Calvary Day has dominated in-state competition this season, winning by a 352-59 margin in eight victories, including three shutouts.
The Cavaliers technically didn’t pitch a shutout in Friday’s 42-7 rout of visiting Screven County, but the defense didn’t allow a point as the Gamecocks scored on a pick-6 interception return.
“I think we played great; everyone flying to the ball,” said Cavaliers senior defensive lineman Buddy Curry, who had a season-high 3.5 sacks.
Calvary Day’s offense matched that effort, with senior quarterback James Mobley IV completing his first 12 pass attempts in going 18 of 23 for 194 yards in the first half, and connecting on his only two throws in the second half for 59 more yards and 253 total. Mobley left in the third quarter after tossing his third touchdown pass for the final points as the game went to a running clock.
Senior running back Ca’Den Jones carried the ball only in the first half and rushed 12 times for 163 yards, including TDs of 26, 5 and 46 yards.
The Cavaliers (8-1, 4-0 Region 3-2A), whose lone loss was 28-14 on Sept. 11 to Ambassador Christian School in Huntersville, N.C., have been able to stay sharp on Friday nights because of how they compete against each other each day at practice, head coach Jason Cameron said after the game.
“There’s a businesslike approach,” he said. “We don’t practice long. We practice efficiently. They’ve been a great practice team. They show up, they work, they get the job done and we move on. It’s been a super-fun group to coach.”
It wasn’t an enjoyable night for Screven County (6-3, 2-2 region), whose main offensive weapons are seniors Demarko Ward and AB Hilton. Quarterback Ward was limited to 2-for-6 passing for 51 yards in the first half, when he had only 7 yards on six carries, including being sacked. Running back Hilton had five carries for 1 yard in the first half.
“We tried to stack the box,” Curry said. “We watched every single game they played this season. We watched every single possible play they could have run. We went over it practice until it was perfected. You see the outcome.”
The outcome wasn’t determined in the first quarter, but Calvary was clicking from the start in taking a 21-0 lead.
Emerson Lewis returned the opening kickoff 46 yards to the Gamecocks’ 41. Mobley connected with Ty Pinckney on two quick passes for 13 combined yards, then Zay Middleton ran for 2 yards, and Jones took it the remaining 26 yards by rumbling through arm tackles for a touchdown. A two-point conversion pass failed, leaving the score 6-0 with 10:25 left in the first quarter.
CDS marched 89 yards on its next drive, collecting five first downs before Pinckney made an acrobatic catch on a lob to the end zone for a 4-yard score with 4:33 left in the quarter. Mobley and Pinckney connected for a two-point conversion and a 14-0 advantage.
Screven County couldn’t cover a squibbed kickoff, and Calvary had possession at the Gamecocks’ 42. Mobley alternated short passes to Marlon Knight Jr. (5 yards) and Jonathan Perry (14) before Knight snagged a 23-yard pass at its high point with two defenders on him for a 21-0 difference with 3:35 remaining in the quarter.
The Cavaliers put pressure on opposing defenses to cover from sideline to sideline with what Cameron called “fast screen” passes that they make as routine as handoffs. He said that the Gamecocks were defending against passes downfield, so they picked them apart with what was available.
“When we throw fast screens, we’ve got two or three guys sacrificing their own accolades for somebody else’s,” Cameron said. “Everybody looks at the catch and the runs (after catch). I look at the perimeter blocking. We have the mentality of ‘I’ll sacrifice me for you.’ That’s what that is. It’s that mentality. We make teams defend every blade of grass out here. When we’re doing that stuff, we’re pretty good.”
They shared the wealth on Friday, when Jalen Hicks made seven receptions for 88 yards, Perry had four for 68 yards and a score, Knight had four for 67 yards and a score, and Pinckney had five for 30 yards and a TD.
At an uptempo pace, Mobley distributed the ball to the Cavs’ deep stable of receivers while effectively mixing in running plays. They went 70 yards on their next drive, mostly on the ground and culminated with Jones’ 5-yard TD run for 28-0 with 9:53 left in the second quarter.
When Ward fumbled after a 10-yard gain on first down, the Cavaliers got the ball at the Screven 46. But from the 28, Mobley threw to a spot in the right flat where Gamecocks defensive back Dallas Bryant anticipated, and he sprinted 82 yards the other way with the ball for a 28-7 deficit with 6:20 left before halftime.
Cameron said his quarterback knows he has to be better at making reads in the run-pass option.
“The best part is we had four or five guys go pick him up (after the turnover),” Cameron said of supportive teammates. “James doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, so when he makes one, you’re almost borderline surprised. But the amount we throw it, you’re bound to throw an interception or two.”
CDS responded with Jones’ 46-yard sprint untouched to the end zone for 35-7 with 5:05 left in the first half. Mobley found Perry open over the middle for a 37-yard score with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter to account for the final margin.
Cameron emphasized to his team after the game the need to take a businesslike approach this coming week, with a visit Friday from crosstown rival Savannah Christian (5-4, 4-0) for the Region 3-2A championship in the teams’ regular-season finale.
“I think the rivalry’s great,” Cameron said. “(Savannah Christian) coach (Baker) Woodward and his staff do a great job. The atmosphere’s going to be awesome. It’s going to be a roller coaster ride. I’m excited for it. It’s good for Savannah.”
CALVARY DAY 42, SCREVEN COUNTY 7
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Screven County | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Calvary Day School | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 42 |
First Quarter
CDS—Ca’Den Jones 26 run (pass failed)
CDS—Ty Pinckney 4 pass from James Mobley IV (Pinckney pass from Mobley)
CDS—Marlon Knight Jr. 23 pass from Mobley (Gitae Kim kick)
Second Quarter
CDS—Jones 5 run (Kim kick)
SCHS—Dallas Bryant 82 interception return (Liam Stossmeister kick)
CDS—Jones 46 run (Kim kick)
Third Quarter
CDS—Jonathan Perry 37 pass from Mobley (Kim kick)
Records—Screven County 6-3, 2-2 Region 3-2A; Calvary Day 8-1, 4-0 Region.
Photo credit: Courtesy of shutterbycourt on Instagram
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Optim Orthopedics presents Prep Sports Report’s 2026 high school football coverage.
Optim Orthopedics team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent’s Academy).
