It’s Week Zero, or whatever we’re calling it these days, and the Lowco high school football season has already taken some twists and turns, complete with late schedule changes that spread the football out over three nights, one of which is yet to come.
We’re still waiting to close the books on Week Zero, but we won’t make you wait to catch up on what has happened so far — and check back later for the scoop on Monday night’s affairs. It’s time for Lowco First Down.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
May River 38, Airport 7
Andrew Johnson piled up 136 yards and two TDs on 14 carries and Sean Mitchell added 91 yards and two scores on 15 attempts as the Sharks’ totaled 381 rushing yards in a season-opening rout that was interrupted by a lengthy lightning delay just before halftime. Johnson also caught a 14-yard touchdown pass on new quarterback Luc Tran’s only attempt of the night.
Next Week: May River (1-0) vs. West Ashley
St. Andrew’s 28, Hilton Head Prep 14
For the second straight week, the Hilton Head Prep Dolphins saw their game cut short due to weather in a 28-14 defeat to St. Andrew’s that lasted only a half of football. The Dolphins could not find an answer for the speed of Lions running back Amari Cook who ignited his squad’s offense to an early 16-0 lead. Despite a pair of touchdown grabs by Hilton Head Prep’s Brody Hauscher, St. Andrew’s offense kept churning and capped off the scoring on a Patrick Jackson touchdown pass to Josiah Bowers.
Next Week: HHP (0-2) is idle
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Bluffton 49, Whale Branch 0
It took most of the first half for the Bobcats to get the offensive machine running smoothly, but they finished with 481 yards of offense in a season-opening blowout. Aedan McCarthy was 15-of-19 for 262 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, while Kordell Holley racked up 121 yards and three TDs on 13 carries. Amare Patterson had six catches for 47 yards and two TDs, and Roman Benjamin snagged three passes for 73 yards and a TD.
Next Week: Bluffton (1-0) vs. Andrew Jackson; Whale Branch (0-1) vs. Hardeeville
Hilton Head 59, Stall 12
The Seahawks racked up 554 total yards while scoring eight touchdowns, and the defense stood tall, only allowing two touchdowns long after the starters had left the game. Thaddeus Czarnecki and Jayvin Risher stood out on each side of the ball, and Derrick Raniszewski went 11-of-18 passing for 210 yards and three TDs and added a rushing score.
Next Week: HHIHS (1-0) at James Island
HHCA 36, Battery Creek 20
Reid McCollum passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns and added 97 rushing yards, as the Eagles scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions to take control of the game after falling behind early. Joey Houpt caught four passes for 91 yards and two TDs, and Thomas Gehm had seven catches for 59 yards and a score, while Hudson Baker and Kres Langhals added rushing touchdowns for the Eagles.
Next Week: HHCA (1-1) at Bethesda Academy; BCHS (0-1) at John Paul II
Hardeeville 43, Bethune-Bowman 32
Camari Brown scored four rushing touchdowns and Kyrell Jamison took a kickoff return and a punt return to the house in the second half to help the Hurricanes rally late in a game that featured four lead changes in the fourth quarter. Brown scored three times in the first half to give Hardeeville a 21-12 lead at the break, and added his fourth to cap the scoring, and he came up with an interception to seal the win.
Next Week: Hardeeville (1-0) at Whale Branch
Eau Claire 14, Ridgeland 0
The Shamrocks scored a pair of first-half touchdowns through the air, and the Jaguars couldn’t find the end zone to close the gap. The defense pitched a second-half shutout, but it wasn’t enough for Ridgeland to beat Eau Claire for the second straight year.
Next Week: Ridgeland (0-1) at East Clarendon
Laurence Manning 37, John Paul II 0
The Golden Warriors were humbled after a huge season-opening win, running into an experienced and talented Swampcats team on the road. After rolling up 305 rushing yards against Colleton Prep, JPII managed only 125 total yards and 88 rushing yards on 22 carries against LMA and was hampered by three turnovers. Jadon Inabinett led the Golden Warriors on the ground with 65 rushing yards on six attempts.
Next Week: JPII (1-1) vs. Battery Creek
Colleton Prep 66, St. John’s Christian 24
Cale Owens went 10-of-15 for 223 yards and four TDs and rushed for 68 yards and a score as the War Hawks took out their frustrations following a disappointing loss to JPII a week ago. Tanner Wolf, Jaxson Jones, and Baines Pierce added rushing touchdowns, while Kaiden Kinard caught a pair of TD passes and Charlie Walker snagged a TD grab for CPA.
Next Week: CPA (1-1) at Thomas Heyward
Beaufort Academy 41, Carolina Academy 28
Nych Underwood has had some monster games in his career, but he saved his best yet for his 18th birthday, rolling up 366 rushing yards on 26 carries and scoring five touchdowns — four rushing and one on a pick-six to power the Eagles to a gritty win in a wild one on the road. The Bobcats closed within 33-28 in the fourth quarter, but Nic Shuford Jr. connected with Ben Davis for a 37-yard touchdown on fourth-and-12 to seal the win.
Next Week: BA (2-0) vs. St. John’s Christian
Jefferson Davis 52, Cross Schools 6
A short-handed Stingrays was no match for the perennial powerhouse Raiders, but Rico McCoy’s team gets an off week to get healthy before its home opener Sept. 5 against Cathedral Academy.
Next Week: Cross (0-2) is idle
MONDAY’S GAMES
Fort Dorchester 17, Beaufort 6
Despite a stellar showing from Bryce Lybrand’s defense in the opener, the Eagles surrendered 17 unanswered points in the second half to drop their opener to the Patriots. Beaufort opened the scoring with just 20 seconds to go in the first half as Anthony Kahler rolled out to find Keaudre Jenkins in the end zone, but the Patriots found their spark on offense after halftime. Senior Chaz Brown led a commendable defensive effort for the Eagles.
Next Week: Beaufort (0-1) at Greenwood
Hampton Co. 59, Colleton Co. 13
Storms pushed the game back three days, but the delay didn’t hamper the Hurricanes, who blew out to a 24-0 lead and coasted past the Cougars with a dominant effort in all phases. Jaylen Singletary rushed for 125 yards and two TDs on just eight carries and returned a kickoff for a touchdown to stake Hampton County to a 31-7 halftime lead. Karinton Sabb broke a 49-yard touchdown run and hauled in a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tarell Grant, establishing himself as another big-play threat for the Hurricanes.
Next Week: Hampton Co. (1-0) at Allendale-Fairfax; Colleton Co. (0-1) at Woodland
Academic Magnet 28, Patrick Henry 7
The Patriots fell behind early and couldn’t dig out thanks to three turnovers and a big game from Raptors quarterback Owen George, who rushed for 165 yards and two TDs on just eight carries. Diego Santana scored the lone touchdown for the Patriots, who managed only 202 yards of total offense.