<em>Photo above: Whale Branch running back Irvan Mulligan, left, is nearly taken down by four May River defensive players during the first quarter of their non-regional game on Sept. 1 at Whale Branch. With 8:16 left in the quarter, Mulligan escaped and scampered 67 yards for the Warrior’s only touchdown. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</em>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL</b></span></p>
<b>Whale Branch falls&nbsp;</b><b>to improved May River</b>

The Whale Branch football team remained in the loss column at home against a newfound rival. Freshman quarterback Ahmad Green rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns and passed for another 57 yards to lead visiting May River past Whale Branch 22-6 in an early-season high school football game&nbsp;on Sept. 1.&nbsp;

Much-improved May River earned its first win in the 2017 high school football season.&nbsp;

With the win, May River improved to 1-2.

Whale Branch dropped to 0-2 with the loss.

Cam Adams added 124 yards and a touchdown for the Sharks in the convincing victory.&nbsp;

Delivering on the defensive side for the May River football team, Terry Fields provided two interceptions and forced a fumble.

Irvin Mulligan broke loose on a 66-yard touchdown run for Whale Branch in the first quarter. The Warriors wouldn't return to the end zone, though.

Mulligan, one of the area's top high school running backs, rushed for 108 yards in the loss. The Whale Branch running back was limited throughout the second half of the game versus May River.

The Warriors remained in the loss column after suffering a heartbreaking one-point setback to Hilton Head Island in their season opener. Hilton Head Island had outlasted Whale Branch 22-21 one week earlier. &nbsp;

The Warriors have regular-season&nbsp; games remaining versus Beaufort, Battery Creek, Bluffton, Woodland, North Charleston, Garrett Academy Tech and Burke.&nbsp;

Whale Branch will host Beaufort while May River battles Hilton Head Island on Friday, Sept. 8.&nbsp;

<b>Beaufort rolls over&nbsp;</b><b>Bluffton, 41-21</b>

Beaufort beat a longtime rival&nbsp;on Sept. 1, defeating visiting Bluffton 41-21 in an early-season high school football game.

The Eagles notched their first win over familiar foe Bluffton on the gridiron since the 2013 season.&nbsp;

With the win, Beaufort claimed the Broad River Bowl trophy and moved to 3-0.

Bluffton stumbled to 1-2 with the win.&nbsp;

The Eagles amassed 361 yards of total offense in the winning effort.&nbsp;

Senior running back Kyleik Middleton led the Beaufort football team to the win, rushing 24 times for 270 yards and two touchdowns.&nbsp;

Beaufort quarterback Jeffrey Smyth completed four passes for 47 yards n the Eagles' victory.

Bluffton was limited to 46 rushing yards. The Bobcats also struggled to keep possession of the football.

Defensively for Beaufort, Smyth recorded two interceptions and teammates Brendan Bowersox and Reggie Jones Jr. picked off one pass apiece. Jones returned his interception for a touchdown in the Eagles' triumph.

Beaufort registered four sacks. Junior lineman Chase Guynup recorded one and a half sacks for the Eagles in the winning effort.

The Eagles boast additional wins over Wando and Battery Creek.

Beaufort has additional regular-season games remaining versus Whale Branch, May River, Stall, Colleton County, Berkeley, Cane Bay and Hilton Head Island.

Both Beaufort and Bluffton are due back on the field on Friday, Sept. 8. Beaufort is slated to visit rival Whale Branch while Bluffton hosts New Hampstead later in the week.

<b>Battery Creek&nbsp;</b><b>struggles offensively</b>

Quarterback Collin Kaiser threw three touchdown passes to lead Hilton Head Island past Battery Creek 24-3 in an early-season high school football game&nbsp;on Sept. 1.&nbsp;

With the win, Hilton Head Island improved to 2-0.

Battery Creek dropped to 0-3 with the loss.&nbsp;

The Dolphins remained in the loss column after dropping games to Swansea and Beaufort. One week earlier, Beaufort had defeated Battery Creek 48-13.

Continuing to control a tradition-rich high school football series, Hilton Head Island notched its 10th straight victory over Battery Creek.

The Seahawks moved head early and never faltered in the matchup versus Battery Creek, eventually pulling away to win convincingly.

The Dolphins struggled to put points on the scoreboard. Battery Creek was held out of the end zone and only got on the scoreboard when it connected on a field goal.

The high school football game contest was delayed by more than two hours because of lightning.&nbsp;

The Dolphins have regular-season games remaining versus Charleston Math &amp; Science, Whale Branch, Calhoun County, Wade Hampton, Bluffton, Ridgeland-Hardeeville and May River.

Battery Creek is scheduled to visit Charleston Math &amp; Science for its next game on Friday, Sept. 8. In another high school football matchup set for that same day, Hilton Head Island is slated to visit May River.

<b>Beaufort Academy&nbsp;</b><b>upends Patrick Henry</b>

Beaufort Academy claimed its first win in the 2017 high school football season&nbsp;on Sept. 1, beating host Patrick Henry Academy 28-22.

Heading into the early-season game against the Eagles, Patrick Henry Academy had an unblemished record.&nbsp;

With the win, Beaufort Academy improved to 1-2.

Patrick Henry Academy dropped to 2-1 with the loss.&nbsp;

The Eagles landed in the win column after suffering back-to-back losses to St. John's Christian Academy and Clarendon Hall. &nbsp;

The Patriots slipped into the loss column after opening the 2017 season with back-to-back wins over Holly Hill Academy and King Academy.

Individual statistics from the Beaufort Academy-Patrick Henry Academy football game were unavailable at press time and will appear in next week's edition.&nbsp;

Beaufort Academy has regular-season games remaining versus Holly Hill Academy, Northside Christian Academy, Calhoun Academy, Faith Christian Academy, Andrew Jackson Academy, Coastal Christian Prep and Cathedral Academy. The Eagles will visit Holly Hill Academy on Friday, Sept. 8.
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>GIRLS' HIGH&nbsp;</b><b>SCHOOL TENNIS&nbsp;</b></span></p>
<b>Beaufort Academy&nbsp;</b><b>beats Bluffton</b>

Beaufort Academy beat familiar rival Bluffton 5-1 in a girls' high school tennis match&nbsp;on Aug. 31.&nbsp;

Presley Jackson, Abby Dalton, Lydasia Prather, Emily Potter and Mary Alden Cooper claimed singles wins for the Eagles.&nbsp;

Complete results from the Beaufort Academy-Bluffton girls' tennis match follow.&nbsp;

<b>Beaufort Academy 5, Bluffton 1</b>

Singles:&nbsp;Rachel Riley (B) def. Jayda Scheper (BA), 6-3, 6-1; Presley Jackson (BA) def. Lydia John 6-1, 7-5; Abby Dalton (BA) def. Rachel Richardson 6-2, 5-7 (10-5); Lydasia Prather (BA) def. Serena Lin 6-0, 6-2; Emily Potter (BA) def. Olivia Boshan 6-2, 6-0; Mary Alden Cooper (BA) def. Anastasiya Antsyferova 6-0, 6-1.