Each week throughout the high school football season, we’ll chase down the stats, check out the highlights, and round up our Players of the Week from around the Lowco, as well as an area Team of the Week and a preview of the upcoming Game of the Week in the Lowco Football Spotlight.
We picked the top Players of the Week, handed out a few Helmet Stickers for strong performances, and picked a Team of the Week for Week 1 and a Game of the Week we’re looking forward to in Week 2. It’s everything you need to know to get ready for another week of high school football in the Lowco.
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WEEK 1 RESULTS
Thomas Heyward 44, Battery Creek 3
May River 43, Hartsville 28
Beaufort High 24, Effingham County 3
Bamberg-Ehrhardt 27, Bluffton 0
Beaufort Academy 42, St. John’s Christian 33
Hilton Head Christian Academy 52, Dorchester Academy 21
Hilton Head Prep 6, Colleton Prep 0
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Garvin Douglas, MRHS: Douglas was nothing short of spectacular against Hartsville, rushing 17 times for 215 yards and 4 TDs to help the Sharks improve to 2-0.
Jackson Lanier, HHCA: The Bulldog was a monster against Dorchester Academy, catching four passes for 170 yards and a TD, rushing twice for 26 yards, and racking up eight tackles, a sack, an interception, and two forced fumbles to lead the defense.
Ben Lubkin, BA: Lubkin came up huge for BA’s defense in a win at St. John’s Christian, coming up with three interceptions including a pair of pick-6s and the game-sealing swipe in the final minutes.
Trevor Weldon, HHP: The Leg of the Lowco was at it again Friday, booting field goals of 43 and 50 yards — the latter a school record — to record the only points in HHP’s win over Colleton Prep. He’s 5-for-6 on the season with three field goals from 43 or beyond and his only miss from 49.
Alvin Wilson, BHS: In a terrific team defensive effort against Effingham County, Wilson was the biggest standout for the Eagles, racking up eight tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, a quarterback pressure, and a pass breakup.
HELMET STICKERS
Jaeon Allen, MRHS: 6-91, 2 TDs rush
Jace Blackshear, HHCA: 10-93 TD rush; 10-14, 257, 3 TDs, INT passing; 2 tackles, TFL, INT, PBU
Jackson Davis, BA: 8 tackles, 45-yard fumble return TD
Daryl DePass, BHS: 7 tackles, TFL, PBU
Sean Graham, HHP: 11 tackles
Devonte Green, BA: 20-143, 2 TDs rush
Tyler Haley, BHS: 7-118 rush; 7-16-134, 2 TDs pass
Preston Hamilton, THA: 9 tackles 3 TFL, 1 sack
Brandon Howard, THA: 9 tackles, 3 TFL; 1-15 rush; 1-43 receiving
Drew Murdaugh, CPA: 23-108 rushing
Tony O’Banner, THA: 7-81, TD rushing
Zyrin Odom, BHS: 3-73, TD rec
Thomas Raisch, MRHS: 11 tackles, 1.5 TFL
Joseph Robinson, HHCA: 8-85, 2 TDs rush; 5 tackles, sack, FF
Jake Rodney-Brown, HHP: 15-71 rush; 1 tackles
Cam Scott, MRHS: 13-96 rush
Dietrich Shuford, THA: 5-8, 127, 2 TDs passing; 6-63, TD rushing
James Townsend, THA: 1-57, TD rushing; 85-yard KR TD
Cameron VanGeison, THA: 11 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks
Cutter Williams, THA: 2-72, 2 TDs receiving
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Thomas Heyward Rebels
Thomas Heyward must be getting bored. The Rebels rarely have to rely on their starters in the second half of games against their peers, and they’ve rolled to three straight SCISA 1A title, so they set out to explore new horizons in 2021, scheduling Class 3A Battery Creek and Class 4A Bluffton. Granted, these are teams that combined to win two games last season, but they are schools in the states second- and third-largest classifications. THA passed the first test with flying colors, hammering Battery Creek 44-3 in a thoroughly impressive performance. Freshman Dietrich Shuford was poised and dynamic under center, eighth-grader Tony O’Banner is a star in the making, and the defense led by Brandon Howard and Cameron VanGeison is fierce. That’s not to mention explosive playmakers like James “Turbo” Townsend, Cutter Williams, and Anthony Fripp. A lot would have to go wrong to prevent the Rebels from a fourth straight title.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Benedictine at Beaufort High
Another week, another Peach State opponent for the Eagles, who have sailed through their first two border battles with convincing wins over Richmond Hill and Effingham County. This will be their toughest test yet and should prove to be a great measuring stick to see just how good Beaufort’s defense can be. The Cadets are a perennial power and they have an Auburn commit at quarterback in Holden Geriner, who is surrounded by weapons. Benedictine dropped its opener 42-27 to Miami prep school power Columbus, so the Cadets will be hungry to sniff the win column. Beaufort’s defense will have to play another outstanding game, and Tyler Haley and the offense will need to be in top form to stay unbeaten.
WEEK 2 SLATE
Hilton Head High at Lower Richland, 7:30 p.m.
Benedictine at Beaufort High, 7:30 p.m.
St. Andrew’s at John Paul II, 7 p.m.
Colleton Prep at Northwood Academy, 7:30 p.m.
Dorchester Academy at Thomas Heyward, 7:30 p.m.
