By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
A team of standout high school seniors from the Lowcountry got to strap on the pads one last time Saturday and team up for the fifth Blitz Border Bowl, but it wasn’t the glorious ending they’d envisioned.
A fast and furious Coastal Empire defense overwhelmed the Lowco offense in a 20-0 win at Savannah’s Memorial Stadium, giving the Georgia all-stars a 3-2 lead in the series.
Despite the lopsided score, the game was competitive until a pair of long touchdowns broke it open late. With big plays from Bluffton’s JaQuinn Williams, the Lowco defense forced a punts on the first series, and Battery Creek’s Anthony Phelan made a key third-down stop on the goal line to force a short field goal for the game’s first points on the Coastal Empire’s second possession.
Beaufort Academy’s Braydon Dineen took over at quarterback in the second quarter and had the Lowco offense on the move, but a deep pass hung up in the wind and was picked off to end the threat.
The defense nearly got the Lowco on the board, but May River’s Darrion Perry was ruled to have stepped out of bounds inside the 10, negating an apparent pick-6, and the offense couldn’t convert, sending it to halftime with the Coastal Empire leading 3-0.
A long field goal made it 6-0 and after a quick three-and-out, the Savannah stars found the end zone for the first time to go up 13-0 with 1:52 left in the third quarter. The Lowco had the wind at its back in the fourth quarter but couldn’t muster a drive, and the Coastal Empire cashed in again to close it out.
Phelan and Beaufort High defensive backs Lamar Knight and Jamar Knight helped anchor a solid defensive effort, while Whale Branch’s Jakhi Pusha had a long reception and Warriors standout Ja’Darius Garrett made an impact on special teams with a strong showing in the return game.
Battery Creek’s Terrance Ashe served as the head coach for the Lowco squad.
