Beaufort High’s season ended in the early morning hours Saturday, as the Eagles waited out a two-hour lightning delay before falling 31-30 to Brookland-Cayce in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
The Eagles (5-6) and Bearcats went back and forth in a wild game that saw seven lead changes, including four in the second half.
Jeffrey Smyth opened the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run, but the Bearcats answered quickly to tie it and pulled ahead 13-7 early in the second quarter. Tyler Haley’s 8-yard TD pass to William Winburn gave the Eagles a 14-13 lead with 7:04 left in the half, but Brookland-Cayce responded with a touchdown to regain the lead.
Peyton Langford’s 33-yard field goal pulled Beaufort within 19-17 at halftime, and Haley broke a 75-yard TD run early in the third quarter to give the Eagles the lead again, but the Bearcats again answered to take a 25-24 lead with 4:05 left in the third.
Haley’s second touchdown run of the night put Beaufort ahead 30-25 with 11:28 left, but Brookland-Cayce answered just over a minute later for a 31-30 lead.
The Eagles had the ball when lightning in the area forced a delay with 3:10 remaining. After the two-hour break, Beaufort fumbled and Brookland-Cayce was able to run out the clock.