As the final whistle blew on the 2020 season, Beaufort Academy was left wondering what happened. A remarkable start gave way to an unsatisfying finish, but the Eagles established a solid foundation in their first season playing 11-man football, and they hope to sustain last year’s early success throughout the 2021 campaign.
BA had opportunities to win more games and just could not get that extra break. Of the Eagles’ five regular-season losses, three of them were by two points or less, including a two-point setback to eventual SCISA 1A champion Thomas Heyward and a one-point defeat to region runner-up Orangeburg Prep.
In the season opener against St John’s Christian, the Eagles were down three in the final minute needing just one stop. They ended up letting the Cavaliers score a touchdown in the last minute, pushing the margin to 10 points. Coach Mark Clifford’s team was just a few plays away from having a 9-1 record in the school’s first year in the 11-man ranks.
BA has to replace some big production on both sides of the ball from last year’s team. Leading receiver Elijah Fess and the team’s top two rushers, Ja’Sean Lawson and Carlos Jones, were lost to graduation, along with several other players lost to graduation and transfers, but Clifford is not concerned.
“Those guys we have at running back (Devonte Green and Jaxen Porter) right now are pretty good too,” Clifford said.
The Eagles also have Junior Braydon Dineen back under center. Last season Dineen completed 52 percent of his passes for 857 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions in his first season at the position after taking over for Dawson Coleman. He made his fair share of mistakes, as any first-year starting quarterback would, but if he can improve upon those miscues, the Eagles will have a backfield that can compete with Hilton Head Christian and the best of SCISA 2A.
Clifford believes he also has some good talent at linebacker and defensive back, especially with Dineen, Green, and Porter all expected to play both ways, Green was the leading tackler in the 2020 season, and senior cornerback Ben Lubkin was not far behind. Clifford also likes the way Colton Collins has developed his game this offseason. The Eagles have a new defensive coordinator calling plays, so there is some unknown in that area.
All in all, Clifford likes his offensive and defensive unit. The only hole that could show itself is the depth in the trenches. In order to compete against powerhouse teams like Hilton Head Christian and Thomas Heyward, the Eagles will need to find some depth on the line. They have some good players on the line, but it’s August in South Carolina and it’s hot and humid. No matter how good any unit is, if you don’t have the ability to give them a rest, life will become difficult in the third and fourth quarter.
BEAUFORT ACADEMY EAGLES FOOTBALL
Coach: Mark Clifford
Record at BA: 19-15 (4th season)
2020 record: 5-6 overall, 2-3 region (1st round of SCISA 2A playoffs)
Top returners: QB/LB Braydon Dineen, RB/LB Jaxen Porter, RB/LB Devonte Green, LB Colton Collins, SS Cody Dalrymple, CB Ben Lubkin, OT/DT Alex Pinto
Notable losses: WR/DB Elijah Fess, RB/LB Ja’Sean Lawson, RB/LB Carlos Jones
Breakout candidates: QB Braydon Dineen, RB Devonte Green, RB Jaxen Porter, LB Colton Collins
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Braydon Dineen, QB: Stronger, quicker, faster. Those three words describe how the junior quarterback has improved over the offseason. Last season Dineen completed 52 percent of his passes for 857 yards with four TDs and six interceptions, but between the numbers, he showed great promise in Clifford’s split back offense. If Dineen can improve these numbers and limit the mistakes, like Clifford thinks he will, he can have a solid junior campaign.
Devonte Green and Jaxen Porter, RB: No Lawson and Jones? No problem. This backfield tandem has made huge strides in the offseason to prepare for success in Clifford’s patented split back offense. Porter got some carries last season, going for 228 yards on 42 attempts, and hauled in 11 passes for 290 yards and two TDs. Both sides of the duo have developed in the passing game, so with Fess, Lawson, and Jones gone from graduation, those numbers can only go up.
REGION AND BEYOND
SCISA Region 1-2A is loaded with talent and experience this season. Two of the Eagles’ three region losses were by one point last season — 14-13 to Orangeburg Prep and 33-32 to John Paul II. If you change those two scores, the Eagles are 4-1 in a very tough region with the only loss coming at the hands of eventual SCISA 2A state champion Hilton Head Christian in a game BA let slip away in the second quarter. While the Eagles lost their leading rusher and receiver, the cupboard is certainly not bare. This team is young, but the schedule is favorable with the first region game coming on Sept. 17 against Northwood. For a team that looks to get better as the season progresses, having time to get some games in before jumping into the deep end of the pool bodes well. Finishing in the top three of the region or higher is certainly not out of the question.
SCHEDULE
8/27 — at St. John’s Christian
9/3 — at Bethesda Academy
9/10 — vs. Colleton Prep
9/17 — vs. Northwood Academy*
9/24 — at Thomas Heyward
10/1 — at Hilton Head Prep*
10/8 — at Thomas Sumter
10/15 — vs. Orangeburg Prep*
10/22 — at Hilton Head Christian*
10/29 — vs. John Paul II*
By Eric Ellison
