Electrician Contractor in Powdersville, SC

Beaufort High football earned its second-straight state championship trip by defeating one of the state’s powerhouse programs.

The Eagles defeated perennial power Dillon 30-21 on Friday night in the Class 3A Lower State finals. Beaufort will play Powdersville at 7 p.m. Thursday for the state championship at Benedict College’s Charlie W. Johnson Stadium in Columbia.

Powdersville defeated Clinton 27-14 to earn its first trip to the state title game.

“It is something that hasn’t happened before going to state championship two years in a row,” Beaufort coach Bryce Lybeand said Saturday morning. “We are getting to do some things that haven’t been done before. Last night was awesome. That is why we try to schedule tough games, go play in fun places so when we play in big games that they are used to it. They won’t be intimidated by going anywhere and playing.

“We have gone to Myrtle Beach and Dillon in back-to-back playoffs and won games.”

It is Beaufort’s third state championship appearance since 1964 and second in a row. Beaufort played for the Class 4A championship last season, losing to South Pointe. The Eagles were moved to Class 3A this season as part of the S.C. High School League’s realignment process.

Beaufort handed Dillon its first loss of the season and first home playoff loss since 2011. The Wildcats are one of the top programs in the state, winning seven state championships and making 10 title appearances since 2008.

Beaufort running back Kacy Fields rushed for 159 yards and three second-half touchdowns in the game. Two of Fields’ touchdowns came in the third quarter as the Eagles led 21-14.

Dillon tied the game on Ty Martin’s run with 2:08 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles took the lead on a bizarre play in the fourth quarter. Beaufort was driving deep into Wildcats’ territory before Dillon’s Donnezz Alford intercepted Samari Bonds’ pass in the end zone. But the Wildcats were flagged for holding in the end zone on Alford’s return. As a result, Beaufort was awarded a safety and took a 23-21 lead with 10:50 left.

“It is just a weird play, never seen it happen before but they made the right call,” Lybrand said. “I’m sure the people at Dillon didn’t like it but they made the right call. The refs got together and talked about it to make sure it was right.

Beaufort extended the lead on Fields’ 2-yard run on the next possession with 6:20 left. The Eagles benefited from a short field after the kickoff.

Beaufort’s defense came up with two interceptions on Dillon’s next two drives, including Don Camacho’s inside the 20-yard line, to seal the win.

Beaufort finished with 410 yards rushing in the game and didn’t complete a pass in three attempts. The Eagles also overcame five turnovers in the game.

“We moved the ball all night. It wasn’t always easy,” Lybrand said. “But we just got to clean up those mistakes.”

Colton Phares led the Eagles with 163 yards rushing and a 36-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter. Bonds added 85 yards on nine carries.

Chris McCollum had two touchdown runs for the Wildcats.

This story was originally published November 26, 2022 1:46 AM.

Clinton’s dream season came to an end Friday at 13-1 – the same record that the team that defeated them, Powdersville, has as the Patriots advance to the AAA State Championship against Beaufort, in a 27-14 Upper State Championship win.

The Patriots were successful in slowing the run, bottling up Clinton’s 3-headed monster – Bryson James, Jayden Robinson, and Jishun Copeland - each with 1,000 yards on the 2022 season.

Powdersville’s only loss was by 2 to Hillcrest, and along the way to the Upper State Championship they ended Daniel’s 36-game winning streak.

Still, Clinton drew first blood on a blocked punt and scoop and score by James. The senior running back, one of seven finalists for the title of Mr. Football in South Carolina, also ran in a touchdown; he also returned a kickoff for a touchdown, negated by an official’s flag. But without its usual gashing running game, Clinton had to throw the ball with mixed success – some completions but a back-breaking pick-six by the Patriot defense.

Clinton Football Corey Fountain said, “I told my guys I love them. One game does not define a whole season. I wouldn’t trade these guys for anything. A lot of these guys are playing with all their heart. I appreciate Red Devil Nation that came out and supported us tonight and cheered us on as hard as they could. I apologize that we couldn’t get it done.”

Zay Johnson blocked the Powdersville punt that James scooped for a score, before Powdersville ran in a touchdown and took a 7-6 lead with 6:57 to play in the first quarter.

Powdersville snagged an interception in the end zone, then Clinton answered with a fumble recovery and James’ scoring run to claim a 14-7 end of the first half lead.

