Beaufort Academy, Thomas Heyward head to SCISA playoffs

Even with a 2-6 record, Scott Richards kept his Beaufort Academy players practicing through a season-ending open date in anticipation of a possible playoff berth. He even exchanged game tape with Holly Hill Academy.

It turns out he was spot-on.

The Eagles nabbed one of the last Division I spots in SCISA’s 8-man playoffs announced Saturday, extending their season at least long enough to visit top seed Holly Hill next Friday.

“I wanted that expectation,” Richards said. “We believed the rest of the season was going to play out like it did. We went about it like we were in.”

Thomas Heyward also is playoff bound, missing out on a chance to win its region with Friday night’s loss to Colleton Prep but grabbing the third seed from SCISA 1A-2. The Rebels (6-4) also will open on the road, traveling to Pee Dee Academy for their opener.

Hilton Head Prep’s longshot hopes for a SCISA 2A playoff berth never materialized, passed over as officials used a points system to fill the final two slots in that bracket. The Dolphins’ thrilling 18-17 comeback win over Hilton Head Christian will stand as the finale of a 3-5 season.

Beaufort Academy had Friday off, losing what would have been its regular season finale when Ridge Christian announced it would not play football in 2016. Though the Eagles lost both games after returning from the hurricane break, a look at the standings gave Richards confidence his team would get another game.

In fact, it would have taken an upset to keep them out of the postseason.

“I told (the players) on Monday that the anticipation should be that we’re in the playoffs, and we would practice all week,” Richards said. “They’ve been on board. There were no surprises.

“To us, we were in the playoffs, so let’s just go practice and prepare for it. If it turns out we didn’t make the playoffs, it’s four extra practices that we got. A lot of younger guys got a lot of practice time this past week, so it was beneficial either way.”

Holly Hill won its region with a 9-1 overall mark, losing only to defending champion Andrew Jackson Academy. The Raiders played 11-man football until this year, winning the SCISA 1A crown just two seasons ago.

This story was originally published October 30, 2016 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Beaufort Academy, Thomas Heyward head to SCISA playoffs."