COLUMBIA — After three hours of punch after punch thrown by Trinity-Byrnes and Hilton Head Christian Academy, Donovan Lambert crossed into the end zone in overtime to give the Titans the SCISA 2A title with a 55-49 win in a classic championship game Saturday at Benedict College’s Charles W. Johnson Stadium.
The teams combined for more than 1,000 yards in an ultimate shootout. The game was a contrast of styles between the run-heavy Titans, and the pass-happy Eagles. All of Trinity-Byrnes’ TDs were on the ground, and all of the Eagles’ scores, appropriately, flew threw the air.
The start of the game looked like it would be a Trinity blowout, as they raced out to a 14-0 lead. But an interception by William Newton halted a Titans drive, and and Hayden Shinn’s offense started to fire up. Despite some poor offensive play early, a forced turnover and a fourth-down stop by the Eagle defense kept them in striking distance. Midway though the game, Shinn found his groove, and it was game on.
These two outstanding teams then traded punch for punch like heavyweight fighters. After the Eagles evened the game at 49, as the 14th touchdown of the game was scored, the Titans ran the ball down to the HHCA 35, but the Eagles made a tackle for loss and forced a false start to make the opposition punt.
With 18 seconds left, instead of kneeling down and going to overtime, the Eagles wanted a big play to win it. But Shinn overthrew his receiver and was intercepted by the Titans. With a chance for all the glory, T-B’s kicker was iced by three consecutive HHCA timeouts and booted a line drive short to force OT.
But the HHCA offense could not step up again, and failed to score from the 10-yard line. On fourth down, Shinn could not find an open white jersey and tossed his fifth interception. Wasting no time, the Titans took over from the 10 and put the ball across the end zone to claim the championship.
“The team left everything on the field tonight, one more play would’ve made the difference,” said HHCA head coach Ron Peduzzi. “We played a good football team, and it was a privilege being their coach this year.”
A great season from the HHCA Eagles ended in heartbreaking fashion. But it was not without the effort from its quarterback Hayden Shinn, who threw for 405 yards and seven touchdowns despite playing most of the game in a steady rain.
“Without Hayden, we’re not here having a chance to win a championship. He put in an incredible effort,” said Peduzzi.
With the Titans’ effective game plan to take away JP Peduzzi, who caught just three balls, Floyd Hargrove broke out after a tough start to the season with injuries, reeling in six passes for 170 yards and three TDs. Jace Blackshear pitched in with a pair of scores, including a 56-yarder where the Titan defense left him wide-open on a go route down the field. Daniel Harrington and Cameron Strickland also found the end zone.
Kent Camp performed on the defensive side, racking up 10 tackles, and just like he has done all season long, Jackson “Bulldog” Lanier went all out with nine tackles (two for loss), a sack, and a forced fumble. The defense forced two turnovers, with a JP Peduzzi fumble recovery and a William Newton interception.
The Eagles could not bring down Nick Jones, who rushed for 289 yards and four touchdowns and returned a kickoff 99 yards to the house. Lambert scored three times, including the championship clincher in overtime.
The Eagles will leave 2019 with a disappointing end, but also with an outstanding final act, going toe to toe with the best team in the state.
“We established a culture and a bar of expectations this year,” Ron Peduzzi said. “Then you come back next year and start right where you left off.”
— Wes Kerr, LowcoSports.com
