After being stifled by a ferocious Hilton Head Christian Academy defense last week, Beaufort Academy was eager to get its offense back on track, and the Eagles did so in a big way Friday, routing John Paul II 64-28 at home to clinch second place in SCISA Region 1-2A and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
Devonte Green scored four touchdowns, Jaxen Porter found the end zone three times, and Braydon Dineen tossed two TD passes and added two interceptions — including a pick-6 — on defense as the Eagles overcame four Mark Knight touchdowns to avenge last year’s loss to the Golden Warriors.
The teams traded punches early, as Dineen went over the top for Porter on a beautiful play-action pass to open the scoring with a 27-yard TD, and Knight answered with a 57-yard TD run on a perfect option pitch from Christian Tilton. Dineen’s 64-yard run set up the first of Porter’s two touchdown runs to make it 14-8, but Knight took the ensuing kickoff to the house to tie it.
BA kept grinding on the ground, and Green made his first visit to the end zone before the defense forced a stop. Green fielded a low, short punt at the 22-yard line and swept around the left side, sprinting up the sideline before cutting back across the field and racing to the end zone to make it 28-14. The Eagles added another score before halftime, with Dineen hitting Tripp Gregory for a 22-yard TD, and with Tilton nursing an injury to his throwing hand, JPII had little hope for a comeback against a stout BA defense.
Green and Porter each added touchdown runs in the third quarter to extend the margin to 50-14, and Dineen added a pick-6 on his second interception of the night to add to the lead. Knight got back in the end zone with a touchdown grab from Caleb Snyder, and Green and Knight traded kick return TDs on the next two plays to cap the scoring on a wild night at Merritt Field.
Dineen was excellent on both sides of the ball, completing 4 of 5 passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for 66 yards on three carries, and making six tackles and two interceptions, including a 55-yard TD, on defense. Porter rushed for 104 yards and two TDs and caught three passes for 59 yards and a score, and Cody Dalyrmple added 85 yards on eight carries for the Eagles. Green was a game-changer, rushing for 54 yards and two TDs on 10 carries and scoring on an 88-yard kick return and an 80-yard punt return.
Knight rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown on three carries, had two catches for 51 yards and a score, and took two kick returns to the house while adding five tackles. Snyder was 6-of-11 for 86 yards with a touchdown and an interception in relief, and Michael Carbone made 11 tackles to lead the JPII defense.
BA (5-3, 4-1) will open the SCISA 2A playoffs at home Friday against Florence Christian, while JPII (3-5, 3-2) will travel to Pee Dee Academy in the first round.
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