It was the Brandon Howard show Friday night at Thomas Heyward. The senior did it all on homecoming night, accounting for four touchdowns with 14 tackles and a pick on defense as the Rebels rolled past John Paul II 46-6.
After losing starting quarterback Dietrich Shuford to a season-ending injury two weeks ago, Howard stepped up again in a big way, taking five carries for 56 yards and two touchdowns while completing 3-of-8 passes for 84 yards and two scores. Anthony Fripp anchored the ground game, running for 107 yards on 14 carries, and Tony O’Banner excelled as a versatile playmaker, racking up 51 yards and a touchdown to go with a 38-yard reception. Ryder Smith dashed to the end zone on a 10-yard run, while Cutter Williams and Cody Parker added a pair of touchdown catches each.
The Rebel defense shut down a JPII attack that put up 76 points the previous two weeks, holding the Golden Warriors to under 150 total yards. Howard was a force at linebacker, recording 14 tackles and an interception. Walker Taylor and Cameron VanGeison each put up 10 tackles while Cody Parker added six stops and picked off a pass. The ferocious defense was busy in the backfield, as Taylor, Josh Alfonso, and Preston Hamilton each picked up a sack.
Michael Carbone and Sebastian Slusne led the defensive effort for John Paul II with nine tackles each.
Thomas Heyward (5-1, 1-0) travels to Colleton Prep for a region contest Friday, while John Paul II (2-3, 1-0) looks for a bounce-back win at home against Northwood Academy in a region game.
By Wes Kerr
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