Dream season continues for Bishop England football

Daniel Island - It has been a minute since the Bishop England High football program hosted an important game eight weeks into a season, but that was the case on Friday as the Bishops took on Bluffton in a crucial region 6-AAAA contest.

Few would have predicted the Bishops, in rebuild mode under first-year head coach Logan Hall, could be in a game of such magnitude when the season began. But the Bishops were seeking their seventh win o the 2024 season (the most since 2017) and a chance to move into a first-place tie in the standings.

The Bishops overcame a 10-point deficit with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to pull out a 28-24 win.

Quinn Mahoney’s 38-yard touchdown connection to Jacob MacKara with 2:37 to play in the game provided the game-winner, lifting the Bishops to a 3-1 record in region play and 7-2 overall.

Trailing by 24-14 early in the fourth, Mahoney hit Nick Brunetti with a five-yard pass on fourth-and-goal to put the Bishops within range.

The game featured two of the top quarterbacks in region six. Bluffton junior Aedan McCarthy accounted for more than 2,100 total yards and 25 touchdowns in the first seven games, while Mahoney had racked up nearly 2,000 yards and 18 scores through eight games.

Neither quarterback found any rhythm in the first half, aside from their first drives. The game began with plenty of offense with three scores in the first nine minutes. Defenses took over for the rest of the first half with each team punting several times.

Bluffton had a touchdown nullified on their first possession of the game, settling for a 31-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

Bishop England’s first possession resulted in a touchdown as Mahoney scored on a five-yard keeper with 5:13 left in the first period.

Bluffton answered about 90 seconds later with Kendall Holley capping a quick drive with a six-yard run to give the Bobcats a 10-7 lead with 3:37 remaining.

Bishop England mounted one good drive late in the second quarter but missed on a 35-yard field goal as time expired.

The Bishops opened the third quarter with a great drive and Mitchell Plaisance scored on a 19-yard run for a 17-14 lead.

Bluffton, however, scored twice on Holley runs of four and nine yards to take a 24-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

Bishop England will close out the regular season against Colleton County next Friday.