HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Beaufort outlasts Wando 14-10
Beaufort beat familiar foe Wando 14-10 in a high school football season opener on Aug. 18.
The Eagles opened the 2017 season 1-0 while Wando started the new campaign 0-1.
Hot temperatures welcomed players, coaches, officials and fans to the high school football season opener. The heat index forced the game to start more than 30 minutes late.
Wando carried a 10-7 lead into halftime but couldn’t prevent the Eagles from battling back for the win. The Eagles were determined get a win in their opener.
Beaufort, under the direction of veteran head coach Mark Clifford, battled back to win despite committing 13 penalties.
Logan Adkins led the Beaufort offensive effort, rushing 16 times for 102 yards.
Kyleik Middleton rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown via 18 carries. Middleton scored the game-winning touchdown for the Eagles in the fourth quarter.
Beaufort quarterback Jeffrey Smyth, an experienced signal-caller, completed a 20-yard scoring pass to Reed Reichel for the Eagles’ first half touchdown.
Wando quarterback Cale Lewis led the Warriors, completing 21-of-41 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.
Conner McCarthy paced Wando receivers, hauling in four receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown.
Wando was able to get some points off special teams in the opener. Kicker Andrew Weil added a 45-yard field goal for the Warriors in the loss.
The Eagles will look to notch their second win against an old nemesis.
Beaufort is slated to host rival Battery Creek on Friday, Aug. 25.
Beaufort Academy drops game to St. John’s
The Beaufort Academy football team faced a tough test on the road at St. John’s in a high school football season opener on Aug. 18.
Short-handed Beaufort Academy had only 12 players in uniform for its opener. The Eagles answered St. John’s initial score in the opening quarter but couldn’t maintain their early momentum. Host St. John’s pulled away to beat the Eagles 51-8.
Forced to play from behind throughout the game, Beaufort Academy battled against a much deeper St. John’s football team.
Beaufort Academy quarterback Dawson Coleman passed for 168 yards in the loss.
DaiJion Galloway accounted for 74 receiving yards for the Eagles. Finishing second in the Beaufort Academy receiving column behind Galloway, Daniel Richards delivered 30 receiving yards.
Jaxon Spratling rushed for Beaufort Academy’s lone score. Spratling finished with a team-high 24 rushing yards.
Additional rushers in positive yardage for the Eagles included Edward McCormick, Jeffrey Heistand and Charlie Weeden.
Defensively, McCormick led the Eagles with 15 tackles. Also contributing on the defensive side, Spratling posted nine tackles and Weeden chipped in six tackles.
Beaufort Academy head coach Scott Richards expects his team to bounce back.
“I am hoping that tonight sort of wakes this team up because I know how good they can be,” Richards commented, following his team’s loss on Aug. 18. “We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but that work isn’t building or developing talent – we have loads of talent. We have to just work on execution in the heat of the battle. It is hard to simulate Friday night on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday with only 12 players. I have to do a better job at getting this team prepared. We will get there!”
Beaufort Academy is slated to host Clarendon Hall for a home opener on Friday, Aug. 25. Kickoff for the Beaufort Academy-Clarendon Hall football game is set for 7:30 p.m. in Beaufort.
Battery Creek falls to Swansea
Battery Creek missed its first opportunity to land in the win column in the 2017 high school football season. Visiting Swansea defeated Battery Creek 27-13 in a high school football season opener on Aug. 18.
The Tigers performed well in the season-opener, preventing the Dolphins from winning thanks in part to a solid defensive effort.
Swansea also produced offensively as several players contributed.
The Dolphins were forced to play from behind in multiple quarters. Still, Battery Creek remained within striking distance for much of the gridiron season opener.
Swansea quarterback Keenan Coats passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Coats rushed for 66 yards and one touchdown. As a team, Swansea rushed 23 times for 150 yards.
Trey Chance and Gabe Singleton rushed for one touchdown apiece as Battery Creek suffered the loss.