Powdersville picked up the pace in the second half, driving for a field goal. Then, two plays later, the Patriots defense scored the pick six, staking Powdersville to a 17-14 lead.

James ran back the ensuing kickoff for the touchdown that was taken off the board by a blocking penalty. Powdersville swung Thomas Williams out of the backfield for a pass and catch touchdown with 3:09 left in the 3rd quarter.

Powdersville kicked short to keep the ball out of James’ hands. Clinton was stopped, and Powdersville booted another field goal. That was the last scoring with 8:03 left to play. Clinton’s final possession ended with a sack on 3rd down and an interception on 4th down.

“They hit us quick and scored and we answered back with a kickoff return, and as it happened we had a penalty,” Fountain said. “You take away that and it might have been a whole different ball game.”

At 13-1, Clinton improved on the 2021 season record of 11-2 when they made it three rounds deep in the playoffs before losing to Daniel. The Red Devils were Upper State Champions in 2009 when they won the State Championship, a 12-3 Red Devil team; in 2005 defeating Union, an 11-4 Red Devil team; and in 1993 defeating Seneca, a Red Devil 12-3 team. This is Powdersville’s first Upper State Championship.

The high school football playoffs continue across South Carolina with games Friday night and Saturday.

Class 5A

Upper State

Byrnes 27, Blythewood 24

Lower State

Sumter 19, Cane Bay 7

Summerville 35, Lexington 13

Carolina Forest 55, Goose Crreek 28

Class 4A

Upper State

Northwestern 50, Greenwood 0

Lower State

James Island 24, Irmo 22

AC Flora 53, Hartsville 24

Class 3A

Lower State

Camden 29, Lower Richland 26

Dillon 35, Brookland-Cayce 21

Gilbert 42, Manning 14

Class 2A

Upper State

Strom Thurmond 21, Keenan 6

Fairfield Central 22, Silver Bluff 8

Lower State

Barnwell 36, Andrews 22

Andrew Jackson 29, Timberland 14

Woodland 49, Cheraw 7

Oceanside Collegiate 71, Wade Hampton (H) 27

Class A

Upper State

Christ Church 63, Calhoun County 29

Lewisville 43, Denmark-Olar 18

Wagener-Salley 26, CA Johnson 20

Lower State

Johnsonville 14, Bamberg-Ehrhardt 7

Lamar 16, Baptist Hill 12

Estill 12, Carvers Bay 6

Cross 21, Lake View 8

SCISA Class A

Lee Academy 28, St. John’s

Thomas Heyward 43, Calhoun 22

Class 5A

Upper State

Spartanburg 39, TL Hanna 14

Dutch Fork 35, Dorman 18

Gaffney 42, JL Mann 7

Class 4A

Upper State

Catawba Ridge 37, North Augusta 14

Greenville 24, South Pointe 20

Westside 39, Indian Land 35

Class 3A

Upper State

Daniel 55, Woodruff 17

Clinton 28, Belton Honea Path 13

Chapman 57, Seneca 29

Lower State

Beaufort 45, Crestwood 42

Class 2A

Upper State

Saluda 23, Gray Collegiate 16

Class A

Upper State

St. Joseph’s 29, Southside Christian 28 (OT)

SCISA

Class 4A

Hammond 45, Porter-Gaud 0

Class 3A

Florence Christian 19, Wilson Hall 17

Class 2A

Williamsburg Academy 38, Bethesda Academy 8

Colleton Prep 23, Beaufort Academy 20

8-man

WW King 22, Faith Christian 18

Homeschool

Providence Athletic Club 61, Harvest Christian Academy 0

Class 5A

Lower State

Fort Dorchester 46, Berkeley 0

Class 4A

Lower State

West Florence 42, Myrtle Beach 21

South Florence 50, Bluffton 0

Class 3A

Upper State

Powdersville 49, Chester 12

Class 2A

Upper State

Abbeville 49, Newberry 7

SCISA 4A

Laurence Manning 28, Trinity Collegiate 27

SCISA 3A

Pee Dee Academy 42, Pinewood Prep 27

SCISA 8-man

Holly Hill 72, Richard Winn 14

Friday

All games at 7:30 p.m.

