By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
They knew a rematch was coming in the semifinals, but the Beaufort Academy Eagles stayed focused on the task at hand Friday and dispatched Orangeburg Prep with a strong all-around effort.
Devonte Green led the way with 221 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries as the Eagles rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense and cruised to a comfortable win to open the SCISA 2A postseason and set up a second showdown with Colleton Prep on Friday at Merritt Field.
Jaxen Porter added 65 yards and a TD on the ground and had a long catch and run to set up the first of two field goals from Zeke Gonzalez, who added 122 yards from scrimmage and two two-point conversions.
Braydon Dineen gave another standout effort on both sides of the ball to lead the Eagles. Dineen rushed for 74 yards on five carries and completed 6 of 10 passes for 126 yards, including four for 89 yards to Gonzalez. And he added a team-high 11 tackles (two for loss) on defense, but it was Green who carried the bulk of the load and found the end zone three times.
BA’s defense gave up a long touchdown pass in the first quarter but otherwise locked down the Indians en route to a 26-8 halftime lead, and most of the starters were on the sideline when the Indians scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns in a lopsided contest. Tres Delaney collected seven tackles (three for loss) and two sacks, Ediel Gonzalez had five tackles (two for loss) and two sacks, and Tripp Gregory added five tackles (one for loss) and a sack for BA.
Now the Eagles (8-2) get another visit from Colleton Prep (10-1), just three weeks after edging the War Hawks, 20-19, when they stopped a two-point conversion with no time left on the clock.
That time, it gave BA an inside track to the region title. This time, the winner books its spot at Charleston Southern for the SCISA 2A state championship on Nov. 19.
Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of The Island News and the founder of LowcoSports.com. He was the sports editor of the Island Packet and the Beaufort Gazette for 6½ years. He has a passion for sports and community journalism and a questionable sense of humor.
