LowcoSports.com
The first couple of acts of the 2024 season couldn’t have gone better for John Paul II and second-year coach Shayne Milligan, but the rest of the story didn’t unfold as the Golden Warriors had imagined at Colleton Prep.
Perry Corbett and Walker Bryan broke off touchdown runs to break up a defensive struggle, and Connor Nettles booted a fourth-quarter field goal for the only scoring of the second half, as the War Hawks were able to grind out a season-opening win at home.
JPII struck first after Sebastian Slusne stripped away the ball on the opening series, leading to a Bryant Jolley touchdown run, but CPA’s defense pitched a shutout the rest of the way.
Both teams were breaking in new starting quarterbacks, and after JPII’s ground game cut through the CPA defense on its first series, War Hawks defensive coordinator Jeremy Langdale dialed up the blitz and disrupted the Golden Warriors’ timing. By forcing JPII into third-and-long situations, CPA was able to force new quarterback Connor Brown to the air and took advantage with four interceptions — three by Hartman Fisk — to go along with a fumble recovery.
Jolley finished with 76 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, but JPII couldn’t find much else on offense, especially after losing leading receiver Jackson Sanders to an arm injury in the second quarter.
Slusne recorded six tackles (one for loss) with a sack and the fumble he forced and recovered to lead a strong defensive effort for JPII, along with Ephrain Jimenez (7 tackles, fumble recovery) and Daniel Snyder.
JPII (0-1) looks to get back on track at home against Laurence Manning Academy on Thursday with a 7 p.m. kickoff in Hardeeville.
