Another huge showdown between HHCA and Northwood

When they met on the same stage -- and the same field -- three years ago, Hilton Head Christian Academy and Northwood Academy represented a pair of fledgling football programs playing for a state title for the first time.

When they clash for the SCISAA Class 2-A title again at 7:30 tonight at Orangeburg Prep, the Eagles and Chargers will do so as two of the premier private-school football programs in the state. The burgeoning rivalry will be renewed for the second time in three weeks -- the Eagles won the first meeting 24-10 to claim the SCISAA Region 2-AA title Oct. 30 -- and as it usually is when these two get together, the stakes will be high. The teams have met each of the past five seasons, with two of those meetings coming in the playoffs and two more deciding the region title.

"They've built a great program over there, and we've been fortunate enough to see them (in big games)," Eagles coach Tommy Lewis said. "You don't need a rivalry to get up for playing for a state championship, but it's certainly starting to become that."

The Eagles have gotten the better end of the deal so far, winning four of their first five games against the Chargers and dominating the first meeting this season. In that game, Hilton Head Christian held star running back Uriah Singleton to a season-low 55 yards on 17 carries and led 24-3 until Singleton scored a late touchdown to narrow the gap.

"We've got to slow down their defensive front," Chargers coach Jerry Stoots said. "Those big guys up front gave us a fit last time. We didn't do a good job at all blocking them, and they really shut down our running game."

Still, Lewis said Singleton was close to breaking several plays for big gains in the first game, so the Eagles will need to exhibit the same gang tackling and disciplined play on defense to again keep him well below his season average of 192 rushing yards per game.

"All he needs is a sliver of daylight and he's going to hit it, and hit it hard," Lewis said. "Our guys were in the right gaps at the right time. ... We did a very good job of more or less assignment football. You usually think of assignment football against an option team, but against Uriah everyone needs to cover their gap, because he can look like he's going one way and be going a different way very quickly."

The Eagles will count on their offense to help the defense by keeping Singleton and the Chargers' offense off the field as much as possible. Both coaches felt the Eagles' ability to convert on third and fourth downs and keep drives alive was a key factor in the first meeting, as Hilton Head Christian picked up at least two first downs on all but one of its possessions, allowing it to control the clock and gain an edge in field position.

One thing that neither coach expects to be a factor is the nervousness that often comes with playing on a big stage such as a championship game. The Chargers are the defending champion -- they beat Thomas Sumter in the title game last year -- and both teams are playing in the title game for the third time in four years.

"We're a little more at ease with it this time," Stoots said. "We've got a lot of kids on the team that were there last year. It's not a strange situation to us. We've been there. We're familiar with the field, we're familiar with the team, and we're familiar with the situation. From that standpoint, it takes some of the jitters out of it."

For a number of Hilton Head Christian seniors who experienced the thrill of lifting the trophy in 2006 and the sting of watching the celebration unfold across the field after losing to Hilton Head Prep in 2007, the memory of both feelings was all the motivation the Eagles needed this week, senior safety James Berl said.

"We've been working so hard all year," Berl said, "and this would just top it all off."

Who: Northwood Academy 11-2 vs. Hilton Head Christian 11-1

When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Indian Field, Orangeburg Prep

Directions: Take U.S. 278 to I-95 North. Take I-26 West to exit 145. Bear right off the exit ramp, proceed to the third traffic light and turn right onto St. Matthews Road (past the Chrysler dealership). Continue to the second traffic light, and make a right turn at Chestnut St. (there will be a Burger King on the right). Proceed to the fifth traffic light, and the Upper Campus will be on the right. Continue to the next traffic light, and turn right (Medcap will be on the corner). The football field will be on the right at 995 Willington Drive. Allow two hours travel time.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Hilton Head Christian

Offense: QB Luke Sirgo, RB Eric Farr, WR Ethan Gort, WR Zac Lenns, WR Alex Martin, TE Ryan Emery, LT Kyle Weaver, LG John Taylor Stones, C Alec Westmark, RG Wesley Cooler, RT Josh Lancaster.

Defense: DT Ryan Smith, NG Kyle Weaver, DT Lamar Johnson, OLB Ethan Gort, ILB Michael Hull, ILB Wesley Cooler, OLB JaBrook Tucker, CB Devin McGuinness, CB Weston Butler, FS James Berl, SS Shea Watkins.

Special teams: K Shea Watkins, P/PR Zac Lenns, KR JaBrook Tucker.

Northwood Academy

Offense: QB Ty Powell, RB Uriah Singleton, WR Ryan Shipley, WR Nick Burn, WR Calan Davis, C Joey Bisognani, G MacKenzie Heath, G Zach Hollifield, T Brock Richard, T Josh King.

Defense: DL Christian Rothhaus, DL Josh King, DL Calan Davis, OLB Josh Manigo, OLB Uriah Singleton, ILB Brock Richard, ILB Brendan Gilbert, CB Nick Burn, CB Jamie Hall, S Ryan Shipley, S Jamal Manigo.

Special teams: K/P Seth Graham, KR/PR Uriah Singleton, KR/PR Nick Burn.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Passing

HHCA -- Luke Sirgo 2,181 yards, 28 TDs, 9 INTs

Northwood -- Ty Powell 1,178 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs

Rushing

HHCA -- Luke Sirgo 413 yards, 8 TDs

Northwood -- Uriah Singleton 2,491 yards, 39 TDs

Receiving

HHCA -- Ethan Gort 48 receptions, 826 yards, 15 TDs

Northwood -- Nick Burn 34 receptions, 504 yards, 5 TDs

Scoring

HHCA -- Ethan Gort 96 points

Northwood -- Uriah Singleton 252 points

Tackles

HHCA -- Michael Hull 118

Northwood -- Brendan Gilbert 93

Sacks

HHCA -- JaBrook Tucker 5 1/2

Northwood -- Josh King 10

Forced fumbles

HHCA -- Kyle Weaver 3

Northwood -- N/A

Fumble recoveries

HHCA -- 12 players tied with 1

Northwood -- Uriah Singleton 4

Interceptions

HHCA -- James Berl 7

Northwood -- Jamie Hall 4