Whale Branch, Thomas Heyward, Beaufort Academy pick up playoff wins
Whale Branch rallied from a 18-point deficit to defeat Buford, 30-27, in the first round of the Class 2A Lower State playoffs Friday
The Warriors host Batesburg-Leesville next week.
Jhonathan Diaz kicked three field goals, including a 25-yard yarder with 4:37 to give Whale Branch a 30-27 lead.
The Warriors trailed 21-3 in the first half but rallied on two Irvin Milligan runs and CJ Brown’s TD pass to Jamal Moultrie to lead 24-21 at halftime.
After a Diaz field goal made it 27-21, Buford’s Ryan Moore scored on a 47-yard run but the extra point was no good and the game was tied at 27 with 10:36 left.
Thomas Heyward 20, Christian Academy 14 (OT)
Thomas Heyward won its eighth straight game in nail-biting fashion in the first round of the SCISA Class A playoffs.
The Rebels host Pee Dee Academy next week in the semifinals.
THA trailed 14-7 in the fourth quarter but tied it when Bobby Payne recovered a fumble in the end zone.
Christian Academy had a chance to win it in regulation but missed a 36-yard field goal as time expired. In overtime, THA stopped CA on fourth-and-one and Logan Thomas scored on a 5-yard run for the win.
Beaufort Academy 43, Holly Hill 6
Deshawn Epps and Jax Spratling combined for five touchdowns, and Beaufort Academy won its first playoff game in school history.
Beaufort Academy travels to Wardlaw Academy next week in the semifinals of the SCISA 8-man Division I playoffs.
Epps finished with 196 yards on ground and also caught a 45-yard TD. Spratling had 103 yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Dawson Coleman threw for 55 yards and ran for 35 with two total TDs.
BA’s defense came up big and didn’t allow an offensive touchdown. Holly Hill’s lone score came on a fumble returned for a touchdown on the first possession of the game.
Edward McCormick led the way with 15 tackles, and Spratling had 12. Daniel Richards had four tackles for loss and three pass break-ups.
Timberland 12, May River 10
May River fell short in its upset bid of Timberland in the Class 3A playoffs.
Quarterback Jaquez Mitchell’s 10-yard run with 3:34 left in third quarter turned out to be the game-winner for the Wolves. The Sharks had a couple of chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
Timberland’s Tyler Sumpter picked off a May River pass at the 50-yard line. The Sharks drove into Timberland territory with less than 30 seconds left but clock ran out on a failed attempt to spike the ball for one more play.
Cam Adams had a 6-yard TD run to put May River up, 7-0, less than two minutes into the game.
Bryce Summers gave May River a 10-6 lead with a 30-yard field goal with 6:55 left in first half.
Bishop England 32, Battery Creek 26
Quarterback Leo Albano had 440 yards of total offense an four touchdowns in Bishop England’s win in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
Albano ran for three TDs and threw one to Chris Dangler to give Bishop England a 25-0 lead at halftime.
But Battery Creek rallied and cut it to 32-20. The Dolphins scored on the last play of the game for the final margin.
Battery Creek quarterback Jordan Gywn threw for 184 yards and rushed for 81 and four total TDs. Most of Gwyn’s yards came in the second half.
Myrtle Beach 46, Beaufort 7
Jermani Green rushed for 121 yards and four touchdowns, and quarterback Lawson Cribb was 12-for-23 passing for 251 yards and three touchdowns in Myrtle Beach’s win in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Beaufort finishes the season at 8-3. Jeffrey Smith was 11-of-27 for 167 yards and a TD, a 70-yarder to Jamon Graham in the fourth quarter for Beaufort’s only score. Myrtle Beach held Kyleik Middleton to 40 yards rushing.
Robert E. Lee 42, Hilton Head Christian 7
Bryce Barrett ran for 144 yards and threw for 81 as the Cavaliers defeated HHCA in the first round of the SCISA 2A playoffs.
HHCA’s lone touchdown came on Max Lowery’s 6-yard fumble return for a TD.
Chandler Edmonds and Daniel Harrington each rushed for 79 yards to lead the Eagles. Alex Nasaidka carried the ball twice for 21 yards.
Dillon Christian 35, John Paul II 0
Diaz Alexander threw for three touchdowns and Garrett Collins scored twice in the defending state champions’ win in the first round of the SCISA 2A playoffs.
Alexander finished with 122 yards passing and Collins ran for 100.
Zac Doe led John Paul II with 106 yards rushing. JP II finishes the season at 6-5 in its second year of 11-man football.
This story was originally published November 4, 2017 at 4:02 AM with the headline "Whale Branch, Thomas Heyward, Beaufort Academy pick up playoff wins."