In his fourth season as head coach, Bryce Lybrand’s Beaufort High Eagles have scaled the summit.
Kacy Fields dominated with 219 rushing yards and three touchdowns plus one more on a 93-yard kickoff return, Colton Phares added 198 yards on the ground with two scores, and the Eagles topped Powdersville 41-31 without attempting a pass at Benedict College on Thursday to capture the SCHSL 3A state championship and bring home Beaufort County’s first public school football state title since 1945.
Beaufort trailed 14-0 in the first quarter, but the Eagles fought back on a pair of Phares rushing touchdowns. Thomas Williams’ electric 69-yard rushing score put Powdersville back on top, but Fields took the ensuing kickoff back for a game-tying 93-yard return before Nate Spearman’s 36-yard field goal gave the Patriots a 24-21 lead at the break.
Beaufort took control after the intermission with its exceptional ground game, engineering an 11-play drive capped off by a 12-yard Fields run to go on top. The senior sensation broke loose again down the sideline for 75 more yards to answer a Williams score and put the Eagles up 34-31. Beaufort’s stifling defense then stuffed Williams on fourth down, and the Eagles wore down the Patriots on the ground before Fields powered across for his fourth touchdown of the night and a two-score lead.
The Eagle defense sealed it in style, forcing two fumbles in just one play thanks to Dom Camacho and Hart Cushman before Carter Bowersox recovered the loose ball to set up Beaufort’s game-sealing drive.
Will Codding led the Eagle defense with nine tackles, Phares added on to his outstanding night with seven tackles, and Robert Johnson racked up six stops. Williams paced Powdersville with 236 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.
Beaufort finished a historic season with 13 consecutive wins following a season-opening loss to Class 5A state finalist Fort Dorchester.
Check back to LowcoSports.com later for a full recap, photo gallery, and highlights from the state championship game.
By Wes Kerr
Thank you to all at LOWCO sports… tremendous coverage on the BHS Eagles ascension to the top! You all do it right!