HSFB 2023: Lowco First Down, Week ‘Zero’

Week “Zero” of the 2023 high school football season is a wrap, with blowouts and nail-biters, historic wins, and heroic performances. We’ll have more coverage coming over the next few days before we shift gears to Week 1, but here’s a glance at the 11 games played across the Lowco in our first week under the Friday Night Lights.

Hampton Co. 10, Colleton Co. 0: Zion Dobson rushed for 142 yards and found the end zone in the fourth quarter to seal a historic win for the Hurricanes in a defensive struggle with Adam Kinloch’s Cougars.

Hilton Head 39, Battery Creek 6: Jackson Bibee had a big game for the Seahawks with three passing TDs and a rushing score, and Nathan Apy and LJ Morgan both took fumble recoveries to the house in an impressive road win.

John Paul II 28, Thomas Heyward 21: Christian Tilton rushed for more than 240 yards and all four JPII touchdowns, including an 80-yard run for the go-ahead score in the Golden Warriors’ first win over the Rebels.

Patrick Henry 55, Cross 0: Hugh Fairey threw two TD passes and rushed for a score, and Mikell Tucker Mathis added a rushing TD and a pick-6 as the Patriots rolled to a big win.

Bluffton 41, Beach 6: Owen Bayes threw TD passes to Carnell Warren and Brandon Bryant and added a rushing TD as the Bobcats opened the season with blowout on the road.

Cane Bay 29, Beaufort 10: Samari Bonds scored a rushing TD and Beaufort’s defense contained the Cobras until the fourth quarter, but two late scores lifted Cane Bay past the defending Class 3A champs.

Ridgeland 27, St. John’s 12: Maurice Brown scored a pair of rushing TDs, and Xavier Plowdeniz and Wenson Smith each added a score on the ground to lead the Jags to their first season-opening win since 2018.

Beaufort Academy 27, Pinewood Prep 23: Devonte Green broke two long TD runs and added an acrobatic, one-handed pick-6 to fuel the Eagles to a comeback win at home.

Bethesda Academy 50, Hilton Head Prep 7: The Dolphins’ defense scored and kept HHP in it in the first half, but the Blazers scored 29 unanswered points after halftime to pull away.

Colleton Prep 33, Florence Christian 23: Cole Davis rushed for more than 240 yards and two TDs and added a TD pass to Walker Bryan, and Caleb Davis had 133 yards and two TDs on eight carries for the War Hawks.

Savannah Christian 49, HHCA 0: The Eagles were no match for a Raiders team stacked with Power Five prospects.