<em>Top photo: Beaufort Academy raised $2,500 to fight childhood cancer during the Sept. 16 football game. The Eagles also earned their first win. Photo courtesy of Blue &amp; White Athletic Booster Club, Beaufort Academy.</em>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL</b></span></p>


[caption id="attachment_29958" align="aligncenter" width="1400"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/bluffton-football.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-29958"><img class="size-full wp-image-29958" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/bluffton-football.jpg" alt="Leading the charge onto their home field, Bluffton High School’s Tyrone Mitchell, center, carries the Stars and Stripes. Photo by Bob Sofaly." width="1400" height="970" /></a> Leading the charge onto their home field, Bluffton High School’s Tyrone Mitchell, center, carries the Stars and Stripes. Photo by Bob Sofaly.[/caption]

<b>Bluffton outlasts </b><b>Hilton Head Island</b>

Host Bluffton edged Hilton Head Island 25-22 in a high school football game on Sept. 16.

Longtime rivals, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island met for the latest installment of the annual Bridge Bowl. The win allowed Bluffton to remain unbeaten. With the win, Bluffton moved to 5-0. Hilton Head Island dropped to 3-1 with the loss.

Cam Bent provided a big play for Bluffton when he took a screen pass 95 yards for a touchdown. Tyler Lindo scored Bluffton's first touchdown in the Bridge Bowl matchup. Jhabias Johnson scored on another rushing touchdown and D.J. Chappelear booted a 39-yard field goal for the productive Bobcats. Hilton Head Island produced its share of offensive highlights in the regular-season matchup. Pacing Hilton Head Island's offensive attack, Collin Kaiser completed two touchdown passes for the Seahawks. Jonathan Orr kicked a field goal and Tyler Hamilton scored on a 1-yard run to keep the Seahawks within striking distance. Excelling through the air, Kaiser passed for 245 yards in the setback.

Both Bluffton and Hilton Head Island are due back in action on Friday, Sept. 23. Bluffton is slated to visit Whale Branch while Hilton Head Island hosts Ridgeland-Hardeeville.

<b>Beaufort Academy </b><b>earns its first win</b>

Host Beaufort Academy pulled away to beat Northside Christian Academy 34-12 in a high school football game on Sept. 16. In addition to earning the win, Beaufort Academy raised $2,500 to fight childhood cancer.

With the win, Beaufort Academy improved to 1-3. Northside Christian slipped to 1-3 with the loss.

"We needed that," Beaufort Academy coach Scott Richards said following his team's victory. "What a great team win! Going into our region schedule - that was big for us. We had some real gutsy performances. Our team defense was the reason for our success, no question about that. Our game plan was to run the football at these guys and that is exactly what we did."

As a team, Beaufort Academy rushed for over 440 yards and five touchdowns.

Leading Beaufort Academy on the ground, Kevin Williams rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Directly behind Williams in the Beaufort Academy rushing column, Chris Boggs rushed for 143 yards and one touchdown for the Eagles. Jalen Moon rushed for 74 yards and one touchdown as Beaufort Academy prevailed. Aiding the Beaufort Academy offensive attack. Jaxon Spratling rushed for 68 yards and William Tumlin contributed 22 rushing yards for the Eagles. Defensively, Will Warren led Beaufort Academy with eight tackles, including three sacks.

Beaufort Academy is slated to visit Cathedral Academy on Friday, Sept. 23. Kickoff for the Beaufort Academy-Cathedral Academy football game is set for 7:30 p.m. in North Charleston.

<b>Beaufort High rushes past May River, 50-6</b>

Beaufort High rushed its way past May River 50-6 in a high school football game on Sept. 15.

The setback kept upstart May River winless. With the win, Beaufort High improved to 4-1. May River dropped to 0-5 with the loss.

As a team, Beaufort High rushed for 258 yards. Leading Beaufort High on the ground, Omar Cummings rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Dominant Beaufort High, under the direction of head coach Mark Clifford, led 35-0 at halftime and remained in control throughout the second half. Thriving early, the Eagles scored on four of their first five possessions in the mid-season matchup. Reaching the end zone following lengthy jaunts, Cummings scored on runs of 52 yards and 40 yards, respectively. Wyatt Sherpensky, Kyleik Middleton and Logan Adkins added rushing touchdowns for the Eagles in the convincing victory. Delivering a score on the defensive side for Beaufort High, Will Kelly returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown.

Starting strong, Beaufort High led 21-0 at the conclusion of the first quarter.

Joseph Tapscott hooked up with Brandon Morales on a 15-yard scoring pass for May River's lone touchdown in the loss. Pacing May River offensively, Morales rushed 15 times for 72 yards. Aiding the May River offensive attack, Noah Middleton hauled in four receptions for Beaufort High isn't scheduled to return to the gridiron until Friday, Sept. 30. The Eagles are slated to host Stall in their next outing.

May River is scheduled to host Manning on Friday, Sept. 23. Kickoff for the May River-Manning football game is set for 7:30 p.m.

<b>Hilton Head Christian </b><b>falls to Colleton Prep </b>

Hilton Head Christian Academy struggled to keep up with visiting Colleton Prep Academy in its latest outing on the gridiron. Colleton Prep pulled away to beat host Hilton Head Christian 42-21 in a high school football game on Sept. 16.

The victory allowed Colleton Prep Academy to remain undefeated. With the loss, Hilton Head Christian slipped to 1-3. Colleton Prep Academy moved to 4-0  with the win.