Class 5A

Upper State

Spartanburg at Dutch Fork

Byrnes at Gaffney

Lower State

Summerville at Sumter

Carolina Forest at Fort Dorchester

Class 4A

Upper State

Catawba Ridge at Greenville

Westside at Northwestern

Lower State

West Florence at AC Flora

James Island at South Florence

Class 3A

Upper State

Daniel at Powdersville

Chapman at Clinton

Lower State

Dillon at Camden

Gilbert at Beaufort

Class 2A

Upper State

Fairfield Central at Abbeville

Saluda at Strom Thurmond

Lower State

Barnwell at Andrew Jackson

Woodland at Oceanside Collegiate

Class A

Upper State

Lewisville at Christ Church

St. Joseph’s at Wagener-Salley

Lower State

Lamar at Johnsonville

Cross at Estill

Friday

Games at Charleston Southern

8-man

WW King vs. Holly Hill, 4 p.m.

Class 4A

Hammond vs. Laurence Manning, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Class A

Lee Academy vs. Thomas Heyward, 1 p.m.

Class 2A

Colleton Prep vs. Williamsburg Academy, 4:30 p.m.

At West Florence High School

Class 3A

Florence Christian vs. Pee Dee Academy, 1 p.m.

This story was originally published November 11, 2022 7:00 PM.

Congratulations to Hammond head coach Jon Wheeler, the winner of SBLive South Carolina's Coach of Week award as voted by South Carolina high school sports fans.

Wheeler received 50% of our state-wide vote after his team culminated a great season with a 52-0 rout of Laurence Manning in the SCISA 4-A state championship game. Wheeler is adding to Hammond’s legendary stature. The Skyhawks have won six straight state championships and 20 altogether.

If you would like to nominate a coach, please email gary@scorebooklive.com or message us on Twitter or Instagram at @sblivesc.

Here's a look at the other great coaches who were nominated for this this week's honor:

Robert Mustar, Powdersville

Daniel lost. Let that sink in. Nobody was expecting that even though Powdersville came into the game with an 11-1 record.

But the Patriots scored a touchdown with less than a minute remaining. Mustar made the daring move of going for two and it was successful. Gone is Daniel’s 36-game winning streak and two straight state championships.

Bryce Lybrand, Beaufort

Lybrand had the Beaufort in the state semifinals a year ago and now’s got the Eagles there once more. Beaufort rallied to beat Gilbert 31-21 on Friday.

Todd Shigley, Andrew Jackson

The Volunteers were okay last year. They’re great now. Shigley has Andrew Jackson sitting at 12-1 and in the AA state semifinals.

Andrew Jackson’s latest win was its most impressive. The Volunteers whipped previously unbeaten Barnwell 41-14.

Michael Nelson, Holly Hill Academy

Nelson has built the premier 8-man football program in SCISA. The Raiders just wrapped their third consecutive state championship with a 68-20 trouncing of Wyman King Academy.

Holly Hill has won 36 consecutive games.

Page Wofford, Northwestern

Wofford has his team peaking at exactly the right time. The Trojans have triggered a running clock in all three of their state playoff games.

Stewart Young, Saluda

Young took the Tigers to the 2019 AA state championship. It looks like he’s aiming for another one. The Tigers blanked Strom Thurmond 28-0 in the third round for their fifth straight win.

Northwestern 50, Greenwood 0

The Northwestern Trojans routed Greenwood 50-0 in the second round of the playoffs Saturday afternoon at District Three Stadium.

Northwestern improved to 11-1 on the year and will play at home next Friday against Westside.

Catawba Ridge 37, North Augusta 14

The Catawba Ridge Copperheads took a 14-0 lead after one period and went on to topple North Augusta 37-14 in the second round of the playoffs Friday night in North Augusta.

The Copperheads took a 14-0 lead after one perod. Tyler Fikis scored both touchdowns. The first was on a four-yard run and the second was from six yards out.

North Augusta cut the deficit to 14-7 at halftime on a one-yard run by DJ Curry.

Catawba Ridge went up 21-7 in the third quarter when Fikis passed to Miles Baucom. North Augusta countered on a seven-yard run by Curry to slice the lead to 21-14 after three quarters were in the books.

Kohen Kozel’s 39-yard field goal gave the Copperheads a 24-14 lead early in the final period. They made it 30-14 when Tyler Jones scored on a one-yard run.

The Copperheads closed the scoring when Sheldon Crawford intercepted a pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown.

The Copperheads improved to 11-1 on the year. They will travel to play Greenville in the third round next Friday night.

Greenville 24, South Pointe 20

Greenville edged the South Pointe Stallions 24-20 in the second round of the playoffs Friday night in Greenville.

