Beaufort Eagles’ memorable season ends with loss in 4A state title game
The Beaufort High School football team gave its fans a season to remember, but it wasn’t the ending the Eagles and their faithful hoped for Thursday at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
Rock Hill’s South Pointe High turned in a dominating performance in defeating the Eagles 41-7 to win the 2021 Class 4A championship, the Stallions’ seventh state title.
“I am just really proud of them. They have done a lot of things that haven’t been done before or done in a while,” Beaufort coach Bryce Lybrand said. “I am proud to be their coach.”
Lybrand was promoted to head coach three years ago after joining DeVonte Holloman’s staff before the 2018 season. Holloman left in 2019 to take over his alma mater South Pointe, but the two remained very close. They hugged at midfield following the game.
Lybrand’s emotions carried over as he addressed his team following the game, reminding them to be proud of what it accomplished and the excitement it brought to the Lowcountry. Fans lined the streets in Beaufort downtown area to give the Eagles a big sendoff on their trip to Columbia.
Beaufort fans were in the parking lot almost two hours before the game tailgating and many remained through the end when the Eagles scored their lone touchdown late in the fourth quarter on Caleb Ulmer’s runs. The Beaufort’s student section was chanting “Caleb, Caleb” as Ulmer came back to the sideline.
“It was a special thing. The town was out in force,” Lybrand said. “Was such a neat moment and something I will always remember and the kids will always remember. I just want to thank Beaufort for that.”
Beaufort finishes the season at 12-3 and caps off one of the best postseason runs in more than a decade. The Eagles were making their second state title appearance in the modern era, with the other one coming in 2007.
Beaufort, which finished second in Region 8-4A, knocked off No. 1 ranked Myrtle Beach and West Florence in its final two playoff games to make it to the state championship.
But the Eagles just ran into a more physical and athletic South Pointe squad.
“I love all these boys. We worked so hard every day for this,” Beaufort senior quarterback Tyler Haley said. “We are Lower State champions, made to the state championship which is something Beaufort hasn’t done in a while. I am proud of everyone on the team, including all the coaches.”
Haley, a four-year starter, was pressured most of the night and left the game with a hand injury. He was 5-of-19 for 30 yards. Ulmer led the team with 95 yards rushing.
South Pointe scored on its first two possessions on runs by Caleb Sims and Jaquan Thompson to go up 14-0. The second touchdown was helped by a Beaufort roughing-the-kicker penalty on a South Pointe field-goal attempt.
Stallions quarterback Zay McCrorey played one of his best games in his three years as a starting quarterback. The senior was 17-of-30 for 344 yards and also rushed for 64 yards and a TD. Demari Kendrick, the younger brother of Georgia cornerback Derion Kendrick, caught six passes for 169 yards. Waymond Jenerette had four catches for 107 yards and also threw a five-yard TD pass.
The Stallions outgained Beaufort in total offense 566-165.
HOW THEY SCORED
First Quarter
SP — Sims 4 run (Distastio kick), 8:29
SP — Thompson 4 run (Distastio kick), 4:08
Second Quarter
SP — McCrorey 1 run (Distastio kick), 8:56
SP — Huskey 5 pass from Jenerette (Distastio kick), 0:00
Fourth Quarter
SP — Thompson 8 run (Distastio kick), 8:43
SP — McCrorey 3 run (kick failed), 3:53
B — Ulmer 35 run (Caprarola kick), 1:32
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — B: Ulmer 10-95, Morris 10-39, Haley 7-18. SP: McCrorey 9-64, Sims 15-64, Thompson 14-58, Copley 4-17.
PASSING — B: Haley 5-9-2 30, Bonds 1-2-1 2. SP: McCrorey 17-30-0 344, LeFlore 2-2-0 6.
RECEIVING — B: Fields 2-10, Dennison 2-8, Ulmer 1-12, Odom 1-2. SP: Kendrick 6-169, Jenerette 4-107, Huskey 3-32, Webb 3-28.
This story was originally published December 2, 2021 at 10:30 PM.