The Warhawks executed well on the offensive side and delivered defensively throughout the regular-season matchup. Multiple players helped to lead the Hilton Head Christian football program offensively and defensively. Leading Hilton Head Christian offensively in the setback, quarterback Dargan Cherry passed for 139 yards and two touchdowns. James Bartholomew and Daniel Harrington hauled in one touchdown reception apiece for the Eagles. Zach Doe paced Hilton Head Christian on the ground, rushing for 164 yards and one touchdown in the short effort.

Defensively for Hilton Head Christian, Craig Oliver registered a team-high six tackles. Finishing directly behind Oliver in the defensive column, Ben Viljac delivered five tackles.

A familiar foe awaits the Eagles. Hilton Head Christian is slated to host Northwood Academy on Friday, Sept. 23. Kickoff for the Hilton Head Christian-Northwood Academy football game is set for 7 p.m.

<b>John Paul II drops game at Dorchester Academy </b>

John Paul II remained in the loss column following its latest outing on the gridiron. Host Dorchester Academy pulled away to defeat John Paul II 52-6 in a high school football game on Sept. 16.

John Paul II faced an early deficit and had to play from behind throughout the entire matchup. The setback prevented John Paul II from breaking into the win column for the first time in the 2016 season. With the loss, John Paul II slipped to 0-5. Dorchester Academy improved to 2-3 with the win. The Golden Warriors scored their lone touchdown when Rashaad Battiste barreled into the end zone on a 2-yard run.

John Paul II is slated to host longtime rival Thomas Heyward Academy on Friday, Sept. 23. Kickoff for the John Paul II-Thomas Heyward Academy football game is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Ridgeland.
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>WOMEN’S SOCCER</b></span></p>
<b>USCB suffers loss at hands of Columbia</b>

The USCB women’s soccer team watched another strong performance turn into a heart-breaking defeat Sept. 13, as the visiting Sand Sharks dominated Columbia College but suffered a 2-1 defeat. The Koalas scored two first-half goals – the second on a penalty kick – and were able to hold off USCB’s second-half rally. Brittney Neser scored the lone goal for the Sand Sharks on an assist from Hayley Pina, who tied the school record with her 11th career assist.

“We came out strong again and controlled the play of the entire match,” USCB coach Ed Heberling said. “Columbia finished their two chances in the first half and put us in a deficit.”

The Koalas scored an early goal and added the penalty in the 42nd minute, but USCB rallied after the break and maintained the pressure. Neser broke through in the 69th minute, drilling a shot from the 18-yard line for her first goal of the season.

“We came out even more determined in the second half and continued to create chances,” Heberling said. “Neser got a drop from Pina that she buried in the side netting, which sparked the team to life a bit more.”

The Sand Sharks were unable to find the equalizer, though, despite several opportunities. The Koalas turned away numerous corner kicks and a Pina free kick, and Poppy Miller just missed putting away a rebound late in the match.

“This game can be cruel,” Heberling said. “We have been on the wrong side of a few games that we have controlled. We will get better and come out more determined.”

<b>Weslake scores goal, </b><b>C</b><b>lemson takes win</b>

The 13th-ranked Clemson women’s soccer team opened ACC play with a 2-1 victory on the road at Wake Forest on Sept. 16.

With the win, the Tigers improved to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play, and handed the Demon Deacons their first loss of the 2016 season, as they fell to 8-1 (0-1 ACC).

Clemson had the offensive advantage in the first half, leading in shots, 7-4, and shots on goal, 4-3. The Tigers created a couple of good changes on offense, but were unable to capitalize in the first 45 minutes. Senior keeper Kailen Sheridan picked up three saves in the first half, including one from close range in the final minute of play.

The Tigers came out pressing offensively in the second half, and it took less than 13 minutes to put a goal on the board. Senior Claire Wagner handled a free kick from 40 yards, sending a beautiful ball into the box for sophomore Miranda Weslake, who headed it into the net for her second goal of the season. Six minutes later, senior Jenna Weston doubled the Clemson lead, scoring on a header off of a long throw in by sophomore Sam Staab. A Wake Forest goal in the 83rd minute cut the deficit to one, but Sheridan and the Tiger defense held strong to pick up the win.

Weslake is a Beaufort Academy graduate.

For the match, shots were tied 15-15, but Clemson had the lead in shots on goal, 10-6, and corner kicks, 7-5. Sheridan finished the day with five saves. For the second week in a row, the Tigers have less than 48 hours to rest before they were scheduled to return to the pitch on  Sept. 18 to host Presbyterian College.
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>GOLF</b></span></p>
<b>Hamby golf tourney </b><b>scheduled for Oct. 22</b>

The 7th Annual Wayne Hamby Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, Oct. 22, at Pinecrest Golf Club in Bluffton to raise funds for the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). The captain’s choice scramble begins with a shotgun start at noon. Participants can sign up individually or as a four-person team. The tournament entry fee of $80 (for nonmembers) includes donation to IMF, golf, prizes and a buffet following the event. A raffle and silent auction, which includes several great trips, will supplement the fun and fundraising efforts.

To register for the tournament, call the Pinecrest Golf Club at 843-757-8960. To sponsor a hole, contact abertram@yahoo.com for more information.

Since its inception, the Hamby Memorial has donated over $42,000 to IMF. With a successful tournament this year, Hamby’s family and friends hope to have a research grant in his name. To learn more about the IMF or to make a donation directly, visit www.hamby4imf.org.