Greenville opened the scoring with a 44-yard field goal by Thomas Guerrero, and that 3-0 score held up through the end of the opening quarter. They made it 10-0 early in the second quarter when quarterback Bryson Drummond passed to MJ Bennett on a 15-yard play.

The Stallions answered when quarterback Malachi Marshall hooked up with Armendez Huskey on a 69-yard play to cut the deficit to 10-7. Drummond answered for Greenville with a 21-yard pass to Tyler Brown, and it was 17-7 at halftime.

South Pointe cut the lead to 17-14 midway through the third period when Marshall passed to Huskey on a five-yard play.

Greenville countered. Drummond passed to Cameron Perfater on an eight-yard play to stretch the lead to 24-14.

The Stallions answered in the fourth period when Jae Sanders passed to Marshall on a four-yard play. That made it 24-20 after the extra point was missed because of a bad snap.

South Pointe ended its season with an overall record of 8-4.

Westside 39, Indian Land 35

Westside edged the Indian Land Warriors 39-35 in the second round of the playoffs Friday night in Anderson.

After a scoreless first quarter, both teams scored twice for a 14-14 tie at intermission.

Hunter Puckett gave Westside a 7-0 lead on a two-yard run, but Jaden Singletary answered for Indian Land on an 8-yard run to tie it at 7-7. Westside went up 14-7 when quarterback Cutter Woods passed to Jameson Wilson for 35 yards and a touchdown.

Indian Land answered in a hurry. Myles Stinson scored from one-yard out, and the 14-14 score remained through the end of the first half.

Malachi Jefferson gave the Warriors a 21-14 lead on a three-yard run, but Westside’s 27-yard field goal cut it to 21-17 after three quarters.

Puckett scored on a two-yard run and Westside led 25-21. Indian Land answered and took a 28-25 advantage when Singletary scored on a 13-yard run.

Westside answered for a 32-28 lead, when Pucket scampered in from eight yards out. The Warriors countered and took a 35-32 lead on a 21-yard touchdown run by Singletary with 1:55 remaining in the game.

Westside won the game in the last seconds. They lined up for a field goal, but faked it and Puckett scored from four yards out with three seconds left on the clock.

Indian Land ended its season with an overall record of 7-5.

Powdersville 42, Chester 12

Powdersville defeated the Chester Cyclones 42-12 in the second round of the playoffs Thursday night at Powdersville.

Powdersville led 15-0 after one period and 42-0 at the break.

Quarterback Eli Hudgens led the charge for Powdersville. He passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. His first scoring pass was for 28 yards, and the second covered 77 yards. His rushing touchdown was from 21 yards out.

Running back Thomas Williams added a pair of rushing touchdowns and was on the receiving end of both of Hudgens’ scoring passes.

Powdersville ended their scoring when Jacob Matocha intercepted a Cyclones’ pass and returned it for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Chester scored in the third period when Andre Evans capped an 80-yard march with an eight-yard run. The Cyclones completed the scoring in the final quater when Trooper Floyd passed to Kyan Kennedy on a 41-yard play.

Chester completed its season with an overall mark of 7-5.

Andrew Jackson 29, Timberland 14

The Andrew Jackson Volunteers defeated Timberland 29-14 in the second round of the playoffs Saturday at Andrew Jackson.

Timberland broke a scoreless battle early in the second period and took an 8-0 lead. The Volunteers answered to tie it at 8-8. They added another score later in the quarter when they intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. They took that 15-7 lead into the halftime break.

Andrew Jackson scored late in the third period when they returned a fumble for a touchdown. That gave the Vols a 22-7 advantage. Timberland scored on their next possession to cut the lead to 22-14 heading to the final 12 minutes.

Andrew Jackson got their final score midway through the fourth quarter on a Trey Thompson touchdown. That pushed their lead to 29-14 and gave them some breathing room down the stretch.

The Volunteers improved to 10-2 with their 10th straight victory. They will host Barnwell next Friday in the third round of play.

Lewisville 43, Denmark-Olar 18

The Lewisville Lions defeated Denmark-Olar 43-18 in the second round of the playoffs Saturday afternoon in Richburg.

Lewisville improved to 11-1 on the year and will travel to Greenville to play Christ Church in the third round of the playoffs next Friday night.

This story was originally published November 11, 2022 7:15 PM.