<b>John Paul II falls to </b><b>Hilton Head Christian</b>

Visiting John Paul II fell short in a bid to win its season opener on the gridiron. Host Hilton Head Christian Academy managed to edge John Paul II 26-21 in a season opener for each South Carolina high school football team.

Leading Hilton Head Christian Academy to the win, Zachariah Doe rushed for 224 yards and two touchdowns.

Another key contributor for the Matt Smith-coached Eagles, James Bartholomew, added two touchdowns via special teams.

John Paul II, under the direction of head coach Kevin Wald, led 21-14 at halftime.

But the Golden Warriors came up short in the end.

Each team battled fatigue brought on by heat, especially late in the matchup.

Taking advantage of multiple John Paul II mistakes. Hilton Head Christian recovered five fumbles.

One of Bartholomew's special teams' scores was an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Rashad Battiste paced John Paul II, rushing 17 times for 239 yards and two touchdowns.

Thriving on the defensive side, Karl Johnson intercepted a pass and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown for the Golden Warriors in the second quarter.

Both John Paul II and Hilton Head Christian Academy are due back in action. John Paul II is scheduled to host St. Andrew's (Ga.) on Friday, Aug. 26, while Hilton Head Christian Academy faces First Presbyterian Christian Academy (Ga.). Kickoff for each upcoming prep football game is set for 7:30 p.m.

<b>Beaufort High School </b><b>upends Wando for win</b>

Behind the strong rushing of senior running back Wyatt Sherpensky, the Beaufort High football team defeated host Wando 26-18 in its season opener on Aug. 19.

The Eagles faced an early deficit prior to shaking the slow start and earning the win. Wando owned a 10-6 lead before Beaufort High charged back.

Productive Beaufort High scored 20 straight points to claim the victory in the opener. Prior to pulling off the hard-fought win, Beaufort High took a two-point lead into halftime.

Sherpensky scored three touchdowns on runs of 15, 12 and 8 yards. His first touchdown allowed Beaufort High to lead 12-10 at the break.

Sherpensky reached the end zone twice on separate touchdowns late in the third quarter.

Wando scored its final touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Sherpensky rushed for 174 yards and the three scores. Omar Cummings led Beaufort High on the ground, rushing for 201 yards and one touchdown.

In addition to the offensive leadership from Sherpensky and Cummings, Beaufort High benefited from a host of defensive standouts.

The Eagles are now poised to entertain a longtime rival. Beaufort High is scheduled to visit Battery Creek on Friday, Aug. 26. Kickoff for the Beaufort High-Battery Creek football game is set for 7:30 p.m.

<b>Eagles drop opener </b><b>to St. John's Christian </b>

Beaufort Academy returned the kickoff of its season opener for a touchdown but couldn't match visiting St. John's Christian Academy. Productive St. John's Christian Academy pulled away to defeat the Eagles 48-26 on Aug. 19.

The Eagles, under the guidance of head coach Scott Richards, struck first when Chris Boggs returned the game's opening kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown as the Eagles took an early lead.

Beaufort Academy, however, faltered following the fast start.

Under center for most of the game for the Beaufort Academy football team, Kevin Williams completed two of five passes for 67 yards. Williams made an even bigger impact on the ground, rushing 13 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns.

Following his kickoff return for a touchdown, Boggs rushed for 38 yards.

Boggs, Will Warren and Daniel Richards led the Beaufort Academy defensive effort with eight tackles apiece.

St. John's Christian Academy used a balanced attack to pull away for the victory in the opening game. The Cavaliers excelled offensively, defensively and on special teams.

Beaufort Academy is now preparing to take to the road for the first time in the 2016 season. The Eagles are scheduled to visit Clarendon Hall on Friday, Aug. 26. Kickoff for the Beaufort Academy-Clarendon Hall football game is set for 7 p.m. in Summerton.

<b>May River loses </b><b>debut game to Hanahan </b>

The May River football program's debut ended in a loss. Host Hanahan prevented May River from entering the win column in its first attempt, pulling away to beat the Sharks 47-13 on Aug. 19.

