Top 10 games in history of Bluffton High School football
A little more than a year ago, The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette ran a story debating the top 10 games in Bluffton High School football history.
My how things change.
Fourteen months later, the list we compiled looks nothing like its precursor. In fact, only three of the 10 from last October even made our list this time around.
It's truly been an historic two-year run for the Bobcats, who will play for the Class 3-A state championship Saturday against South Pointe in Clemson. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.
Considering this is the Bobcats' first trip to the state title game, it seems obvious -- at least to us, anyway -- that it will be the biggest game in the program's eight-year history, win or lose Saturday. After all, the Bobcats have a chance to win a state championship two years after missing the playoffs for the third straight season.
As for the remaining nine games that cracked our list, that's subject to opinion. Read on as we break down the rest of the top 10 games in the Bluffton football history.
And let the debate begin:
2. Bobcats knock out A.C. Flora, advance to state title game -- Nov. 25, 2011
A back-and-forth, nerve-wracking Lower State championship finishes with Bluffton on top, 44-35, and the Bobcats clinch a spot in the Class 3-A state championship for the first time, setting up tonight's showdown against Upper State champion South Pointe.
Marquis Webber picks a good time for the best game of his career. He hauls in six catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns -- including a 67-yard score from quarterback C.J. Frazier on the game's opening drive.
The game quickly turns into an offensive shootout, with the two teams combining for 989 yards of offense and 52 first downs.
3. Myrtle Beach ends Bluffton's historic season in Lower State championship -- Nov. 26, 2010
A talented Seahawks team -- the eventual state champions -- dominate the Bobcats on both sides of the ball en route to a 47-0 victory in front of a pack house at Bobcat Stadium, ending the best season in Bluffton history.
Notre Dame-bound quarterback Everett Golson throws for 292 yards and four touchdowns, and Daiquone Ford tops the 100-yard rushing mark and adds a touchdown. Myrtle Beach holds the Bobcats to seven first downs and 161 yards of offense.
4. Bobcats avenge loss, dethrone state champion Myrtle Beach -- Nov. 18, 2011
One year later, things turn out quite differently for Bluffton, which overpowers a physical and fast Myrtle Beach squad to earn a 21-7 victory and finally get its long-awaited revenge.
The Bobcats grab an early lead on a Boyles touchdown and expand it to 14-0 on the first play of the second quarter when K.J. Ford intercepts a screen pass and returns it 68 yards for another touchdown. It's the Bobcats lowest scoring output of the year, but the defense comes within four points of becoming the first team to shut out Myrtle Beach since 2003.
5. Magical night in Hartsville ends with Boyles' game-winning score -- Nov. 19, 2010
A miracle season for the Bobcats continues with its most dramatic moment yet. Bluffton trails most of the night but answers a last-minute Hartsville score with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Frazier to Eric Boyles with 12 seconds to play for a 40-35 victory.
In the instant classic, Bluffton prevails with scores from Boyles, C.J. Johnson and Corey Stoner to earn the right to host the Class 3-A Lower State championship against highly-touted Myrtle Beach.
6. Bluffton football program holds opening night -- Aug. 20, 2004
Bluffton's football team takes the field for the first time in school history. The game, however, ends on a sour note when Jasper County escapes with a 16-6 win against the Bobcats, who go on to finish their inaugural season 0-9.
Jason Grant scores the first touchdown in school history on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter, but it's all the points the Bobcats can muster in the loss.
7. Region championship makes its way to Bluffton -- Oct. 29, 2010
The Bobcats win the Bridge Bowl for the first time in five tries -- and get the trophy for it five days later. Eric Boyles scores three first-quarter touchdowns in the 37-0 victory.
But the magic is at Cane Bay, where the Cobras upset region-leading Berkeley, making Bluffton the Region 7-AAA champions for the first time in school history. The championship gives Bluffton a No. 1 seed heading into the Class 3-A playoffs.
8. Hilton Head High and Bluffton begin football rivalry -- Oct. 27, 2006
In the inaugural Bridge Bowl, the Seahawks take down Bluffton, 10-0, in a downpour at Bobcat Stadium. The game brings in more than $17,000 in gate revenue, the highest dollar total until 2010.
After the two teams fight to a scoreless tie in the first half, Hilton Head High kicker Michael Boher boots a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Cavin Sunkins scores the game's only touchdown on a 2-yard run to give the Seahawks the win.
Bluffton is unable to find solid footing on the muddy field and manages only four rushing yards.
9. Bobcats taste first victory -- Aug. 19, 2005
It takes more than a year, but Bluffton captures its first program victory with a 15-6 win against Jasper County to open the 2005 season.
Running back A.J. Kinlaw scores two touchdowns, one on a 15-yard rush and the other on a 34-yard pass reception from Adam Schultz. Fellow running back Antwon Pinckney rushed for 96 yards.
The team soaks coach Dave Adams in Gatorade to celebrate its first win.
10. Bluffton blisters Hilton Head High, finishes regular season undefeated -- Oct. 28, 2011
The Bobcats cap the first undefeated regular season in school history by beating their rivals for the second time during the year. Jerry Scott runs for 135 yards and two touchdowns to lead a Bluffton rushing attack that totals 335 yards for the game.
Bluffton finishes with 605 points for the regular season, a new state record, while also holding every opponent to 14 points or fewer.
Hilton Head High scores a touchdown against Bluffton for the first time in the last four meetings.
DAVE'S TAKE
Dave Adams was the first Bluffton football head coach, and he remains the only athletics director the school has ever had. Here is how he ranks the top 10 games in program history.
1. Bluffton faces South Pointe for the Class 3-A state championship -- Dec. 3, 2011
2. Bobcats knock out A.C. Flora, advance to state title game -- Nov. 25, 2011
3. Myrtle Beach ends Bluffton's historic season in Lower State championship -- Nov. 26, 2010
4. Bobcats avenge loss, dethrone state champion Myrtle Beach -- Nov. 18, 2011
5. Magical night in Hartsville ends with Boyles' game-winning score -- Nov. 19, 2010
6. Region championship makes its way to Bluffton -- Oct. 29, 2010
7. Bluffton football program holds opening night -- Aug. 20, 2005
8. Hilton Head High and Bluffton begin football rivalry -- Oct. 27, 2006
9. Bluffton blisters Hilton Head High, finishes regular season undefeated -- Oct. 28, 2011
10. Bobcats taste first victory -- Aug. 19, 2005
CHAT WITH COACH CRIBB
Have a question for Bluffton High School football coach Ken Cribb as the Bobcats prepare to play for a state title Saturday? Here's your chance to ask.
The Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette will hold a live online chat with Cribb at 5:30 p.m. today. Log on to blogs.islandpacket.com/matchpoint to enter the chat room and submit your questions for the Bobcats' second-year coach.
This story was originally published December 1, 2011 at 1:04 AM with the headline "Top 10 games in history of Bluffton High School football."