Green Wave earns 3-0 win over Byrnes in state softball finals

Berkeley junior QB, Henry Rivers scrambling in the Stags win over Ashley Ridge in the season opener.

Gray Collegiate's Michael Boulware.

Dillon's Zay Robertson.

Chesterfield's junior Guard Marquan Blount.

Lake View's Jalen Clark.

James Island Head Coach Jamar McCoy.

Summerville – Talent and college prospects were all over the field in Monday night’s season opener between Summerville and Stratford. It was the 44th meeting between the two schools. The two talented rosters clashed a few days later than planned after having to postpone the scheduled game on Friday night due to heavy rains and localized flooding. The extra three days wait fired up both teams even more and the play was as hot as the temperature. Summerville, the second-ranked team in the AAAAA statewide poll, walked away with a 35-30 win. The first half was akin to a prize fight as both teams stuck with jabs except for a few big plays. Stratford took the early 7-0 lead when running back Meliq McGowan threw the first hay-maker, scoring on a 73-yard run to take a 7-0 lead. McGowan is a transfer from Goose Creek and rushed for nearly 200 yards. After a few punts Summerville tied the game on a 28-yard run by Cam Grayson. With 3:18 left in the first quarter, Stratford quarterback Jachin Davis scored on three-yard run, set up by a 44 yard pass to Jaden Davis. The Green Wave kept pace, tying the game at 14 after a pop pass from Max Stafford to Zion Jenkins resulted in a 21-yard touchdown. The first minute of th third quarter was explosive. Summerville needed 27 seconds to take the lead with Stafford hitting Terue Davis with a 39-yard touchdown pass. After a Summervile penalty on the score, Stratford took a short kickoff all thr way to the Summerville 20. McGowan made it hurt with a touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage to tie the game at 21. Summerville struck quick with Jayven Williams scoring on 54-yard run with 7:20 left in the third quarter. Williams rushed for more than 100 yards in a balanced run game. McGowan answered with 50-yard run to the Summerville 12-yard line. Davis scored from a yard out Stratford’s extra point was blocked, leaving Summerville with a 28-27 lead with 4:43 left in the third. The Green Wave continued their offensive success, scoring a touchdown with 11:23 left in the game on Jayven Williams one-yard run. Summerville led 35-27. The Knights answered with a field goal of 34 yards from Renzo Gorritti making the score 35-30 with 9:45 to play in the game. After forcing a punt, Stratford was backed up to their own eight-yard line on third down with 7:13 to play. Stratford ended up punting with Summerville taking over near midfield. A fumble by Jaiden Kelly-Murray gave the Knights a first down and a pass interference penalty moved the the Knights over midfield. With 1:56 to play, Stratford faced a fourth-and-22 from the 43 and a pass fell incomplete with 1:35 remaining. Summerville was able to run out the clock. Summerville will stay at home for Friday’s game against AAAA No. 1 ranked South Florence while Stratford travels to the upstate for a game at Daniel High. Summerville head coach Ian Rafferty missed the game due to an SCHSL practice violation.

Berkeley quarterback Henry Rivers had a big night Aug. 25 to lead the Stags to a 35-21 win at Ashley Ridge. Photo by Roger Lee

 By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Walterboro – Hurricane Erin passed without much fanfare but Monday night in Walterboro a Hurricane from Varnville blew through Cougar Stadium leaving a path of destruction as Hampton County opened their season with a 59-13 victory over Colleton County. “We had a couple penalties early in the game but after we scored that first touchdown we got rolling,” said Hampton County head coach Rob Hanna. “There was a point in the second quarter that we didn’t touch the ball offensively for three straight drives. We had a defensive score, kick return for a score and a blocked punt for a score. All three phases played great, we still have some things we have to clean up but overall happy with the game.” The Hurricane’s also had a little extra motivation after seeing on MaxPreps that Colleton County had beat them 75-0 on Friday night. Coach said his players saw that and they weren’t happy about it. They wanted to prove a point. The game started like a lot of first games with both teams and the official making early mistakes in the game but after Colleton County’s second punt the Hurricanes made landfall and the rout was on. The Cane’s went 75 yards in seven plays to score their first points of the new season as Jaylen Singletary capped off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. He added the two-point conversion and the Cane’s led 8-0. On the drive Singletary had four carries for 40 yards and quarterback Tarell Grant also ran for 30 yards on the drive. After another Colleton County punt, the Hurricanes needed just one play as Karinton Sabb raced around the left end and went untouched for a 49-yard touchdown. Rafe Sullivan added the extra point for a 15-0 lead. Things continued to go bad for the homestanding Cougars. On their next possession the center snapped the ball over the punter Nicholas Jones head. Jones ran back and recovered the ball in the end zone for a safety for the Hurricanes and a 17-0 lead. On the free kick the Hurricanes Desmond Mathis returned it for a touchdown but a penalty wiped it out. However, on their first play after the penalty Grant hit Sabb for a 50-yard touchdown pass and the lead ballooned to 24-0. The Cougars put together their best drive of the first half on their next possession as they went 59 yards in six plays. Kenari Koger finished the drive with a four-yard run up the gut for the score. Jones added the extra point to make the score 24-7 Hurricanes. Quarterback Gail Fraizer was 2-3 for 46 yards on the drive with a 35-yard completion to Dustin Davis . The Hurricanes would essentially end the game without an offensive snap the rest of the quarter. Singletary got things started with a 75-yard kickoff return for six. Next, Grant would cause a fumble, pick it up and ramble 38 yards for another score. Special teams would be responsible for the last score. On fourth down the Cougars were punting from their end zone when Ty’Quavian Jones came up the middle to block the punt and Kaveon Tyler recovered the ball in the end zone for another Cane’s touchdown. Sullivan added all the PAT’s and the teams went to the half with the Cane’s up 45-7. The second half was a formality. Singletary scored for the third time when he went 57 yards for another touchdown. D’Andre Capers - Dobson would finish the Cane’s scoring as he scored on a 19-yard run up the middle. Sullivan was good on the PAT’s. The Cougars would score the final points when Trevy Manigo busted up the middle to score from the 12-yard line as time ran out. Both teams will operate on a short week as the Cougars (0-1) travel to Woodland while the Hurricanes (1-0) will head to Allendale to take on area rival Allendale- Fairfax.