By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
The wait for football season has never seemed so long at Beaufort Academy. But it’s almost over.
Since announcing the hire of Nic Shuford as the Eagles’ next football coach in January, the BA faithful have been eager for kickoff, and it comes at 8:15 p.m. Saturday night at Charleston Southern when the Eagles take on SCISA 4A power Trinity Collegiate in the 1team1cause Football Showcase.
“I like to start the season off as tough as we can,” said Shuford, who won four consecutive SCISA 1A titles at Thomas Heyward Academy before falling in the title game last season. “This year we’ve got Trinity followed by Pinewood Prep. I think that’s really gonna let us know where we stand early in the year. It’s a great test.”
The Eagles were one game away from playing for the SCISA 2A title a year ago under legendary coach Mark Clifford, who elected to step back after the season and remain at BA in more of an advisory role, working hand-in-hand with Shuford to try to propel the football program to new heights.
The coaching hire also plugged the one glaring hole BA needed to fill this fall, as quarterback Dietrich Shuford made the move over from THA with his dad to take over for Braydon Dineen under center. He has some dangerous weapons on the outside in Te’Shaun Heyward and Devin Fripp, as well as the dynamic duo of Devonte Green and Jaxen Porter alongside him in the backfield.
“It’s a lot more fun to coach them than to prepare to play them,” Nic Shuford said. “The skill level of those two running backs is out of this world. They complement each other really well. Excited to see what they can do with these bigs in front of them.”
BA stopped Colleton Prep on a two-point conversion to secure a 20-19 win and a region title last regular season, only to lose to the War Hawks by a field goal in the semifinals. With all but two key contributors returning and the Shufords in the fold, they’re aiming to extend their season one week longer this year.
“I think for sure it will be one for the history books, but we’re taking it one day at a time, trying to get better every day, every practice,” senior lineman Alex Williams said. “I think the biggest thing for us is effort, because that’s something that can’t be coached. You gotta get up and know you have a job to do. Get us a ring on the finger. Hopefully by November we’re playing in that big game.”
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.
