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 the opening round of the playoffs and a Game of the Week we’re looking forward to in the second round of the postseason. It’s everything you need to know to get ready for another week of high school football in the Lowco.
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ROUND 1 PLAYOFF RESULTS
SCHSL Class 4A
North Myrtle Beach 27, May River 7
Beaufort High 30, South Florence 14
Aiken 25, Hilton Head High 8
North Augusta 31, Bluffton 12
SCHSL Class 3A
Crestwood 47, Battery Creek 10
SCHSL Class 1A
Whale Branch 19, East Clarendon 0
SCISA Class 2A
Beaufort Academy 33, Florence Christian 25
Pee Dee Academy 48, John Paul II 16
Hilton Head Christian 47, Carolina Academy 0
Williamsburg Academy 49, Hilton Head Prep 16
SCISA Class 1A
Thomas Heyward def. Dillon Christian (forfeit)
Thomas Sumter 28, Colleton Prep 21
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
• Joseph Hicks, WB: It was tough sledding for the Warriors on Friday, but Hicks willed Whale Branch to a win with a pair of powerful TD runs in the fourth quarter, finishing with 90 yards on 10 carries and adding seven tackles (three for loss) to help preserve the shutout.
• Amariee Morris, BHS: The Eagles were happy to have their workhorse back at full strength and doing what he does best, as the quick, compact senior racked up 126 yards on 22 carries and hauled in a 16-yard reception to set the tone for a strong offensive showing.
• Jaxen Porter, BA: One of Mark Clifford’s numerous iron men, Porter continued his terrific play on both sides of the ball in a hard-fought win over Florence Christian, rushing for 151 yards and two TDs on 13 carries and racking up nine tackles on defense.
• Riley Shinn, HHCA: Shinn outscored Carolina Academy by himself Friday night — on defense. The senior took two interceptions to the house — both in the first half — and added three tackles and two receptions for 50 yards. He has three pick-6s in the past three games.
• Alvin Wilson, BHS: Wilson has become a weekly fixture in this space recently, putting up ridiculous stat lines every game. The senior defensive end continued his relentless play Friday with five tackes, three tackles for loss, two sacks, a QB pressure, and forced fumble.
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HELMET STICKERS
• Bradlee Anderson, HHCA: 14 tackles, TFL
• Ben Atkins, HHCA: 8 tackles
• AJ Barger, HHP: 8-112, TD receiving; 5 tackles
• Jace Blackshear, HHCA: 6-11 passing, 159 yards, 2 TDs; 2-13 rushing
• Tristan Bonomo, HHP: 10-18 passing, 132 yards, TD; 3 tackles
• Joe Caprarola, BHS: 3-3 FG (31, 41, 40); 3-3 PAT
• Michael Carbone, JPII: 13 tackles
• Keith Chisholm, WB: 6 tackles, 3 INTs, 106 interception return yards (TD)
• Loncelle Daley, HHP: 21-95, TD rushing
• Braydon Dineen, BA: 6-9 passing, 59 yards; 8-37, TD rushing; 5 tackles, TFL, INT
• Cory Foulk, MRHS: 12 tackles, 2 PBU
• Devonte Green, BA: 11-80 rushing; 4 tackles, sack, fumble recovery TD
• Tyler Haley, BHS: 10-14 passing, 154 yards, 2 TDs; 3-13 rushing
• Jaiden Jones, MRHS: 8 tackles, TFL
• Mark Knight, JPII: 3-77 rushing; 1-15 receiving; 7 tackles
• Matthew Larkby, HHIHS: 6 tackles, TFL, 2 QB pressures, 2 forced fumbles, fumble recovery
• Drew Murdaugh, CPA: 2 TD passes, rushing TD
• Zyrin Odom, BHS: 2-61 receiving, 2 TDs
• Darrion Perry, MRHS: 8 tackles, 0.5 sack
• Colton Phares, BHS: 52-yard fake punt TD; 4 tackles, PBU, INT
• Thomas Raisch, MRHS: 10 tackles, PBU
• Joseph Robinson, HHCA: 3-33, 2 TDs rushing; 1-64, TD receiving
• Carter Saleeby, HHIHS: 8 tackles, 5 TFL, fumble recovery
• Eamon Smalls, BHS: 6 tackles, TFL, 0.5 sack, forced fumble
• Caleb Snyder, JPII: 10-21 passing, 79 yards, TD; 10 tackles, TFL, sack
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Beaufort High Eagles (9-2)
The Eagles let their third straight region title slip away three weeks ago, but the home loss to May River seems to have pushed Beaufort High to a new level. A talented South Florence team from a loaded Region 6-4A looked like a tough first-round matchup for Bryce Lybrand’s squad, but a balanced offense buoyed by the return of senior running back Amariee Morris moved the ball effectively all night, Joe Caprarola cashed in on stalled drives with three field goals, and a dominant defense led by defensive backs Daryl DePass and Jalin Porter and defensive linemen Eamon Smalls and Alvin Wilson boxed in the Bruins’ explosive offense. Beaufort is the last team standing from Region 7-4A after all, and the Eagles are equipped to keep it rolling Friday at North Augusta, setting up a potential rematch with top-ranked Myrtle Beach, which ousted the Eagles a year ago.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Pee Dee Academy (9-1) at Hilton Head Christian (10-0)
For context, we thought this matchup was going to be a clash of titans in last year’s Class 2A semifinal, and HHCA hammered the Golden Eagles 63-14 in the final game on their island turf. The rematch in the Eagles’ new digs in Bluffton could very well go the same way, but if there’s a team in this year’s bracket that is going to challenge HHCA’s run at back-to-back perfect seasons, it’s probably Pee Dee. Junior quarterback Hudson Spivey is a veteran who has been playoff-tested throughout his career, and Coleby Sinclair is a beastly back who is tough to bring down. Perhaps the Junkyard Defense will shut down Spivey and the Golden Eagles again, but the potential for a shootout between high-scoring offenses makes this one intriguing.
FRIDAY’S PLAYOFF SLATE
SCHSL Class 4A
Beaufort High (9-2) at North Augusta (6-5)
SCHSL Class 1A
Whale Branch (7-1) at Lake View (9-2)
SCISA Class 2A
Pee Dee Academy (9-1) at Hilton Head Christian (10-0)
Beaufort Academy (6-3) at Williamsburg Academy (9-0)
SCISA Class 1A
Thomas Sumter (5-5) at Thomas Heyward (9-1)