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 5 and a Game of the Week we’re looking forward to in Week 6. 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 5 RESULTS
Pinewood Prep 48, John Paul II 36
Wade Hampton 28, Hilton Head High 24
May River 24, Blythewood 14
North Central 36, Battery Creek 14
Pelion 34, Ridgeland-Hardeeville 14
Baptist Hill 30, Whale Branch 25
Thomas Heyward 24, Beaufort Academy 0
Hilton Head Christian Academy 49, Colleton Prep 7
Hilton Head Prep 22, Bethesda Academy 14
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
• Jace Blackshear, HHCA: Blackshear has been an absolute beast in the first half of his senior season, and that continued Friday at Colleton Prep. The Eagles star completed 8 of 14 passes for 162 yards and 3 TDs and added 130 yards and a TD on eight carries along with a forced fumble and interception on defense.
• Garvin Douglas, MRHS: Douglas has become the workhorse of May River’s power running game, doing his best vintage Cam Newton impression week after week. The Sharks’ senior QB rushed 25 times for 168 yards and 2 TDs in Friday’s big win over Blythewood, and he was 4-for-8 passing for 47 yards.
• Joseph Hicks, WB: The Lowco’s leading rusher put up another monster line in a losing effort Friday, piling up 195 yards and 3 TDs on 20 carries along with a 15-yard reception, seven tackles, a sack, and an interception in a loss to Baptist Hill.
• Brandon Howard, THA: Howard was already the anchor of an outstanding Rebels defense, which he continued with 21 tackles (four for loss) in a shutout of Beaufort Academy on Friday, and now he has taken the reins of the offense. The senior star rushed seven times for 101 yards and a TD against BA.
• Jaylen Sneed, HHIHS: Yet another two-way standout, Sneed continued to impress at the helm of the Seahawks’ offense in a loss at Wade Hampton, rushing 12 times for 109 yards and 3 TDs and going 7 of 14 passing for 43 yards. We already know what the Notre Dame commit can do on defense — he racked up 21 tackles and a pass breakup Friday.
HELMET STICKERS
• Xavier Chaplin, WB: 7 tackles, 2 TFL, sack; 267 team rushing yards (6.4 per carry)
• Loncelle Daley, HHP: 28-151, 3 TDs rushing; 4 tackles
• Jeremiah Dilbert, BCHS: 27-196, TD rushing
• Jaiden Jones, MRHS: 12 tackles, TFL, FF
• Jackson Lanier, HHCA: 3-89, TD receiving; 10 tackles
• Quatrell Livingston, BCHS: 7 tackles, 2 TFL
• Chris Marable, HHIHS: 11 tackles, 2 TFL
• Chase McCracken, HHIHS: 17-109 rushing; 2-23 receiving
• Jackson Ogden, JPII: 13-100 rushing; 5-74, TD receiving
• Jaxen Porter, BA: 10-83 rushing; 8 tackles, 2 TFL
• Joseph Robinson, HHCA: 3-40, 2 TDs rushing; 1-10, TD receiving; 6 tackles, TFL, sack, FF
• Jake Rodney-Brown, HHP: 8 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries; 40-yard reception
• Sebastian Slusne, JPII: 8 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks
• Chris Snowden, MRHS: 12 tackles, TFL
• Christian Tilton, JPII: 14-107 rushing; 8-18 passing, 107 yards, TD, INT; 88-yard KR-TD
• James Townsend, THA: 9-106, TD rushing; 3 tackles, INT
• Cameron VanGeison, THA: 15 tackles
TEAM OF THE WEEK
May River Sharks (3-1)
In what felt like a make-or-break week, the Sharks bounced back from a two-game skid and a humbling 48-7 loss to Thomson (Ga.) with a big-time win over Class 5A Blythewood on Friday. Quarterback Garvin Douglas had another huge game on the ground, but more importantly, May River’s defense turned in its best outing of the season. Jaiden Jones and Chris Snowden had monster games, Kade Carpenter continued his emergence as a leader at linebacker, and Naszier Chisolm sealed a huge win with a pick-6, reestablishing the Sharks as the top contender to Beaufort High in Region 7-4A.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Beaufort Academy (2-1) at Hilton Head Prep (4-1)
Hilton Head Christian Academy is the clear favorite to repeat as SCISA Region 1-2A champion, but the title of top contender has yet to be assigned. Orangeburg Prep could still be a factor, but the Lowco trio of Hilton Head Prep, Beaufort Academy, and John Paul II will all have something to say about it, too. This is the first of several huge head-to-head matchups that will end up determining who opens the playoffs at home. The Eagles are looking to bounce back after being shut out at Thomas Heyward last week, and they’ll have to face another strong defense and a dynamic running back in HHP’s Loncelle Daley. The Dolphins might have an advantage with the afternoon kick in Sea Pines, but Mark Clifford’s crew will be hungry to get back in the win column.
WEEK 6 SLATE
Battery Creek at Academic Magnet (Thursday)
Hilton Head High at Beaufort High
James Island at May River
Bluffton at Colleton County
Ridgeland-Hardeeville at Timberland
Cross at Whale Branch
Beaufort Academy at Hilton Head Prep
Pinewood Prep at Hilton Head Christian
John Paul II at Thomas Heyward
Bethesda Academy at Colleton Prep
