By Thomas Grant Jr.
Brookland-Cayce, Gray Collegiate Academy, Airport and River Bluff looked to join Northside Christian Academy with season-opening victories.
Only the Eagles were successful in that endeavor.
They defeated Pelion 34-7 last Friday to snap a 16-game losing streak dating back to the 2024 season. Rico Crawford threw four touchdowns and Richard Harley rushed for a score to give second-year head coach Chris Napier his first victory at Airport.
Over in The Swamp, the Gators opened the season with a 41-14 win over Cane Bay.
Caleb Pinkney rushed for two touchdowns and quarterback Davis Taylor completed 8-14 passes and a touchdown to Darius Carter. He had seven receptions for 118 yards.
Placekicker Liam Floyd made two field goals of 41 and 43 yards. Levi Gibbons and Reece Huffstetler tallied and 13 and 11 tackles, respectively.
Both the Bearcats and War Eagles played a night earlier to open Week One.
Brookland-Cayce played host to defending SCISA Class 4A champion Hammond School. It was the first meeting between the two programs.
The visiting Skyhawks handed the Bearcats a 31-13 loss at Fort Knox. Caden Young accounted for two first-half touchdowns on a 32-yard reception and a 35-yard reverse run.
Brookland-Cayce’s points came off special teams and defense. Down 14-0 and facing a fourth down, Bennett Plane took the direct snap and scampered 45 yards for the score.
Nearly 20 seconds later, linebacker Antwain Lawson blindsided quarterback Cade Amell on a blitz. He knocked the football loose at the 6-yard line and it was recovered in the endzone for the touchdown.
Down 21-13, Brookland-Cayce had two promising scoring drives to open the second half. A slant pass by quarterback Andrew Fricke to Mekhi Pringle put the Bearcats into Hammond territory.
However, Kaiden Kennedy-Banks knocked the football away from Pringle at the 40-yard line. Teammate Dre Bethea made the recovery.
The Skyhawks were unable to capitalize as it turned the ball over back to Brookland-Cayce. The Bearcats once again moved the football downfield and a 34-yard reception by Plane set up a first and goal at the 6-yard line.
Despite having key defensive players like South Carolina commit Jackson Ross leaving the game with cramps, the Skyhawks held their ground. Brookland-Cayce only managed to reach the 1-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
It was their last best scoring opportunity as Hammond finished the game with seven sacks, four by Hugh Manning.
“They gamble a lot on defense, bringing different pressures, that’s kind of their deal,” Brookland-Cayce head coach Louis Clyburn said. “We didn’t get our quarterback sacked a lot last year and didn’t face a defense like this that has as many schemes and you just have to block them and hit the hole they’re leaving.
“Anytime you do that, they’re leaving holes on defense and it’s a little bit of a chess match. We hit a couple of them a couple of them, but too many times we let that pressure get to us.”
While pleased with his team’s overall production, Clyburn focused on his team’s inability to “finish” drives. The key is working to improve on the mistakes heading into next week’s game against Chapin.
In Charlotte, N.C., Gray Collegiate Academy fell 50-21 to Meck Power Six School Chambers. The War Eagles stay on the road next week at River Bluff.
Crusaders now 2-0
Another big game by senior B.J. Suits enabled Northside Christian Academy to rout Thornwell Charter 55-16 on the road.
Suits rushed for 128 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Crusaders. He also completed 8-10 passes for 117 yards.
Mac Jackson, Brayden Wolfe and Joshua Weston all scored in the game.
WEEK TWO SCHEDULE
South Aiken at Airport
Brookland-Cayce at Chapin
Northside Christian Academy at Thomas Sumter
Gray Collegiate Academy at River Bluff
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