<strong>OP’s ground attack too much for JPII</strong>

John Paul II couldn’t slow down Orangeburg Prep’s powerful ground game, as the Golden Warriors dug a big hole early and couldn’t overcome it in a 54-21 home loss to open the season.

Amir Tyler rushed for four touchdowns, and McCullough Mims ran for two scores and passed for another to lead the indians, who used a series of takeaways to build a 33-0 lead before JPII got on the board.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

Mark Knight got the JPII offense going and racked up 120 yards on six carries, including a 75-yard TD run. He also snagged two passes for 38 yards. Jeremiah Young rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and was 4-of-9 passing for 60 yards, and Jackson Ogden added a rushing touchdown for the Golden Warriors.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

JPII (0-1, 0-1) travels to St. Andrew’s for a non-region game at 7:30 p.m. Friday.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

<strong>BA comes up short in 11-man debut</strong>

Beaufort Academy’s introduction to 11-man football came in the form of a hard-fought 28-18 loss to visiting St. John’s Christian Academy on Friday.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

After a defensive struggle in the first half, the Eagles got on the board with the first of Carlos Jones’ two touchdown runs to pull with 8-6 with 3:55 left in the third quarter.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

The Cavaliers answered quickly with a scoring strike to make it 14-6, but Jones punched in another TD, and Peyton Collins scooped up a fumble and took it to the end zone to give BA an 18-14 lead with 8:45 remaining.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

The tiring Eagles defense couldn’t come up with a stop late, though, as the Cavs drove for two late scores to escape with the win.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

BA (0-1) hosts Bethesda Academy for another non-region game at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

<em>Beaufort Academy’s Ja’Sean Lawson turns the corner while St. John’s Christian Academy’s Bruce Tayler gets blocked out during the first half of their season-opening game Friday night at Merritt Field. The Eagles dropped their season opener, 28-18. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</em>