Barnwell Gets Tough Win at Hampton County
Barnwell's senior QB Cameron Austin on the keeper
By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Varnville – The Warhorse defense scored two touchdowns by Damajhai Devoe and Jayden Peeples in the span of 59 seconds to start the second half that propelled Barnwell to a 27-14 win over Hampton County in a key region 5AA match.
The match up was tough hard-hitting contest that featured the HSSR’s second ranked Barnwell at third ranked Hampton County. The win by Barnwell (7-1/2-0) moved them into a tie with Whale Branch (4-3/2-0) atop the region 5AA standings while the Hurricanes fell to 6-2/2-1 and into third in the region. It was also their first loss at home as Hampton County.
The Hurricanes can move back into the region race next week as they head to Seabrook next week to take on Whale Branch. A win and they move back into a tie for second with Whale Branch.
“We ran the ball well a night but we left a lot of points out on the field tonight. We had problems in the kicking game and did not finish drives but they are a darn good football team,” said Barnwell head coach Brian Smith. “We told our kids all week that win or loss we will probably see them again but we have a lot of football left to play.”
Hampton County head coach Rob Hanna echoed Smith’s remarks, “We felt coming in this was going to be a hard-fought game. We are two of the four best teams in the lower state and we could see them again.”
Hanna continued, “Are situations are a bit reversed this year as Barnwell has a lot of seniors and they played like it. We made some mistakes that we can fix but we played hard until the final whistle.”
Barnwell moved the ball 49 yards to the Hampton County 9-yardline when on third down a the HSSR’s 85th ranked player Mandrell Sanders broke through the line to sack the HSSR’s 18th ranked player Barnwell quarterback Cameron Austin for an 11-yard loss. Lane Evans pulled his 34-yard field goal attempt to the left.
The sack by Sanders was one of many plays he made in the first quarter as the Barnwell offense could not block him. He had five tackles, one for loss, a pass break up and to finish his big quarter he picked off Austin at midfield.
Meanwhile, the Hurricane offense started moving the ball on their second possession. Sophomore Jayvin Risher moved into the running back position for first time and proceeded to rush four-times for 41 yards on the including the first score of the game a 16-yard touchdown run down the left. Rafe Sullivan added the PAT and Hampton County led 7-0.
Barnwell responded on their next possession. Taking over at the their 41, they made one key adjustment run away from Sanders. They used 12 plays to cover 59 yard with Nehemiah Brown plowing over from the two for six points. He had six carries for 32 yards. The PAT was no good and Hampton County still led 7-6.
Barnwell’s defensive front of Clayton Zissett, Big Jahlian Carter and AJ Miller started to impose their will on the young offensive line of Hampton County. Three plays netted minus seven yards and a punt on fourth down.
The Warhorses would take the lead for good on their next possession as they went 67-yards in seven plays behind their offensive line led by Tony Cherry, Lamar Buxton, Copeland Owens, Kaleb Wilson, and Jackson Bedingfield. They paved the way on 52 of the 67 yards with Austin covering the final 15 yards and Evans added the PAT for a 13-7 Barnwell lead.
The Barnwell defense forced a quick punt by Hampton County. The snap on the punt went over the Hurricanes punter Chris Terry’s head. Terry did a great job of recovering the snap and scrambled away from pressure but his punt was shanked and the Warhorses would take over at the Hurricane 23.
After Austin picked up 11 for a first down on the first play of the drive. The Hurricane defense stiffened only giving up four more yards and on third down Sanders put pressure on Austin forcing an incompletion. Evans came in for a 27-yard field goal attempt was blocked by the middle of the Hurricane line and the teams went to the half with Barnwell up 13-7.
As the team’s came out for the second half, you could hear Hampton County super fan Mr. “One Tym” telling the Hurricanes that they got this and the second half was theirs.
The words of encouragement were right before disaster struck the Hurricanes and put them in a hole they could not overcome.
First, the Hurricanes ran an option to the right where the Warhorse defense played the quarterback and the pitch man perfectly. Terry could not make the initial pitch to Jaylen Singletary so he tried to toss it over the one coming defense and then out of no where Devoe came flying up, snatched the ball out of the air and was gone for a 20 yard pick six. Evans PAT was good again and the lead was now 20-7.
Second, on the Hurricanes second play of their next drive. Terry scrambled left and as he was going down he attempted a pass into the flat where Peeples was waiting. He snagged the ball and raced untouched for a 45-yard touchdown. The PAT was good and the lead was now 27-7.
“We have a lot of seniors on our football but a sophomore (Devoe) and freshman (Peeples) made the biggest plays of the game,” said Barnwell coach Smith.
The Hurricanes showed why they are a good team on the next drive. Terry showed why is a captain and the leader of the Hurricanes as he went three for three for 45 yards including a 32-yard strike to Ladaynian Rivers. The score was cut to 27-14.
Hampton County would reach the Barnwell 24 on their next possession but on fourth down Singletary was stopped two-yards short of a first down.
While Barnwell did not score in the second half, their offense had two drives that took up over ten minutes off the clock preventing a comeback by Hampton County.
