Beaufort Academy, Thomas Heyward embark on SCISA’s 2nd season

Not quite 30 years ago, Scott Richards was the quarterback of a North Augusta team that went 8-7 for the season — and finished as the 1989 Class 4A state champions.

No, that’s not a misprint.

“We had to win a state title to have a winning season,” Richards recalled. “We were 7-7 going into the championship game against Lower Richland, and we had to beat Lower Richland to have a winning record.”

North Augusta prevailed 14-0, giving the Yellowjackets a most unusual combo. Now as Beaufort Academy’s coach, Richards will see if any of that old magic might be around to rub off.

Though the Eagles (2-6) actually can’t lift themselves all the way to a winning record as the SCISA 8-Man playoffs begin Friday, Richards hopes things can come together at the right time to shake up the brackets a bit when they visit Holly Hill.

“We have some of the best athletes in SCISA,” Richards said. “But putting that on the field on Friday night for four quarters has been our challenge. It’s not because of lack of effort, just lack of experience.”

Thomas Heyward also hits the road to begin its playoff run, heading to Florence to face Pee Dee Academy in a game played at The King’s Academy. It marks the Rebels’ fifth playoff trip in Nic Shuford’s six seasons as coach.

The Rebels (6-4) seek to end a trend that has seen them fail to escape the first round in their past two trips.

Beaufort Academy has already squared off once this year against Holly Hill, dropping a 44-22 decision on Sept. 9. That game was tied 14-14 at halftime, though, before the Raiders broke things open in the second half.

It was just one of several such scenarios in which the Eagles have found themselves sapped as the game reached the late stages. BA might have that winning record if it could find that second wind.

“Every play is a challenge,” Richards said. “We really have to think about each substitution. I’m sure we could do a better job at managing that. But there’s got to be a will and a want. I just hope the guys can keep pushing forward this week and get through this game with maximum effort.”

Though Holly Hill (9-1) dropped down to the 8-man level this year, the Raiders have a track record of success. They captured the SCISA 1A title just two years ago, beating Hilton Head Prep in the process.

This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 7:25 PM with the headline "Beaufort Academy, Thomas Heyward embark on SCISA’s 2nd season."