After starting strong, visiting Beaufort High eventually fell to Hilton Head Island in a Region 8-AAA football game on Friday night. Hilton Head Island battled back to beat Beaufort High 41-30. Beaufort High dropped to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in Region 8-AAA with the loss.

With the win, Hilton Head Island moved to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in Region 8-AAA.

Leading Hilton Head Island to the victory, experienced quarterback Aiden Hegarty completed 16-of-22 passes for 265 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Hegarty completed scoring passes to Bryce Singleton, Tyler Hamilton, Jestin Morrow and Tyreke Young. Morrow, one of the area’s top receivers, was on the receiving end of two Hegarty scoring passes. Singleton reeled in four receptions for 121 yards in the victory.

Hamilton led Hilton Head Island in rushing, scampering for 116 yards on 11 carries.

Beaufort High scored first. The Eagles led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and carried a 24-13 lead into halftime. Hilton Head Island, however, shut out Beaufort High 15-0 in the third quarter to move out in front. Determined Hilton Head Island dominated after intermission, outscoring Beaufort High 26-6 following the break. Wyatt Sherpensky paced Beaufort High offensively, rushing 28 times for 151 yards and one touchdown in the short effort. Following Sherpensky in the Beaufort High rushing column, Jeffrey Tookes rushed 15 times for 87 yards.

The Eagles fared well both on the ground and through the air. Beaufort High quarterback Connor Gruel completed 10-of-14 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Leading the Eagles in receiving, Rome Wallace hauled in five receptions for 86 yards. Sherpensky, Tookes and Omar Cummings rushed for one touchdown apiece in Beaufort High’s setback. John-Ryan Goneke hauled in a 9-yard scoring pass from Gruel.

Providing more scoring for the Eagles, kicker Will Durbin connected on a 37-yard field goal.