In the first game on their brand-new turf field Friday night, the Hilton Head High Seahawks delivered a dazzling show.
Jaylen Sneed and Chase McCracken ran in a pair of touchdowns each, and the defense snatched away three fumbles in a 34-6 victory over Colleton County.
“It was good to be back home, in front of our crowd,” HHIHS head coach BJ Payne said. “We wanted to do our best to stop their momentum early on, and we made a couple plays in the second half.”
The Seahawk defense stuffed the Cougar run game from the outset, forcing a pair of early three-and-outs. Raleigh transfer Owen Bayes started the game at quarterback for Hilton Head High, and the sophomore hit Evan Elliott across the middle on a play-action fake before McCracken stormed past the defense on a 20-yard gain. McCracken finished off the drive on the next play from the 4, stretching the ball across the goal line for a 7-0 Seahawk lead.
Hilton Head’s front seven continued to outwork the Cougars on the defensive side, but a slew of Seahawk penalties and a missed field goal kept it a one-score game at halftime.
The beast was unleashed after halftime, as Jaylen Sneed took over at quarterback and scorched the Cougars on the ground. After a 16-yard Sneed run to move the ball inside the CCHS 5 on the opening drive of the half, McCracken stormed past a host of defenders and pounced into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night.
It only took one play for the ‘Hawks to get the ball back, as a fumble on the ensuing Colleton drive put the rock right back in the hands of Sneed and company. The quarterback hooked up with Elliott for a short gain before Sneed took a run to the outside and dashed 17 yards along the sideline to extend the lead to 21-0.
The dialed-in defense struck again with a Chris Marable fumble recovery, but the Hawks put the ball on the ground shortly after to give it right back. The Cougars capitalized, as Jackie White floated a ball towards the sidelines right into the arms of Tre’Veion Magwood for a 39-yard score to put the visitors on the board.
But after the Seahawks returned the ensuing onside kick to the CCHS 11, Sneed worked his magic on a powerful touchdown run for a 27-6 lead. Matthew Larkby provided the exclamation on the defensive side, sacking the quarterback and stripping the ball for the Hawks’ third forced turnover of the game. McCracken salted away the clock with his legs, and Jayden Gilliam finished it off with a 4-yard run to complete the dominant victory.
McCracken was terrific on the ground, rushing for 187 yards and two touchdowns to lead the offense. Sneed racked up 83 yards and two scores in limited action, and Elliott caught two passes for 25 yards.
White paced the Colleton County attack, recording 78 rushing yards while adding a touchdown strike to Magwood.
Hilton Head (2-4, 1-1) will now prepare for a crucial Bridge Bowl clash with Bluffton on Friday, while Colleton County (0-2, 0-2) returns home to take on James Island.
By Wes Kerr
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