Junior quarterback Jordan Gwyn passed for 97 yards and a touchdown with an interception for the Dolphins. Gwyn rushed 14 times for 67 yards in the setback.
In other area high school football games on Aug. 18 it was Beaufort High 14, Wando 10; St. John’s 51, Beaufort Academy 8; John Paul II 26, Hilton Head Christian Academy 20 (2 OT); Ridgeland-Hardeeville 12, Thomas Heyward 8; Orangeburg Prep 46, Hilton Head Prep 7 and Hanahan 27, May River 8.
Battery Creek is set to visit Beaufort High for a rivalry game on Friday, Aug. 25.
Whale Branch to host Hilton Head Island
The Whale Branch football team is headed into its season opener versus Hilton Head Island. The Warriors are slated to host Hilton Head Island on Friday, Aug. 25.
Whale Branch is under the direction of head coach Jerry Hatcher. The Warriors fiished the 2016 season 7-5 after advancing to the second round of the SCHSL Class AA Playoffs.
Irvin Mullian is the top player back for the Warriors. As a sophomore in 2016, Mulligan rushed for 1,678 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Marion Smalls is poised to lead the Warriors from his quarterback position. Smalls is back healthy for Whale Branch after breaking his left wrist early in the 2016 season.
Receiver Jamel Moultrie is the top pass catcher back for Whale Branch.
Injuries aren’t something Whale Branch can afford to have happen in the 2017 season as depth isn’t a strength for the Warriors.
Junior running back Roscoe Fields is another rushing threat for Whale Branch.
Hilton Head Island is under the guidance of head coach BJ Payne. The Seahawks concluded the 2016 season 7-5 following a loss in the SCHSL Class AAAA Playoffs.
In addition to Hilton Head Island, Whale Branch’s 2017 schedule includes games versus May River, Beaufort, Battery Creek, Woodland, North Charleston, Academic Magnet, Garrett Academy Tech and Burke.
SOCCER
Registration open for YMCA adult soccer
Registration is open for YMCA of Beaufort County Adult Soccer.
Registration for the local adult soccer league is as follows: $300 per team; $55 per individual YMCA of Beaufort County member and $65 per non-YMCA of Beaufort County member.
Games will begin the week of Sept. 11 and continue through November.
For more information on the adult soccer league, contact Mike Woods at mjwoods10@gmail.com or 843-522-9622.
Additional information about the adult soccer league is available online at www.ymcabeaufortcounty.com/sports.
YMCA of Beaufort County Youth Flag Football will begin the week of Aug. 28.
GOLF
Sheriff’s office to hold annual tourney
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is holding its Fall Golf Tournament on Friday, Oct. 27, at The Old South Golf Links to raise money for its Annual Appreciation Event.
This event is held each year to thank its deputies, administrative staff and volunteers for their service throughout the year.
To sign up, be a sponsor or donate, call Lt. Brian Baird at 843-255-3405 or email brianb@bcgov.net.
BIKING
Bike ride coming to Parris Island
The 10th Annual Iron Mike Bike Tour, hosted by the Parris Island Historical and Museum Society, will be held Saturday, Sept. 9.
Riders will go on a 15-mile loop of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and stop at 16 historical sites where volunteer historical interpreters will provide additional information about the history of Parris Island and the United States Marine Corps.
Register at bit.ly/2t1sgpQ. This free event is open to the public and begins at the Parris Island Museum.
The tour is named for the iconic Iron Mike monument, which was erected in 1924 and is the oldest sculpture on Parris Island. It was installed to honor Marines who served in World War I. Today, the Iron Mike logo also represents the Parris Island Historic and Museum Society.
The first group of bikers will begin their ride at 9 a.m. and the last riders will depart by noon. All participants are invited to join the Society at the Parris Island Museum afterward for a hot dog lunch.
Helmets are required while bike riding on Parris Island. A driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance are required to access the base.
