Since they walked off their home field following a hard-fought loss to Myrtle Beach in last year’s Lower State semifinal, the Beaufort High Eagles have been determined to get back to that stage and earn a rematch with the Seahawks.
They’ll get it Friday night.
Bryce Lybrand’s Eagles hit the road for the Grand Strand on Friday seeking to advance to their first Lower State final since a Class 4A runner-up finish in 2007, but they’ll have to get past the state’s top-ranked team to do it.
After last year’s 49-37 home loss to the Seahawks, the Eagles are eager to get another shot at one of the state’s premier programs.
“If we play like we’re capable of playing we can play with anybody,” Lybrand said. “It’s a matter of doing what we have to do.”
The Eagles have consistently done just that during a four-game winning streak, outscoring their last two regular-season opponents and their first two playoff foes by a combined 161-42 margin. And they’ve shown their mettle against some quality opponents, too, going 4-1 against a non-region gauntlet that included a 33-23 home win over a Benedictine squad that has won nine straight since then and is ranked second in Georgia Class 4A.
Beaufort hopes its success containing Cadets quarterback Holden Geriner, an Auburn commit, can be duplicated against Appalachian State commit Ryan Burger and a high-powered Myrtle Beach offense. Burger has passed for 2,119 yards with 31 touchdowns and two interceptions while adding 372 yards and two scores on the ground, and he has a lethal weapon in Clemson commit Adam Randall, who has pulled in 58 passes for 1,187 yards and 16 TDs.
The Eagles’ secondary led by Daryl DePass, Jalin Porter, and Colton Phares has played exceptionally of late, and they will need another strong performance to contain Randall and Jake Doty, who has nine touchdown catches.
“We have to shut down Randall as much as possible,” Lybrand said. “You can’t shut him down completely, but if we can keep him from one of those 200-yard receiving games like he’s capable of, we’ve got a shot.”
The Seahawks also boast a strong ground game led by Malachi Washington II (739 yards, 7 TDs) and an excellent offensive line, which will clash with a dominant Beaufort defensive front led by North-South All-Star selection Alvin Wilson and junior phenom Eamon Smalls. The Eagles do an excellent job of getting into the backfield, and they will need to get pressure on Burger to give their defensive backs a chance to stay with a dangerous group of receivers.
Beaufort has averaged 40 points during its four-game winning streak and has topped 30 points seven times in 12 games. The Eagles are well-balanced, especially with senior running back Amariee Morris back to full strength, and they hope their ability to run and throw effectively will help hold Myrtle Beach’s blitz packages at bay.
It helps that Beaufort has a mobile quarterback in senior Tyler Haley, who did serious damage with his legs in last week’s 42-10 win at North Augusta, rushing for 109 yards including a 57-yard touchdown run. If he can make some plays with his legs and Morris can get going on the ground, it will open up the deep ball to Zyrin Odom and outlets to McLeod Reichel, Kacy Fields, and Michael Dennison.
“I think we present some unique challenges, too,” Lybrand said, noting he blamed his own play-calling for the Eagles’ second-half struggles in a loss to May River last month.
The Seahawks surrendered 30 or more points in two of their first three games, but they have been locked in on defense of late, giving up a total of 69 points during a seven-game winning streak. And they got a boost last week from the return of outside linebacker Cam Ward, who racked up five tackles (2.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in his return despite wearing a cast on one arm.
Lybrand and the Eagles know they have a monumental challenge ahead, but they believe their difficult non-region schedule and a tough draw in the first round of the playoffs against South Florence — which nearly knocked off Myrtle Beach for the region title — have prepared them to compete with the favorite to win a ninth state title.
“We’ve done it before,” Lybrand said. “So we’ve just gotta do it again.”
By Justin Jarrett
PREDICTIONS
Wes Kerr (4-1 last week, 92-15 overall): Myrtle Beach 38, Beaufort 28
Justin Jarrett (5-0 last week, 88-19 overall): Myrtle Beach 28, Beaufort 24
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