By Justin Jarrett
The first one is out of the way.
Beaufort High School’s football team opened the DeVonte Holloman era with a comeback victory Friday, beating visiting A.C. Flora — and second-year head coach Collin Drafts, a former Battery Creek standout — 35-14 to give the former South Carolina star his first win as a head coach.
James Dagin had a huge game for the Eagles, rushing for 76 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries and catching four passes for 54 yards, including a long touchdown reception.
The Eagles’ offense was more balanced than it has been in recent memory, as Jeffrey Smyth completed 11 of 20 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Reed Reichel led BHS with four catches for 121 yards.
The Eagles trailed 14-7 at halftime before Smyth hit tight end William Winburn for a touchdown to tie it early in the third. The first of Dagin’s touchdown runs put Beaufort ahead, but the Falcons returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to knot it at 21.
Beaufort’s Jacob Anderson blocked a potential go-ahead field goal attempt, and Peyton Langford returned it for the go-ahead score, and Dagin capped the scoring with a 29-yard TD run.
Linebacker Will Kelley led the Eagles’ defense with 10 tackles, while Anderson collected seven tackles, including two for losses. Brandon Smalls had two sacks, and Chase Guynup had five tackles and a sack.
Beaufort (1-0) travels to Battery Creek next Friday.
Photo at top: A.C. Flora’s Kayreem Brown gets tackled after a small gain by Beaufort linebacker Will Kelley during the first quarter Friday night at BHS.
