Here’s what went down Friday night:
ELCA thrives, Clinch survives
Both top-ranked teams on the public and private school sides won their season openers on Friday night. But while Eagle's Landing Christian Academy won handily, Clinch was in a dogfight.
The Panthers trailed Hebron Christian 17-14 heading into the fourth quarter, after the Lions tandem of sophomore quarterback Colton Gauthier and senior receiver Jeffrey Saturday hooked up for their second scoring play of the game. But AJC Super 11 member Trezman Marshall’s 70-yard run on the ensuing drive helped set up the go- ahead touchdown by Tyler Morehead, and the Panthers tacked on a field goal late.
Meanwhile, ELCA rode the four-touchdown performance of junior Keaton Mitchell to a 41-0 win over Class AAAAAA Morrow. Mitchell scored on runs of 13, 4, 6 and 37 yards.
Both No. 2s keep pace
Not to be outdone on the opening weekend, both teams ranked second in the AJC Top 10 took care of business Friday night.
Prince Avenue Christian broke a 21-21 halftime tie, outscoring Mount Vernon Presbyterian 34-6 in the second half to win 55-27. Senior Christian Parrish scored five touchdowns on runs of 10, 12 and 4 yards, and receptions of 44 and 17 yards.
Public school No. 2 Irwin County, last season’s runner up, drilled Class AA Berrien 41-7. It was the fifth win in as many years for Irwin over Berrien, in a series that began in the 1950s.
Lincoln County?
Folks are not happy right now in Lincolnton. The Red Devils suffered one of their worst losses ever in Friday's season opener, as they were demolished by neighboring Abbeville (SC), 57-0. Lincoln County surrendered a 66-yard touchdown run on the first play of the season and the route was on. They trailed 36-0 at halftime.
Abbeville is no slouch. The Panthers are the three-time defending South Carolina Class AA state champs. They rolled up 374 yards on 39 carries in the win. The teams have played 13 times since 1982. After winning the first 6, Lincoln County is now 1-5-1 against Abbeville.
In other key games:
No. 3 (Private) Athens Academy, 20, Savannah Christian 7
No. 6 (Private) Darlington 44, Pepperell 14
No. 9 (Private) Aquinas 31, (Class AA) Laney 0
Class AAAAAAA Meadowcreek 21, No. 10 (Private) Wesleyan 3
(Class AA) Dublin 42, No. 3 (Public) Emanuel County Institute 7
No. 4 (Public) Mount Zion 34, (Class AA) Lamar County 0
No. 6 (Public) Charlton County 28, (GISA-AAA) Fredericka Academy 21
No. 8 (Public) Manchester 34, Taylor County 20
No. 10 (Public) Commerce 35, West Hall 19
About the Author
