May River once again lived up to its “Leave No Doubt” motto on Friday, claiming its first region title with a convincing 35-14 win at Wade Hampton.
Brandon Morales rushed for three touchdowns and Ahmad Green ran for one score and passed for another as the Sharks rolled to a perfect region record and a 9-0 overall mark.
Wade Hampton star Pernell Maxwell broke a 48-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage but left the game shortly after and didn’t return until midway through the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Morales punched in a 3-yard touchdown run to tie it, and after Terry Fields recovered a muffed kickoff, Green scored from 4 yards out to give the Sharks a 14-7 lead. DeShareoh Williams broke a 57-yard touchdown run to tie it at 14, but it was all Sharks from that point.
Morales scored from the 3 for a 20-14 lead, and Ridge Dowe’s fumble recovery set up another 12-yard Morales touchdown run to give the Sharks a 27-14 halftime advantage. The Sharks chewed nearly six minutes off the clock on their opening drive of the second half, capped by Green’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Jack Hegan, and the defense shut out the Red Devils in the second half despite Maxwell’s return.
The Sharks (9-0, 4-0) wrap up the regular season at Colleton County next week before opening the Class 3A playoffs at home Nov. 9.