Another full slate of 14 games across two nights had us hopping all over the Lowco to keep up with all the high school football action in Week 2. Here’s everything you need to know in Lowco First Down.
THURSDAY’S GAME
East Clarendon 32, Ridgeland 14
Taishaun Smith hit Semaj Hicks for a 60-yard touchdown pass to pull the Jaguars within 14-6, and an 87-yard scoop-and-score from Kayon Mulligan gave Ridgeland life in the third quarter, but the Jags couldn’t finish the comeback. Xavier Plowdeniz led Ridgeland’s defense with 15 tackles (two for loss).
Up next: Ridgeland (1-1) at Whale Branch on Friday
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Greenwood 37, Beaufort 18
After a stunning fake punt caught Beaufort off guard in a tight second half, Greenwood took the momentum and ran with it, scoring 23 unanswered points to pull away for a 37-18 win in Beaufort’s home opener. Samari Bonds completed 18-of-37 passes for 328 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, while senior running back Elias Johnson paced the ground game with 60 rushing yards on nine carries and a touchdown, and Isaac Smalls added a 45-yard rushing score on his only attempt of the game.
Up next: Beaufort (0-2) at Philip Simmons on Friday
James Island 24, Hilton Head 0
The Seahawks’ defense kept them in it against a former region foil, but Hilton Head’s offense couldn’t find much room to operate against a strong Trojans defense. Tristen Simmons collected nine solo tackles, Andrew Massey and Will Jimenez had seven stops each, and Nathan Apy had a sack and an interception to go with three tackles to lead a solid defensive effort, but the Seahawks managed only 61 rushing yards on 27 carries.
Up next: Hilton Head (1-1) vs. Aiken on Friday
Woodland 32, Colleton Co. 14
Cameron Greyson rushed for 123 yards on 12 carries, and Shawn Williams and Xavion Greene each scored rushing touchdowns to keep the Cougars within a touchdown until the Wolverines scored 12 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away. Jayden Nesbit had 10 tackles and two pass breakups, and Aaden Castellanos made five of his six stops behind the line to lead Colleton’s defense.
Up next: Colleton Co. (0-2) at Lower Richland on Friday
May River 28, West Ashley 21
Asa Haskins rushed for 145 yards and a TD to lead a balanced ground game, and Hudson Flanagan, Zavier Polite, and Peter Nodelman were the anchors on a terrific team defensive effort as the Sharks avenged a lopsided loss to the Wildcats a year ago. Andrew Johnson and Gage Duncan also added rushing TDs, and Duncan caught a TD pass from Tanner Macy. May River forced three turnovers, including a game-sealing pick from A.J. Hamilton down the stretch.
Up next: May River (2-0) vs. Lake City on Friday
Bluffton 35, Andrew Jackson 13
Aedan McCarthy continued his torrid start to the season, going 15 of 24 for 210 passing yards and a TD and an interception and adding 79 yards and two TDs on 10 carries, and Kordell Holley rolled up 160 yards and a score on 20 totes as the Bobcats got on top early in Kershaw and stayed there. Carnell Warren snagged six passes for 86 yards and a score, while Jacobi Saunders added a rushing TD and helped anchor the defense with seven tackles and a sack. Sam Lewis collected eight tackles and a sack, and Lucas Gates had seven tackles and an interception for the Bobcats.
Up next: Bluffton (2-0) at Savannah Country Day on Friday
Hampton Co. 33, Allendale-Fairfax 0
Jayvin Risher scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and Jaylen Singletary added 86 yards and a TD on just eight carries to lead the top-ranked Hurricanes to another lopsided win at home. Tyler Davis had a pick-6, and Hampton County’s defense produced a safety before a Rafe Sullivan field goal made it 33-0 at halftime. The game was ended one play into the fourth quarter after an altercation broke out among visiting fans.
