Thomas Heyward continued its dominant season with a 70-20 blowout of visiting Thomas Sumter in the first round of the SCISA 1A playoffs Friday.
Bruzza Pusha returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown — the first of three kickoff return touchdowns for THA — and the Rebels maintained control the rest of the way. Bobby Payne scored four touchdowns — two rushing, one receiving, and one on a kick return — and Jake Masters threw two touchdown passes and returned a kickoff for a score.
Pusha added a punt return touchdown, Chipper Hammond returned a fumble for a score, Joseph Gibson caught a touchdown pass, and River Pender added a rushing score as the Rebels led 41-0 at halftime. Thomas Heyward was without its top two rushers with Trey Pusha and JR Patterson sidelined by injuries.
THA (11-0) will host Carolina Academy in the semifinals next Friday.