By Wes Kerr
LowcoSports.com
After being shut out a week ago at Thomas Heyward, Beaufort Academy’s offense roared back to life in Sea Pines on Friday. The Eagles rode a second-half surge to victory, outscoring Hilton Head Prep 28-0 to close out a massive 42-10 region win over the Dolphins.
After getting an initial stop on defense, BA’s ground game went to work, orchestrating a quick five-play scoring drive capped off by a 37-yard Jaxen Porter dash to put the visitors up 7-0. The Eagles were looking to replicate that success on the next possession, but a fumble right out of the gate set up Hilton Head Prep, who cashed in with a Loncelle Daley 1-yard burst across the goal line to tie the game.
The turnover and score shifted the momentum toward the Dolphins, as Nick Rose stuffed Porter on fourth-and-2 to get the ball right back in Eagles territory. But a three-and-out forced a quick punt, and Dineen got Beaufort Academy’s offense back in business, firing a dart on the run to Walker Day for a clutch 34-yard, third-down conversion.
The Eagle quarterback delivered again on fourth-and-goal at the 3, as Porter freed himself in the left corner of the end zone to haul in the go-ahead touchdown.
Hilton Head Prep had a chance to tie it late in the first half after a beautiful grab by Christian Bueso, but the drive stalled inside the 10 to force a Trevor Weldon field goal.
The Eagles went back to the run game in the second half, and wore down Hilton Head Prep’s defense the rest of the way. The explosive tandem of backs found chunks of yards thanks to a terrific offensive line, and Beaufort Academy rattled off 28 straight points to pull away on the road.
Porter rushed for 215 yards and three scores on 25 carries, and Cody Dalrymple added 150 yards on the ground for the Eagles, while Dineen was 5-for-5 for 89 yards.
BA’s defense was in command after halftime and even got in on the scoring, as Alex Pinto recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
It was a rough day for Hilton Head Prep’s offense, but Jake Rodney-Brown was remarkable on the defensive side, racking up 15 tackles while Sean Graham added 10 stops.
Beaufort Academy (3-1, 2-0) plays its third straight road game at Thomas Sumter on Friday, while Hilton Head Prep (4-2, 0-1) travels to Orangeburg Prep for a pivotal region contest.
