Eagles improve to 2-0 with win over Pinewood Prep
LowcoSports.com
On opening night, it was Jaxen Porter’s time to be the leading man, while Devonte Green played a pivotal supporting role. On Friday at Merritt Field, the roles were reversed, but it still added up to an award-winning performance for Beaufort Academy.
Green broke a pair of long touchdown runs en route to 152 yards on 13 carries and added an acrobatic, one-handed pick-6 to fuel a second-half comeback and lead BA to a 27-23 win over Pinewood Prep.
The tone was set early when Green bolted away for a 59-yard touchdown, but the Panthers answered the bell and rattled off 16 consecutive points before BA put together what is becoming a signature two-minute drill, going 80 yards in 10 plays, culminating with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Dietrich Shuford to Porter as time expired to pull the Eagles within 16-13 at the break.
It was the first of two plays that turned the game on its head.
With Pinewood backed up in its own territory, Green lept skyward and snatched a floating pass with one hand and waltzed into the end zone to give the Eagles their first lead since the opening drive.
The Panthers came right back and regained the lead, but they left Green too much time — and he didn’t need much. The senior speedster bounced off tackle and got tremendous downfield blocking from Tripp Gregory, Devin Fripp, and Jace Paulk to give him a window, and he was off to the races for a 56-yard score that put BA on top for good.
Pinewood had one last-ditch chance with 10 seconds left, but Gregory sacked Asa Windham before he could get away a desperate heave to the end zone.
Green also played a big role on defense, collecting five tackles with a forced fumble and the game-changing pick-6, and Porter again was an iron man, rushing for 52 yards on 13 carries with a 26-yard touchdown grab to go with seven tackles, including a tackle for loss. Shuford added 48 yards on seven carries and was 3-for-5 for 93 yards and a score.
BA’s defense has stifled two potent offenses in SCISA 4A power Trinity Collegiate and popular SCISA 3A favorite Pinewood Prep, and it has been a group effort. Kevin Peeples had a team-high nine tackles Friday, while Gregory and Alex Williams had eight apiece, and Williams forced two fumbles and anchored the offensive line along with Ediel Gonzalez and Tres Delaney, who also contributed seven tackles apiece.
