High school football kicks off in full swing
By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
Beaufort Academy fans got a little appetizer Saturday night at Charleston Southern, but now it’s time for the rest of us to dig into the first course of the annual fall feast that is high school football season in the Lowcountry.
The team at LowcoSports.com will be tracking 11 games across our four-county coverage area Friday night and rounding up all the scores, stats, and highlights we can scrape together at 11 p.m. on Lowco Pigskin Live, streaming live on the LowcoSports social media platforms and the Lowco Media YouTube channel.
Here’s a glance at the games involving Beaufort-area teams in Week “Zero,” and you can get more insight into the matchups on this week’s Lowco Pigskin Preview.
Beaufort at Cane Bay: Bryce Lybrand loves to challenge his team early, and the Cobras should provide quite a test on the road for the defending Class 3A champion Eagles. Cane Bay was 8-3 against a tough schedule and reached the second round of the Class 5A playoffs a year ago, and they return a dangerous running back in Langston Rhodes. The Eagles will have tons of new faces in key roles, but junior quarterback Samari Bonds is poised to become the catalyst behind a strong offensive line anchored by Adrian Lamb, and Rob Gorrell’s defense is always stingy. Beaufort by 13.
Pinewood Prep at Beaufort Academy: It doesn’t get any easier for the Eagles against a revamped Panthers team with Devonte Hollomon’s fingerprints all over it. The former Beaufort High coach and South Carolina Gamecocks star is the new AD at Pinewood and has assembled – and joined – the coaching staff, and a crop of transfers have reinforced an already dangerous roster. BA’s secondary will be tested far more than it was against Trinity Collegiate, providing another glimpse into how complete Nic Shuford’s team is, which is precisely the point. Pinewood’s defense was highly permeable a year ago and should be improved, but BA’s ground game is relentless and Dietrich Shuford can find his dangerous receivers with regularity. BA by 7.
Hilton Head at Battery Creek: Spirits are higher than they’ve been for a while in Burton, and the Dolphins get to debut new coach Ed Susi (with former coach and new AD Terrance Ashe as defensive coordinator) on opening night of year two in their renovated stadium. With dynamic back Damien Freeman back and promising sophomore Chase Olsen under center, the offense should put up points, and seniors Leroy Tyus, JuJu Gordon and Donyae Brown lead a defense with plenty of speed. The conditions are ripe for the Dolphins to end a 12-game losing streak against the Seahawks dating to 2005, but it won’t be easy. BJ Payne’s team has leading rusher Troy Timko back along with quarterback Jackson Bibee, and the Lowco’s biggest college prospect, linebacker Shaikh Thompson, anchors the defense. Hilton Head by 3.
Thomas Heyward at John Paul II: The Golden Warriors haven’t beaten the Rebels in six meetings, and it hasn’t often been competitive. But if it were going to happen, this is a great opportunity for JPII. Both teams have new coaches with Shayne Milligan at JPII and THA alum Tony McGeary returning from Utah to take over at his alma mater. Each team has a superstar who impacts every phase of the game, so whether JPII’s Christian Tilton or THA’s Tony O’Banner gets to touch the ball last might be the difference in what should be a competitive matchup. JPII by 3.
LOWCO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
WEEK “ZERO”
Beaufort at Cane Bay
Pinewood Prep at Beaufort Academy
Bethesda Academy at HH Prep
Bluffton at Beach
Colleton Prep at Florence Christian
Hampton Co. at Colleton Co.
Hilton Head at Battery Creek
Patrick Henry at Cross Episcopal
Ridgeland at St. John’s
Savannah Christian at HHCA
Thomas Heyward at John Paul II
For comprehensive coverage of every high school football team in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, and Hampton counties, visit LowcoSports.com and subscribe to the Lowco Media channel on YouTube so you don’t miss weekly episodes of Lowco Pigskin Preview and Lowco Pigskin Live, streaming every Friday during the season at 11 p.m.
