LowcoSports.com
John Paul II flipped the script from its season-opening loss to Hilton Head Prep, shutting out the Dolphins in the second half of a 24-10 home win Friday to maintain its hopes of earning the No. 2 playoff seed from SCISA Region 1-2A.
Christian Tilton threw a pair of touchdown passes and rushed for 147 yards and a score, and Jackson Ogden added rushing and receiving scores to help the Golden Warriors avenge a 38-16 loss in Sea Pines in Week 0. But it was JPII’s defense that stole the show.
After Loncelle Daley gashed the Golden Warriors for 237 yards in the first meeting, JPII was determined to force someone else to do damage in the rematch. JPII limited the 1,000-yard rusher to 79 yards on 16 carries and frustrated quarterback Tristan Bonomo, who was 4-for-18 passing.
Tilton got JPII off to a quick start, hitting Mark Knight for a touchdown pass and adding a rushing score to make it 12-0 in the first quarter. The Dolphins’ stingy defense settled in for the second quarter, and Daley broke a 25-yard touchdown run to get HHP on the board before Trevor Weldon booted a 42-yard field goal to cut it to 12-10 at halftime.
It was all JPII after the break, though, as the defense clamped down and shut out the Dolphins in the second half. HHP’s defense kept the Dolphins in it, but Tilton and Ogden hooked up for a touchdown to make it an 8-point game, and Ogden sealed it with a rushing touchdown.
Tilton was just 3-for-9 passing and was picked off by Sean Graham, but he did damage with his legs and came through with two huge touchdown passes. Ogden rushed for 90 yards and a score on 16 carries and had two catches for 48 yards and a score.
Michael Carbone led JPII’s strong defensive effort with 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss, while Peter Hughes added seven tackles (two for loss), and Sebastian Slusne had seven tackles (one for loss) and a fumble recovery. Tilton also contributed six tackles on defense, and Knight had five stops (one for loss).
HHP (6-3, 2-2) hosts undefeated Hilton Head Christian Academy to wrap up the regular-season Friday. The Dolphins are locked into the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. JPII (3-4, 3-1) travels to Beaufort Academy next week with the No. 2 seed up for grabs.
