Beaufort Academy’s Keeler Dineen (12) stops his opponent — Thomas Heyward’s Joshua Gibson (5) — in his tracks on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Beaufort Academy. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Rebels romp to region title

LowcoSports.com

Beaufort Academy did what it had to do to earn a region-title showdown at home against Thomas Heyward on Friday, but the Eagles couldn’t do enough to claim the throne.

Tony O’Banner rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns and Kiran Boggess was 7-for-8 for 113 yards and two scores to help the Rebels run away with a 49-25 victory and claim the top seed in the SCISA 1A playoffs.

The Rebels jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead on O’Banner’s first touchdown run and touchdown strikes from Boggess to Donovan Robinson and Kelan Fripp, but BA responded with a scoring drive capped by Dietrich Shuford’s 6-yard touchdown run, and Shuford found Devin Fripp for a touchdown as time expired in the first half, pulling the Eagles within 21-13 at halftime.

O’Banner put the comeback to rest with a 51-yard touchdown run on the opening series of the second half, and Nic Robinson added two touchdown runs in the quarter to blow it open.

Beaufort Academy’s K.J. Freeman (10) takes down Thomas Heyward Academy’s Nicholas Robinson (33) on Friday, Nov. 1 at Beaufort Academy. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Shuford gave a monster effort against his former team, finishing with 186 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and going 14-for-23 for 172 yards and two scores, and Nych Underwood added 149 yards and a TD on 19 carries, but BA couldn’t come up with enough stops on defense.

The loss drops BA (7-4) to the No. 2 seed. The Eagles will host a first-round game against Carolina Academy on Friday, while the Rebels will be at home against Lee Academy.

SCISA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

First Round Friday

Class 4A

No. 8 Cardinal Newman at No. 1 Hammond

No. 5 Ben Lippen at No. 4 Augusta Christian

No. 7 Heathwood Hall at No. 2 Porter-Gaud

No. 6 Laurence Manning at No. 3 Northwood Academy

Class 3A

John Paul II at Wilson Hall

Florence Christian at Hilton Head Christian

Trinity Collegiate at Pinewood Prep

First Baptist at Northside Christian 

Class 2A

Spartanburg Christian at Pee Dee Academy

St. John’s Christian at Greenwood Christian

Hilton Head Prep at Calhoun Academy

Orangeburg Prep at Bethesda Academy

Class 1A

Lee Academy at Thomas Heyward

Colleton Prep at Dorchester

Patrick Henry at Williamsburg

Carolina Academy at Beaufort Academy

8-Man

Newberry Academy at Richard Winn

Wardlaw Academy at Holly Hill Academy

W.W. King at Jefferson Davis

Cross Schools at Laurens Academy

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