But the loss didn't come without several firsts for the Sharks.

Brandon Morales scored the first touchdown in the May River football program's history when he reached the end zone on a 7-yard run in the third quarter. Ryan Matovich capped Morales' touchdown, connecting on a PAT after the Sharks' first-ever score.

May River managed to force five turnovers in the season-opening matchup.

Ridge Dowe scored May River's other touchdown on a 30-yard fumble recovery.

Numerous players contributed both offensively and defensively for the May River football team.

Ryan Sullivan and Noah Middleton were other defensive leaders for the Sharks. Sullivan notched May River's first tackle. Middleton delivered May River's first fumble recovery for the Sharks.

Jordan Barrow recorded an interception, the first in school history for the Sharks.

High school football teams from across South Carolina took the field for season openers on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19.

Now, a highly-anticipated matchup that's sure to turn into a great rivalry game awaits the Sharks. May River will visit Bluffton on Friday, Aug. 26. The May River football team's roster is made up mostly of former Bluffton players. Kickoff for the May River-Bluffton football game is slated for 7:30 p.m.

<b>Bluffton battles back, </b><b>beats Screven County</b>

The Bluffton Bobcats wouldn't be denied a win in their 2016 season opener on Aug. 19. Bluffton, under the direction of head coach Ken Cribb, battled back to beat Screven County (Ga.) 32-25 in the Erk Russell Classic at Georgia Southern University (GSU).

The Bobcats, who faced a 25-10 deficit halfway through the third quarter, finished strong. Bluffton scored three touchdowns to pull away for the victory.

Bluffton's comeback started with a 2-yard touchdown run from Jermaine Patterson in the third quarter.

Following Patterson's score, aiding the Bobcats' second half attack, I'kiem Jefferson broke free to score on a 71-yard run.

Patterson reached the end zone on an 8-yard run for the Bobcats in the first half. Contributing offensively for the Bobcats in the first half, D.J. Chappelear connected on a 26-yard field goal.

Bluffton owned a slim 7-6 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter and led 10-6 before Screven County got going offensively before the break.

Screven County, thanks to a pair of touchdown receptions by Tyquan Johnson, carried a 19-10 lead into halftime.

Helping to provide some second half heroics for the determined Bobcats, Richard Jenkins forced a fumble on a sack and scored on a 1-yard rushing effort as Bluffton earned the hard-fought win.

Ultimately, Bluffton rushed for 211 yards. Jefferson led the Bobcats on the ground, racking up 101 yards.

Bluffton (1-0) is scheduled to host new rival May River (0-1) on Friday, Aug. 26. Kickoff for the Bluffton-May River football game is set for 7:30 p.m.

<b>Hilton Head Prep drops </b><b>game to Orangeburg Prep</b>

The Hilton Head Prep football team dropped its season opener on the road.
Host Orangeburg Prep pulled away to defeat the Dolphins 29-14 on Aug. 19.

The season-opening high school football game featured a lightning delay early in the fourth quarter.

Orangeburg Prep led 22-14 at the time of the lightning delay.

Hilton Head Prep started well, scoring 14 points in the first quarter.

The Dolphins, however, found themselves being held scoreless after the initial period.

Rodney Sturgis broke free to score on a 60-yard run for the Dolphins.

Providing Hilton Head Prep's other touchdown from the defensive side, Blake Sollie returned a fumble 70 yards for a touchdown.

Producing on special teams, Waddy Brooks finished 2-for-2 on PATs for the Dolphins.

Hilton Head Prep packed a 14-7 lead out of the opening quarter.

Host Orangeburg Prep, however, fought back to carry a 16-14 lead into halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter of the season-opening matchup.

Finishing strong, Orangeburg Prep added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to set the final score.

Hilton Head Prep is scheduled to visit Thomas Heyward Academy on Aug. 26.

Kickoff for the Hilton Head Prep-Thomas Heyward Academy football game is set for 7:30 p.m. in Ridgeland.