Up next: Hampton Co. (2-0) at Silver Bluff on Friday
Battery Creek 41, John Paul II 26
A number of unheralded underclassmen stepped up to help the Dolphins give coach Ed Susi his first victory as their head coach. Eddie Heyward and Nigil Fripp each scored two touchdowns on the ground and combined for over 100 rushing yards, and Derrick Smalls Jr. had a big game in all phases with 56 yards on two carries along with a 70-yard punt return touchdown and a 58-yard interception return to set up a score. Bryant Jolley rushed for 145 yards and two TDs for JPII, and Alan Wolf was 9-of-18 for 257 yards with two TDs and an interception, with Thomas Gehm on the receiving end of four passes totaling 137 yards and two scores.
Up next: Battery Creek (1-1) at Keenan on Friday; JPII (0-3) at Bethesda on Friday
Whale Branch 42, Hardeeville 0
Jermon Bowers and Jayvion Harris each scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, and Dayaun Brown and Khamarion Jones each added a TD on the ground, and the Warriors’ defense delivered a shutout on coach Jerry Hatcher’s birthday. Whale Branch won the battle in the trenches and slowed down a Hardeeville offense that put up 48 points in a season-opening win last week.
Up next: Whale Branch (1-1) vs. Ridgeland on Friday; Hardeeville (1-1) at East Clarendon on Friday
Thomas Heyward 33, Colleton Prep 0
Tony O’Banner ran wild for 260 yards and three TDs on 13 carries and completed all seven of his passes for 94 yards and another score to lead the Rebels to a statement win in SCISA 1A. Nic Robinson added 94 yards and a TD on the ground and had five tackles and one of THA’s three interceptions, and Eli McLemore starred on both sides with four catches for 67 yards and a TD along with six tackles (two for loss). Beau Pinckney and Mitchell White each had 11 tackles, and Kelan Fripp and Jace Bessinger notched interceptions for the Rebels.
Up next: THA (2-0) at Orangeburg Prep on Friday
Beaufort Academy 35, St. John’s Christian 28
Nych Underwood and Dietrich Shuford combined for 326 rushing yards and five touchdowns as the Eagles survived a shootout in Moncks Corner for their second straight win. Underwood piled up 170 yards and three TDs on 19 carries and added seven tackles and a fumble recovery on defense, and Shuford rushed for 156 yards and two TDs on 16 carries while going 8-of-12 for 96 yards and adding two tackles, a pass breakup, and a pick on the other side of the ball. Sumner Pingree and Grady Lamm each had 10 tackles to lead BA’s defense, and Lamm was 5-for-5 on PATs.
Up next: BA (2-1) vs. Patrick Henry on Friday
HHCA 34, Bethesda Academy 14
Reid McCollum had another big night for the Eagles at home, completing 31 of 40 passes for 321 yards and two TDs with another 68 yards and two TDs on the ground. Joey Houpt was McCollum’s favorite target with 13 grabs for 138 yards, and Harry Cunningham and Kres Langhals were on the receiving end of touchdown passes. Will Helmstetter collected nine tackles (one for loss) and blocked a kick, and Hamilton Butler had seven tackles and a blocked kick to lead HHCA’s defense, while Colin Hetzel picked off a pass for the second straight game.
Up next: HHCA (2-1) at John Paul II (9/13)
HHCA coverage presented by Mikkelson Law Firm
Patrick Henry 42, Clarendon Hall 10
A mammoth night from Mikell Tucker Mathis masked some inconsistency from the Patriots, and a team effort on defense clamped down on the Saints in a convincing road win. Mathis rushed for 126 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries, hauled in a 34-yard TD pass, and had six tackles and a forced fumble — plus he was 4-for-4 on PATs. Luke Sobey collected 13 tackles and a sack and forced and recovered fumbles, and Sims Brunson and Trey Adkins also forced turnovers for the Patriots.
Up next: PHA (2-0) at Beaufort Academy on Friday
The King’s Academy 58, Cross Schools 6
The Stingrays were no match for the Lions in this matchup of teams that moved from 11-man football to the 8-man ranks this season. The King’s Academy led 52-6 at halftime.
Up next: Cross Schools (0-2) at Cathedral Academy on Friday
