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Due to a Week Zero cancellation and a bye in Week 1, the Eagles showed up late for the 2010 season on Friday night.
Thanks to Luke Sirgo, you could say they were fashionably late.
The senior quarterback rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 114 yards and another score, leading the defending SCISAA Class 2-A state champions to a 49-37 win over Florence Christian.
"It was a little nerve-racking. I was very anxious (to start the season)," Sirgo said. "I felt we came out hard off the ball and everyone did real well."
Hilton Head Christian coach Tommy Lewis promised a balanced offense this year for his pass-happy program. Instead, the Eagles were run-heavy in their opener, rushing 31 times for 420 yards while trying just eight passes.
Sirgo got the rushing party started on the first play of the game, breaking free for a 61-yard touchdown. On the Eagles' next possession, he broke off a 42-yarder for another score.
"He really has improved himself," Lewis said. "He's certainly now a legitimate double-threat. I think that will pay off for us a team as we get further into the season."
Senior running back JaBrook Tucker got in on the action with two more rushing touchdowns in the first quarter, giving the Eagles a commanding 26-0 lead.
Tucker broke off three long runs and finished with 157 yards on seven carries.
"Last year I couldn't make those long runs," Tucker said. "Working out with (speed and strength coach) A.J. Kelly this summer really helped me get faster and bigger. ... Basically, when I'm open, it's hard to catch me."
After kicker Jake Crandall booted a 43-yard field goal to open the second quarter, Hilton Head Christian started making substitutions. The second-string defense played the entire second half and Florence Christian (0-2) took full advantage, unleashing an all-out air assault that resulted in 37 second-half points against HHCA's inexperienced secondary.
Florence Christian quarterback Hampton Langston threw for 277 yards on 15-of-36 passing.
Hilton Head Christian (1-0) eventually had to put its first-string offense back in. Sirgo put the final nail in the coffin late in the fourth with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alex Martin.
"We wanted to mix it up a little more," Lewis said. "We had a couple of quick scores and didn't want things to get out of hand. But Florence Christian kept battling. They never let us off the hook, that's for sure."
