Bluffton downs Hampton County 31-7 in battle of unbeatens
Bulffton QB Aedan McCarthy led the Bobcats to a 31-7 win over Hampton County.
By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Varnville – Friday night in Varnville at Hampton County High School it was a battle of HSSR top five teams as the number three ranked AAAA team from Bluffton traveled to the second ranked AA team Hampton County.
The Bobcat’s used a strong second and third quarters to wear down the Hurricanes and head home with a 31-7 win. The win moved the Bobcat’s to 4-0 heading into next week’s match up with Lucy Beckham (2-1) while the Hurricanes (3-1) will look to get back in the win column as they host another AAAA foe in Hilton Head Island (3-1).
“I’m proud of our guys they showed resiliency tonight against a very good team. The non-region games are awesome and we are happy to be 4-0 but we told the guys that we have accomplished nothing. Our end goal is to win a region championship and make a run at a state championship,” said Bluffton head coach Hayden Gregory.
Hampton County Head Coach Rob Hanna said, “We hung tough but they wore us down and got the better of us. They are a very good team and we scheduled them because that is the type of team we will see in the playoffs.”
The game featured a battle of the Bobcat’s quarterback and receivers Aedan McCarthy (QB) and receivers Carnell Warren (HSSR 8th ranked player) Roman Benjamin and Amare Patterson against the Hurricanes secondary of Tyler Davis, Terrell Grant, Jaylen Singletary, and Desmond Mathis. These two units are the strengths of their teams.
“That is the best quarterback and group of receivers we will see all year. The quarterback is one of the best players in the state,” said Cane’s coach Hanna.
The game started the way the Cane’s wanted as their defense forced a three and out. Then Singletary returned the punt 32-yards to set up the Hurricanes with a first down at the Bobcats 28-yard line. However, four plays netted them just four yards and they turned the ball over on downs for the first time on the night.
The Cane’s defense again got the upper hand on the Bobcat second possession. McCarthy completed all three throws on the drive but they only went for 8 yards so the Bobcats were forced to punt again.
On second down Singletary broke free again. He started out to the right, cut back left a run the ball down to the Bluffton 19. They would get down to the 14 but on fourth down the Canes field goal attempt was no good.
Both coach’s thought that those first two Cane’s possessions in the red zone with no points were big.
Coach Gregory said, “Our defense really stepped up there and kept them out of the end zone. If they score there it could easily have been 14-0 in the first quarter and this is a different game.”
For coach Hanna it was about lost opportunities. “When you play a team that good, you have to take advantage those chances,” said coach Hanna.
The Bluffton offense started to find their rhythm on there next possession as they went 69-yards in 9 plays but had to settle for a Rolando Hernandez 29-yard field goal. McCarthy completed all eight of his throw on the drive using Benjamin, Warren, and Patterson. A holding call wiped out a 16-yard McCarthy run for a touchdown. At this point in the game McCarthy had completed 11 passes in a row.
After the Cane’s first three and out of the game the Bobcats increased their lead to 10-0 when they 85-yards in seven-plays. McCarthy was 6 of 7 for 94 yards and a 40-yard touchdown pass to Patterson. He had two catches for 58 yards while Benjamin had three for 36 yards.
The Cane’s would respond with their best drive of the first half. Davis returned the kick off 40-yards to the Bluffton 45. Singletary put the Canes on the board with a 9-yard touchdown run. He had seven carries for 30 yards on the drive.
Bluffton responded quickly as McCarthy hit Lucas Green on a wheel route for a 60-yard touchdown on first down. However, the play was wiped out because of blindside block well behind the play. That did not stop the Bobcat’s as three plays later McCarthy hit Patterson with his second touchdown toss of the game from 10 yards out. The key play of the drive was a catch by Warren when he went up over Singletary and got a foot down for a 33-yard reception.
The Cane’s again showed what they are made of as they drove the ball down to the Bobcat’s 22. They had two chances to score from the 22 but they dropped a touchdown pass and then Grant over threw a wide-open receiver in the end zone and they turned the ball over on downs for the second time.
Coach Hanna, “ We had two good chances and should have went to the half down three but even down 10 (17-7) we felt we were right where we wanted to be in the game.”
The Bobcats took control of the game in the third quarter. After their defense forced another three and out. The offense would put together a 10-play, 54-yard drive to increase their lead to 24-7. McCarthy connected with Warren for a 18-yard touchdown. It was his third of the night.
The next two Cane’s possessions ended in disaster as they fumbled twice. The first on was recovered by Jacobi Saunders at the Hampton County 40, however, the Canes defense rose to the occasion and forced a punt.
The second fumble was recovered at the Hampton County 4. McCarthy made them pay on the first play as he scampered the four yards for a score. The lead was 31-7 as the teams went to the fourth quarter and that is how the game would finish.
