Lowcountry football teams eye postseason
The high school football regular season is entering its final stretch, and postseason opportunities could be on the horizon for Hilton Head Christian, Bluffton, May River and Cross.
Hilton Head Christian (6-2, 0-1), a state semifinalist last season, could be headed down a similar path despite a 30-6 loss to defending state champion Bethesda Academy (5-1, 1-0) on Oct. 9. Both teams compete in SCISA Class 3A Region II, and a postseason rematch could be possible.
It was the second loss for the Eagles, who previously fell 49-35 to Pinewood Prep on Sept. 18.
Senior quarterback Kres Langhals, who had thrown for 1,297 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 527 yards and six touchdowns, was held in check by Bethesda’s defense. He finished with 69 passing yards, 11 rushing yards and three interceptions.
Coach Ron Peduzzi knew his team faced a difficult challenge, but the Eagles continued to compete after falling behind 30-0 at halftime.
The Eagles will finish the regular season against First Baptist and Hilton Head Prep.
“Bethesda was very physical,” Peduzzi said. “They put a lot of pressure on our quarterback. We had three turnovers that hurt us. But we came out in the second half and battled.”
“We will get back to blocking and tackling, and we’ll be ready.”
May River (4-3, 1-1) and Bluffton (3-4, 1-1) remain in contention in Class 4A Region 6. The teams will meet in their regular-season finale Oct. 30, with potentially significant postseason implications.
Lucy Beckham shut out May River 47-0 on Oct. 9, while Bluffton was coming off a bye week after routing Beaufort 55-19.
May River has been led by senior running back Tony Cooper, who has rushed for more than 800 yards and six touchdowns. Senior quarterback Luc Tran has thrown for more than 500 yards.
The Sharks will face Beaufort before their season-ending matchup with Bluffton.
Bluffton will face Colleton County before meeting May River. The Bobcats have been led by junior quarterback Jack Calendine, who has thrown for 1,594 yards and 20 touchdowns, and North Carolina commit Amare Patterson, who has 53 receptions for 779 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Coach Hayden Gregory has watched his team mature throughout the season.
“We have been playing well, we’ve definitely had a lot of growing pains with a lot of new starters this year, but we have been improving every week. We’ve had three really close loses and they hurt at the time but they’ve helped us get better.
“Our biggest obstacle we’ve had to deal with is injuries and a lack of depth. When we’ve been healthy we’ve been very competitive.”
Cross (3-4, 1-1) opened the season with three straight wins, scoring 104 points during that stretch, but the Stingrays have since lost four consecutive games, most recently falling 50-6 to Calhoun Academy on Oct. 9.
Cross has upcoming games against St. John’s, Patrick Henry Academy and Colleton Prep Academy as it seeks a postseason berth.
Coach Rico McCoy said his team continues to persevere despite a small roster and injuries. The Stingrays have recorded three wins after going winless last season.
“Attrition has started to take its toll on our roster,” McCoy said. “We began the season with 17 players, but last week we were down to 11, which ultimately led to a forfeit. Fortunately, we were able to dress 15 players (against Calhoun).
“We’re weathering the storm and continuing to push forward. Our guys are learning how to compete, developing toughness, and gaining a better understanding of the game of football. Ultimately, we’re taking things one day at a time, focusing on player development, building toughness, and laying a strong foundation for the future of our program.”
Jeff Moeller has covered high school, collegiate, and professional sports for the past 42 years. He also is an avid runner and a frequent half-marathon participant.
