No one had more to say during Statement Week than the Bluffton Bobcats, who announced themselves with authority in a dominant win at Hampton County, but plenty of other teams around the Lowco staked their claim as contenders or showed they aren’t ready to scrap the season just yet.
Here’s what went down in Week 3 of the Lowco high school football season. It’s Lowco First Down:
Bluffton 31, Hampton Co. 7
Aedan McCarthy threw a pair of touchdown passes to Amare Patterson and one each to Carnell Warren and Roman Benjamin, and Bluffton’s defense stymied the Hurricanes’ ground game, pulling away after halftime for a convincing win in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Lowco.
Next week: BLUF (4-0) at Lucy Beckham; HC (3-1) vs. Hilton Head
Hilton Head 59, Hardeeville 18
Jayvin Risher and Semaj Robinson each scored two rushing touchdowns and Derrick Raniszewski tossed TD passes to Tajae Wright and Kaden Stewart to lead a strong showing from Hilton Head’s offense, while Louis Gadson scored on a pick-six for the Seahawks’ defense. Kyrell Jamison returned a kickoff for a touchdown, Emiliano Santiago took an interception to the house, and Joniathan Greene scored on a 70-yard run for the Hurricanes.
Next week: HHIHS (3-1) at Hampton Co.; HVL (1-3) vs. Lee Central
Beaufort 33, Goose Creek 27
Colton Freeman’s scoop-and-score after the Eagles’ game-winning 35-yard field goal try was blocked lifted Beaufort to its first win. Braydon Moyd-Smalls scored on the ground and threw a TD pass to Qualeek Isnar, and Tylik Isom added two rushing TDs, including the tying score with 1:19 left in regulation. Raymond Middleton’s interception set up the unlikely winning play for the Eagles.
Next week: BFT (1-3) vs. Battery Creek
May River 36, Brookland-Cayce 29
Sean Mitchell and Andrew Johnson each scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and Tony Cooper added another, and the defense forced three turnovers, including two in the fourth quarter, to secure a comeback win on the road for the Sharks. Jackson Miller forced a fumble in the fourth quarter, and Charlie Crace’s strip sack sealed the win.
Next week: MRHS (3-1) is idle (vs. Georgetown, 9/26)
Colleton Co. 31, Stall 18
Jaqueas Martin and Keno Nixon each scored two touchdowns, and Rodney Wilder notched an interception for the third straight game to help the Cougars earn their first win of the season and make it a happy homecoming in Walterboro.
Next week: CCHS (1-3) at Stratford
Battery Creek 57, Bethune-Bowman 14
The Dolphins scored early and often and rolled to a big win on homecoming night after back-to-back losses by seven points or less, giving Ed Susi’s squad its first win of the season.
Next week: BCHS (1-3) at Beaufort
Woodland 28, Whale Branch 14
The Warriors took a 14-7 lead to halftime on the road but couldn’t find the end zone after the break in a hard-fought loss that snaps a two-game win streak.
Next week: WBECHS (2-2) at Philip Simmons
Manning 52, Ridgeland 6
The Jaguars connected for a 31-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter for their first points of the season, but it was all Monarchs after the break, as Manning pulled away for a lopsided win.
Next week: RSAE (0-4) at Burke
HHCA 56, John Paul II 22
Reid McCollum passed for 292 yards and three TDs and added 108 yards and two scores on the ground, Joey Houpt had six catches for 144 yards and two TDs, and Kres Langhals had a monster night on defense and scored touchdowns on a rush, a fumble return, and a pick-six to help HHCA pull away from the Golden Warriors. Alan Wolf rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown, and Jadon Inabinett added 85 yards and a score, as JPII racked up 468 total yards but was derailed by seven turnovers.
Next week: HHCA (2-2) vs. Hammond; JPII (2-3) is idle (at St. John’s Christian, 9/26)
Bethesda Academy 47, Hilton Head Prep 0
The Dolphins were the most recent victim of the Blazers’ offensive juggernaut, as Jordan Turner went 5-of-6 passing with four touchdowns to three different receivers, and three different running backs scored for Bethesda in an afternoon rout in Sea Pines.
Next week: HHP (0-4) at Augusta Christian
Beaufort Academy 41, Lee Academy 0
Nych Underwood rushed for 186 yards and four touchdowns, and Nic Shuford Jr. added 40 yards and a score on the ground and passed for 119 yards with a TD to Ben Davis to fuel the Eagles to a blowout on the road. Underwood and Jace Paulk each had interceptions to aid a shutout by the BA defense.
Next week: BA (5-0) vs. Dorchester Academy
Colleton Prep 34, Calhoun Academy 28
Cale Owens completed 16 of 22 passes for 264 yards and two TDs and added 92 yards and two scores on the ground to lead the War Hawks to an impressive road win in a matchup of SCISA title contenders. Calhoun’s Cole Layton rushed for 166 yards and two TDs, but the War Hawks frustrated him in the passing game, limiting him to one completion of 18 yards with Perry Corbett picking off a pass.
Next week: CPA (4-1) vs. Clarendon Hall
Williamsburg Academy 40, Thomas Heyward 12
Grant Small rolled up 213 rushing yards and scored four times, and Eli Brown added 101 yards and a TD as the Stallions overwhelmed the Rebels’ defense. THA has allowed 40 points or more in back-to-back games for the first time since 2015.
Next week: THA (0-3) vs. Faith Christian
Dorchester Academy 28, Patrick Henry 14
Rylin Brunson rushed for a team-best 57 yards and a touchdown and added 42-yard TD pass to Daivon Glover, and Luke Sobey led a strong defensive effort for the Patriots, but it wasn’t enough to stop John Whetsell and the Raiders.
Next week: PHA (1-3) at Bethesda Academy
Holly Hill Academy 52, Cross Schools 18
The Stingrays found the end zone three times after doing so just twice in two meetings with the Raiders a year ago, but they couldn’t find an answer for Parker Kizer, who rushed for 363 yards and six touchdowns and added a pick-six on defense to lead undefeated Holly Hill to a lopsided win.
Next week: Cross (0-4) at Palmetto Christian