TWIN CITY — Keith “KJ” James ran for two touchdowns, Barry Kleinpeter added another, and Savannah Country Day executed late to secure a 22-20 non-region victory over ECI (1-1) on Friday, Aug. 27 in Week 2 action. The Hornets had lost their previous eight games versus ECI, with the last win coming in September of 2005.
SCDS (2-0) led by two, 15-13, at halftime. The Hornets led 22-13 in the fourth, but ECI cut it to 22-20 with 3:17 to play. SCDS never gave the ball back to the hosts and a fourth down conversion helped to clinch the victory in the final drive.
Country Day hadn’t scored more than 20 points against an ECI team since winning 25-20 in ‘05. In their previous three visits to Twin City to tango with the Bulldogs, the Hornets had been outscored 130-41.
In the first quarter on Friday, Kleinpeter ran in for a 2-point conversion after a botched PAT snap forced his hand as the holder. It would wind up being a critical stroke of luck later in a two-point game.
Mike Grandy had an interception for Country Day and elsewhere on the defense, dependable producers like Smith Baiad (forced fumble), Ray Ray Jackson (fumble recovery) and Maddox Rahimi (two fourth quarter sacks) came through in the clutch.
While the schedule says Country Day is playing against Beach next week in Garden City, it is believed that Beach will be unable to play due to COVID-19 breakouts at its campus. Beach and Jenkins were scheduled to play Friday (Aug. 27) but the game was cancelled (“game participants” were infected) just after 4 p.m. on Friday.
Regardless of the Beach game’s status, a giant looms for SCDS in the form of Class A Public No. 6 Metter, which visits Country Day on Sept. 10.
SCD — 8 - 7 - 7 - 0 — 22
ECI — 6 - 7 - 0 - 7 — 20
HALFTIME — SCD, 15-13.
RECORDS — SCD 2-0; ECI 1-1.
NEXT — SCD at Beach (Garden City, 9/3).
NEW HAMPSTEAD 50, JOHNSON 6
The Phoenix were in a battle with Johnson early in a 7-7 game, but New Hampstead (2-0) flexed its muscles and led 37-6 at halftime and 44-6 through three in the non-region contest played at Islands Stadium.
NHHS has scored 91 points through the season’s first two games (45.5 points per game) thanks in large part to quarterback Pauly Seely’s superb play to begin his junior campaign.
Johnson (0-2) has allowed 78 points in its first two games.
CALVARY DAY 28, BULLOCH ACADEMY 14
STATESBORO — The Cavs moved their record to 2-0 with a 14-point road win over the feisty GISA Gators (0-2).
ST. ANDREW’S 27, BETHESDA 20
The Lions won the rivalry game, giving new head coach Blake Henry his first win in their first game of 2021.
Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Optim Orthopedics supports Savannah Day School athletics. Savannah Country Day's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
