Battery Creek holds off Jaguars to capture 3A playoff berth

Eddie Dean returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and added a touchdown catch later in the evening, helping propel Battery Creek to an improbable Class 3A playoff berth with a 23-20 triumph over Ridgeland-Hardeeville.

Alterell Chatman added a 2-yard TD run as the Dolphins (2-8, 1-4 Region 8) snapped out of their offensive doldrums to break a five-game losing streak and win the showdown for the region’s No.4 playoff seed.

Battery Creek advanced to a first-round playoff game next week at Brookland-Cayce, ranked No.4 in Class 3A after winning the Region 5 crown.

Jabari Williams threw for one touchdown and ran for another to lead Ridgeland-Hardeeville (2-8, 0-4), which lost its final eight games after starting the season 2-0.

The Jaguars had a chance to win after Williams’ 1-yard run pulled them within a field goal and the defense forced a Battery Creek three-and-out. But a flag for roughing the punter with 32 seconds left allowed the Dolphins to run out the clock, sending fans streaming onto the field in celebration.

The Dolphins have endured an ill-fated season, starting with coach Fred Hamilton’s late hire through an early rash of injuries and the violent car accident that sent three players to the hospital and ended their seasons.

The jerseys of Jelani Boyd, John DeLoach and Ahman Smalls had been draped over the Dolphins’ bench in previous games, but all three were in attendance for the regular-season finale.

This story was originally published November 12, 2016 at 12:08 AM with the headline "Battery Creek holds off Jaguars to capture 3A playoff berth."