The Whale Branch Warriors couldn’t keep up with the Hilton Head Island Seahawks in a high school football season-opener for the host team on Thursday night. Hilton Head Island prevented Whale Branch from winning in its 2015 regular-season debut, pulling away to defeat the Warriors 49-7.

Whale Branch dropped its season-opener to start the season 0-1. With the win, Hilton Head Island moved to 2-0.

Hilton Head Island quarterback Aidan Hegarty threw for four touchdowns and ran for another in the Seahawks’ convincing victory. Hegarty completed 8 of 11 passes for 118 yards and four touchdowns in Hilton Head Island’s win. The Hilton Head Island quarterback rushed five times for 29 yards and one touchdown. The accurate Hegarty completed a pair of scoring passes to teammates Bryce Singleton and Tyler Hamilton.

Whale Branch led briefly. Stephon Eugene scored on a nine-yard run for the Warriors with 9:55 remaining in the first quarter. Following a Christian Lopez PAT kick, Whale Branch led 7-0. Hilton Head Island, however, answered. After scoring to tie the game 7-7, Hilton Head Island added two more touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 21-7 at halftime. Extending its lead after intermission, Hilton Head Island blanked Whale Branch 21-0 in the third quarter. Leading the Whale Branch offensive effort, Eugene rushed eight times for 40 yards. Following Eugene in the Whale Branch rushing column, D.J. Davis added 27 yards via 11 carries. Whale Branch is scheduled to visit St. John’s on Sept. 4th.