LOWCO GAMEDAY ’23: Week 6 HSFB Primer

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SCHSL

Hilton Head (3-2) at Bluffton (3-2)

The Bridge Bowl is always a good time, and this edition has some added juice with former co-QB1s Jackson Bibee and Owen Bayes going head-to-head with big-time bragging rights on the line. Both defenses will be put to the test, as a stout Seahawks D led by Shrine Bowl pick Shaikh Thompson tries to slow down prolific receiver Brandon Bryant and Bluffton’s high-flying attack, while Jeremiah Curry and the Bobcats hope to contain bruising back Troy Timko. Both defenses will try to put pressure on the quarterback and force mistakes, and the team that takes advantage will have the edge in an even matchup. If you can’t make it to The Den in person, catch the replay on WHHI all week.

May River (2-3) at Lucy Beckham (4-0)

The Sharks were shut out on the road last week, falling one yard short of scoring on the final play and having a PAT or conversion try for the tie or win at Cane Bay, and now they have to travel to face a Beckham team that has surrendered only 14 points and shut out three of its first four opponents. That’s the bad news. The good news is May River’s defense turned in another stellar outing to hold the Cobras to seven points, which bodes well against a Bengals offense that is varied and takes care of the ball. Look for this one to be a low-scoring affair, so if Tanner Macy and the Sharks’ offense can find the end zone a couple of times, it might be enough.

Colleton Co. (1-4) at James Island (5-0)

The Cougars have faced a brutal early-season schedule with their first five opponents combining for a 22-4 record thus far this season and a another matchup with an undefeated squad on tap Friday. Colleton’s defense has played well and kept games competitive in the first half, but the Cougars have run out of gas against quality opponents and the Trojans fit the description. James Island has posted three shutouts and hasn’t allowed more than seven points in its first five games. The Cougars will have to play near-flawless football and hope to put enough pressure on the Trojans early to force mistakes in order to have any chance of pulling off a stunning upset.

Beaufort (4-2) at Philip Simmons (6-0)

It won’t become official until someone finishes running the gauntlet, but all signs point toward this Region 8-3A opener ultimately deciding the region title and giving the winner a more advantageous path through what is shaping up to be a brutal Class 3A playoff bracket. Beaufort’s defensive front has been excellent during a four-game win streak, and it will be tested by a powerful Philip Simmons rushing attack led by KJ Asbury and Sharod Williams, who have already combined for 1,900 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground. The Eagles clicked on offense last week, putting up 42 points by the first series of the second half, and they’ll need the offensive line to keep opening holes for Jadyn Andrews and giving quarterback Samari Bonds time to operate to retain their spot atop the region.

Battery Creek (0-6) at North Charleston (3-3)

This is the one for the Dolphins. The last three dates on the schedule will be tall tasks for a Battery Creek team wracked by injuries and already working with an inexperienced group in the trenches. The Dolphins have been competitive in the first half of several games, leading 12-0 last week before Whale Branch found its footing and rolled to a 45-12 win, and they let one slip away in overtime against Ridgeland and squandered an early lead at Calhoun County. If Battery Creek can establish the run early and get another lead, the Cougars are a team the Dolphins can hang with in crunch time, and a win equates to a playoff spot and an extra week of practice for a program that needs every rep it can get to keep building a foundation for the future. 

Hampton Co. (5-1) at Ridgeland (3-2)

The Hurricanes suffered their first setback in a tough game at Brookland-Cayce last week, and they expect to face some resistance from a Jaguars team that is enjoying its best start in recent memory. Ridgeland was without two-way standout Maurice Brown last week, but Devin Fields stepped in at quarterback and threw two TD passes to go with a rushing score, complimenting a strong ground game led by Wenson Smith in a 38-16 win at Bethune-Bowman. Hampton County’s defense is a force, though, and it’s difficult to contain Zion Dobson for four quarters, so the Jaguars will need an exceptional effort to upend the playoff picture in Region 6-2A. 

Whale Branch (4-0) at Bethune-Bowman (1-4)

The Warriors are a team on a mission, and they dealt with their biggest bout of adversity yet with grace last Friday, turning an early 12-0 deficit into a 45-12 rout at Battery Creek. The three-headed monster in the backfield with quarterback KJ Chisholm and running backs Darrell Cummings and Bradford Thompson has proven impossible to stop thus far, and the Mohawks don’t have the horses on defense to be the first. Thompson and Alonzo Allen are among the leaders on a stout defensive unit that shouldn’t have much trouble controlling the game. Whale Branch should be able to build a big halftime lead and hand it over to the reserves to bring home another convincing win.

SCISA

First Baptist (1-4) at HHCA (3-2)

Ron Peduzzi’s Eagles are rolling with three straight victories, and a fourth should be coming at the Cage on Friday against a struggling First Baptist team. Quarterback Dylan Clark orchestrated his air-raid offense to perfection with four touchdown passes against Beaufort Academy, and he should have easy pickings to an emerging group of wide receivers including Thomas Heyward transfer Tyshon Mansell. We could see a lot of breakout star Reid McCollum on Friday, who has racked up four interceptions with one taken to house while excelling at the backup quarterback role. 

Florence Christian (2-3) at HH Prep (0-5)

It’s never easy for opposing teams to adjust to the mid-afternoon matinee at Sea Pines. And that could be just what the Dolphins need to pick up that elusive first win in 2023. Florence Christian has rediscovered its offense over the past two weeks thanks to the electric running of senior veteran Jules Huntley. The offense primarily runs through Huntley, so a big effort from Jason Britschege will be critical in keeping the Dolphins in this one. AJ Barger has been a sparkplug on both sides for Dustin Ethridge’s squad, and quarterback Wyatt Harmer should be looking for him often both on short completions and some deep passes to try to stretch the defense. The Dolphins have been much more competitive in recent weeks, and a solid start at home could be everything in giving their team a shot this afternoon.

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John Paul II (1-5) at Cardinal Newman (5-0)

After an emotional opening win to start the season against Thomas Heyward, it’s gone the other way the last few weeks for John Paul II. The Golden Warriors will have a menacing challenge in order to change that script this Friday against an unbeaten Cardinal Newman squad from SCISA 4A. Shayne Milligan’s defense will need to step up against a strong Cardinal run game led by senior Cortez Lane who put 175 yards up last week against Ben Lippen. Christian Tilton will give the Golden Warriors a major spark if he plays, but this Cardinals defense is no joke, coming off an impressive shutout of the Falcons with seniors Braxton and David Rodgers leading the way. 

Greenwood Christian (2-4) at Colleton Prep (4-2)

The War Hawks have put together a strong start to a campaign that began with plenty of questions to answer, and they have a great chance to add another home win tonight, but it won’t come easily. The Hawks lost their first two games by a combined three points, and their other losses came against Beaufort Academy and Patrick Henry. This will be the biggest test yet during Colleton Prep’s three-game winning streak, but if the defense keeps playing the way it has, the offense has plenty of juice with Cole and Caleb Davis to run the streak to four games.

Thomas Heyward (3-2) at Dillon Christian (1-5)

Led by the sensational play of running back turned quarterback Tony ‘O Banner, head coach Tony McGeary has done wonders in a short time at Thomas Heyward. They’ve rattled off three straight wins after an 0-2 start, and should keep it going on the road at Dillon Christian this Friday. O’Banner should be the workhorse again, who is already at 871 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns through five games. The defense is rock-solid and loaded with state championship veterans like Beau Pinckney and Cutter Williams, who should feast again taking on a Warriors team that’s scored 13 combined  points in its last three games.