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It didn’t take Bethesda Academy long to gain its revenge on Pee Dee Academy from last year’s state championship game.

In fact, it took just four plays to turn an expected tight game into a total blowout.

On the game’s opening series, Pee Dee Academy uncharacteristically went for a fourth-and-two from their own 33. Bethesda’s Isaiah Redmond, who was a force all night, burst through and wrapped up Pee Dee quarterback Miles Wiggins for a 7-yard loss.

Six players later, Bethesda quarterback Jordan Turner sprinted into the end zone from four yards out, and the Blazers never looked back. 

For the team that has outscored its opponents, 373-74 in eight games, it was ball game over. 

Bethesda (8-0) scored on its first possessions to rout Pee Dee Academy (5-3), 49-0, to remain undefeated and captured the SCISA Region Two championship. In the process, the Blazers secured home-field advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The Bethesda faithful realized a celebration would soon be in the offing, as their team totally dominated from the start on both sides of the ball until a running clock and substitutions early in the third quarter. 

Bethesda head coach Antwain Turner had a good feeling after Pee Dee’s failed fourth down that it would be a night decided early in his team’s favor.

“By them going for it on our side of the field, in my opinion, was a mistake,” noted Turner. “It gave our defense as chance to stand up and really show our dominance. After that, we stepped up and pepped up a little bit. We knew we had what it would take to shut these guys out.”

The Blazers limited Pee Dee Academy to 58 yards of total offense and five first downs in the opening half after the Golden Eagles (5-3) had won four straight and averaged 50.2 points in each of their victories.

Turner also knew his defense would be the key to stopping a Pee Dee offense that thrived on misdirection in is running game. It would also spur the Blazers' offense.

“We talked to the guys and we told them if we get stops, we will win the game,” stated Turner.  “We didn’t think they could stop us offensively.

“We watched a lot of film on them, and they do a lot of misdirection and score a lot of points. If you let them go, they will go. Our defensive coordinator did a good job at dialing in, and making sure guys were in position.”

Blazers’ sophomore quarterback Jordan Turner threw three touchdown passes and also scored on a 45-yard scamper, and he and his teammates had this game circled on the calendar.

“We didn’t like the feeling that we lost last year,” said Turner. “We wanted to get back at them, and we were grateful for the opportunity. 

“My line gave me a lot of time. We were really focused all week, and we were ready. We haven’t peaked yet, and we still have a lot left in us.” 

Senior wide receiver Raleigh Wesley, who caught touchdown passes of 47 and 52 yards, sees their steamrolling season as a result of their diligent work effort.

“Our offseason work and practice continues to pays off,” said Wesley. “Once we get started, it’s hard to stop us. There’s no doubt we put a lot of work into this.”

Redmond, a senior lineman, had a good idea of what to expect from his opponent. He also scored on a two-point conversion.

“Up front, we definitely knew what was coming because we watched a lot of film,” stressed Redmond. “We schemed for it, and we spent extra time after practice. The team is really together, and it is because of coach A.T. (Antwain Turner).”

Like his players, the older Turner knows his team hasn’t peaked yet.

“It’s building,” offered Turner. “Against Hilton Head Christian, we looked pretty good as well. But I think this was the most dominant effort holistically in terms of offense, defense, and special teams.”

It was a complete turnaround from the Blazers’ 28-26 victory at Williamsburg Academy, in which they battled through plenty of adversity. 

That game also proved to be a reality check. 

“Against Williamsburg, we had five turnovers,” reflected Turner. “We had to scratch and claw, and we were down. We had a first-and-50 at one point, and it reinforced a sense of resiliency.

It gave us an opportunity to play a full game, and we hadn’t played a full game in a while. 

"We tweaked some things and made some changes, and I thought our changes worked out pretty well tonight," said Turner. "It was great preparation for us coming into this game."

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BETHESDA ACADEMY 49, PEE DEE ACADEMY 0
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
PDA	0	0	0	0	0
BA	23	14	6	6	49
First Quarter
BA- Jordan Turner 4 run (Isaiah Jones run)
BA- Raleigh Wesley 47 pass from Turner (Isaiah Redmond run)
BA- Turner 45 run (Hociel Garcia kick)
Second Quarter
BA – Malachi Morris 34 pass from Turner (Garcia kick)
BA – Jeffrey Armstrong 27 run (Garcia kick)
Third Quarter
BA – Wesley 52 pass from Turner (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
BA – Jamarri Young 62 run (kick failed)
Records — Pee Dee Academy 5-3, 2-1 SCISA 2A Region I, Bethesda 8-0, 3-0 SCISA 2A Region I

FINAL SCORES
WEEK 11

Lowndes 42, Richmond Hill  23

Lakeside-Evans 38,  Bradwell 21

Effingham County 45, Glynn Academy 42

Statesboro 27, South Effingham 17

Benedictine 41,  Perry 17

New Hampstead 34, Wayne County 13

Beach 18, Liberty 7

Long County 43, Southeast Bulloch 21

Calvary Day 48,  Groves 8

Jenkins 21, Islands  0

Windsor Forest 32,  Johnson 15

Savannah Christian 45, Swainsboro 13 

Savannah Country Day 17,  Episcopal School (FL) 14

McIntosh Academy  35, Savannah High 20

Bethesda 49, Pee Dee Academy 0

Frederica Academy 49, St. Andrew's 16

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Photo Credit: Courtesy RDP Productions (Kyunnie Schuman)

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