With a win Thursday night, Hilton Head Island High would have cemented a Class 3-A Lower State playoff spot.

But after a 51-32 loss at the hands of Berkeley, the Seahawks (5-5, 2-3 Region 8-AAA) find themselves waiting.

The game was competitive throughout the first half, and the Seahawks trailed 24-16 at the intermission.

But Hilton Head High went three-and-out to open the second half and the game began to slip away.

"They scored and it just kind of steamrolled from there," Seahawks coach B.J. Payne said.

After the Stags took a 31-16 lead, the Seahawks drove back inside the Berkeley 10 but were held to a field goal.

After that, Hilton Head High had no answer for Berkeley's big plays.

"We just couldn't get a stop," Payne said.

Khalil Lewis had a big game for the Seahawks, rushing 27 times for 222 yards and a touchdown.

But Michael Julian had a shaky night, completing just 10 of 22 passes for 135 yards and a 55-yard touchdown to James Sanders. He also threw two costly picks.

Because of the S.C. High School League's new at-large system, Hilton Head High won't know its playoff fate until 9 a.m. Saturday.

Three teams from Region 8-AAA get berths. The Seahawks are the fourth seed. Depending on the outcomes of tonight's games, Hilton Head High could be selected for an at-large bid.

"We'll have to see," said Payne, who plans to be in Columbia on Saturday when the at-large bids are announced.