Another chapter in the 2021 high school football season was written Friday night, with six games across the Lowco in Week 1 — and one more to come Saturday when May River hosts Hartsville.
We’ll have full recaps, photo galleries, and video highlights posted throughout the weekend, but here’s your first look at the action in the Lowco First Down:
Thomas Heyward 44, Battery Creek 3: The Rebels set the tone when James “Turbo” Townsend took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and didn’t let off the gas, routing the Dolphins in a rare matchup of area SCISA and SCHSL programs. Townsend added a late touchdown run, and Dietrich Shuford rushed for a score and threw two TD passes to Cutter Williams.
Beaufort High 24, Effingham County 3: The Eagles’ defense continued their dominance — they haven’t allowed an offensive touchdown through two games — and Tyler Haley tossed a pair of touchdown passes as Beaufort improved to 2-0 with another border bragging rights win over the Peach State.
Bamberg-Ehrhardt 27, Bluffton 0: The short-handed Bobcats couldn’t muster much on offense with both quarterbacks sidelined by COVID-19 protocols, and the Red Raiders wore down Bluffton’s defense in the second half.
Beaufort Academy 42, St. John’s Christian 33: Ben Lubkin made three interceptions — and took two of them to the house — and Devonte Green scored a pair of rushing touchdowns as the Eagles’ held on in a wild game in Moncks Corner to open the season.
Hilton Head Christian Academy 52, Dorchester Academy 21: Everyone got involved in the scoring as the Eagles put up 50-plus for the second straight game. Jace Blackshear tossed three TD passes and ran for one, and Joseph Robinson and Riley Shinn each scored twice
Hilton Head Prep 6, Colleton Prep 0: Trevor Weldon booted field goals of 45 and 50 yards — the latter a school record — to lift the Dolphins in the defensive struggle and give them their first 2-0 start since 2011. Weldon’s heroics spoiled a big game from War Hawks quarterback Drew Murdaugh, who rushed for 108 yards but couldn’t find the end zone.