After facing a season at the crossroads just a few weeks ago, the May River Sharks are now full steam ahead towards a deep playoff run.
Garvin Douglas and Jaeon Allen ran for two touchdowns each in the second half, powering the Sharks to a 33-16 comeback win Friday at Hilton Head High to spoil Chase McCracken’s big night and complete a perfect Region 7-4A record.
“It was a battle in the first half,” May River head coach Rodney Summers said. “Proud of our guys for making some adjustments and playing a much better second half.”
After both teams punted on their initial drives, McCracken took advantage of the Seahawks’ strong field position, converting a key fourth down to set up a 36-yard Carter Saleeby field goal. Douglas and the Sharks eyed a response after a big Darrion Perry kickoff return to the Seahawk 40, but Jayden Gilliam had other plans, intercepting the senior quarterback on a deep ball down the left sideline.
It didn’t take long for the Sharks to earn a takeaway of their own, as Chris Snowden jumped in front of a route to pick off Owen Bayes and set the visitors up with a chance to take the lead. Cam Scott was stuffed by a hungry defensive line at the Seahawk 16 to force fourth down, but a wild sequence on the next play put the Sharks in front. The Hawks punched the ball out of Scott’s hands, but it popped right to Fareed Abdullah, who carried it into the end zone for May River’s first score of the night and a 6-3 lead.
McCracken struck right back on the ensuing drive, scoring from four yards out to give the Seahawks a 10-6 lead. With the clock ticking down in the first half, Douglas hooked up with seniors Maxwell Kimmel and Colton Beine to bring the ball inside the HHIHS 15. A facemask penalty on a Douglas sack gave the Sharks a shot at a 29-yard field goal, but Jonah Comfort’s bid sailed wide to keep Hilton Head’s four-point lead intact at the midway point.
It was a rough start for the Shark offense, but Douglas came alive on May River’s opening drive of the second half. The senior broke through the Seahawk line for a pair of explosive runs before Allen bounced off a tackle and darted to the end zone from 20 yards out, putting the Sharks up 13-10. Bayes dialed up a beautiful 39-yard throw down the left sideline to Jayden Gilliam, and a hard-working McCracken took the ball to the Shark 17. But a false start quickly pushed the Seahawks backward, and the Shark defense took down Bayes for a sack to force a Hilton Head punt.
All pages are FREE through Week 0, then pages without sponsors will be EXCLUSIVE for our Patreon members!
The offense couldn’t move the chains on the ensuing drive, but May River’s special teams came up big to put the visitors in control. The Sharks scooped up a muffed punt at the HHIHS 11, and Douglas raced to the end zone on the next play to go up 20-10. Allen put the game away in the fourth quarter, speeding past the Seahawk defense for 24 yards on second-and-long before taking an option play 30 yards to the house.
McCracken continued to excel on the ground for Hilton Head, but a rash of penalties derailed a few promising Seahawk drives. Douglas tacked on a second touchdown run from the 11 with under five minutes to play, putting the finishing touches on a 33-16 Shark win and a spectacular regular season.
Douglas ran for 87 yards and two touchdowns, while Allen added 73 yards and two scores on just five carries. Scott finished with 68 yards on the ground, and Kimmel caught two passes for 37 yards.
With no Jaylen Sneed in the lineup due to a shoulder injury, McCracken rose to the occasion, running for an amazing 206 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Seahawks. Bayes completed 12 of 20 passes for 72 yards with an interception, and Gilliam added a pair of receptions for 42 yards.
After a 2-2 start to the season, May River (8-2, 5-0) has won six straight. The Region 7-4A champs will begin their SCHSL 4A playoff run at home Friday against North Myrtle Beach. Hilton Head High (3-6, 2-3) earned the region’s No.4 seed and will travel to Aiken on Friday.
By Wes Kerr
Some local sports content that is not sponsored is now available only to LowcoSports.com’s Patreon supporters. Pledge your monthly support here for as little as $1 per month to ensure you have access to all of our grassroots LOCAL sports coverage!