LowcoSports.com
Beaufort Academy had a couple large sets of shoes to fill in its backfield going into the season, but the Eagles found a running back with the feet for the job.
BA’s Nych Underwood racked up a career-high 241 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns, soaring past 1,000 rushing yards for the season and carrying the Eagles to a key 39-20 win over Colleton Prep on Friday at Merritt Field.
Dietrich Shuford rushed for 102 yards and a score and went 12-for-16 for 214 yards with a TD and an interception, and BA’s defense kept a short-handed War Hawks’ offense at bay.
Devin Fripp hauled in a bomb from Shuford in the end zone to make it 19-7 at halftime, and Underwood helped the Eagles hold off the War Hawks’ surge after the break. After Colleton Prep pulled within a touchdown at 27-20, Underwood snapped off a 70-yard touchdown run to give BA some cushion, and Andrew Butterfield added a touchdown run to cap the scoring.
Fripp had three catches for 65 yards and a score along with seven tackles, while Nic Shuford caught four passes for 86 yards and collected six tackles, and Keeler Dineen had a team-high 10 tackles. Grady Lamm added eight tackles and a sack, and Nathan Chavarria Byrne had six tackles with three sacks.
Underwood has been a massive addition for the Eagles in his first season since transferring from Battery Creek. The junior has rushed for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 8.4 yards per carry, while adding 15 tackles and two interceptions on defense.
The Eagles (5-2, 2-0) have won five of their last six going into a road test at Bethesda Academy on Friday, their last non-region game before three region matchups to close the season, including a potential region-title clash at home against Thomas Heyward on Nov. 1.
