcher for a number of years, so the team was in good hands and showed some bright spots against strong competition.
Whale Branch opens its season Aug. 23 at Bluffton.
