It didn’t take long for Benedictine to make a statement about this year’s team after the 2021 Cadets won the Class 4A state championship. A 45-0 throttling of Jenkins at Memorial Stadium on Friday, August 19 was eventually called off just before halftime because of concerns about a gun in the stands at the stadium.
The preseason No. 1 team in 4A scored four first quarter touchdowns and added a long field goal to lead 31-0 at the end of one quarter.
Senior Hudson Grove’s 50-yard field goal made the score 31-0 in favor of the defending state champion Cadets, and junior quarterback Luke Kromenhoek’s fourth passing touchdown made it 38-0 with roughly 11 minutes still remaining in the second quarter.
The first of Kromenhoek’s touchdown passes was a 72-yard strike to Za’quan Bryan and another was from 20 yards to junior Ack Edwards. The score was 45-0 with a couple minutes left in the second quarter due to reported concerns that someone in the stands had a gun on their person.
Savannah Police Department officials released a statement at 10:22 p.m. on the department’s twitter page: “SPD was on scene at Memorial Stadium and intervened, stopping a fight before it occurred. Suspects fled the scene, causing other patrons to flee. There were no shots fired and no injuries.”
HVJ – 0 - 0 - X - X – 0
BEN – 31 - 14 - X - X – 45
RECORDS: HVJ 0-1; BEN 1-0.
NEXT: HVJ vs Bluffton (8/26, Pooler Stadium); BEN at Columbus-Miami (8/26).
CALVARY DAY 49, ISLANDS 6
Jake Merklinger found Caden Arnold on a 50-yard touchdown pass on Calvary’s first play from scrimmage and the rout was on for the Class 3A No. 6 Cavs.
Antonio AJ Butts rushed in from 32-yards for Calvary’s second touchdown and the Cavs scored again when Merklinger hit Edward “Doopah” Coleman from 20 yards out to make it 21-0 in favor of the visitors. Butts later scored on a short run on fourth-and-goal for Calvary to make it 28-0 in the second quarter.
Merklinger’s 41-yard pass to Coleman late in the second pushed the Calvary lead to 42-6 and the game clock was running for the final quarter.
SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN 54, HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN 7
Zo Smalls returned the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and the sophomore rushed for two more second quarter scores to help lead the Raiders in a blowout win.
Smalls’ second rushing TD gave SCPS a 28-0 lead midway through the second and the Raiders rolled to the tune of a 40-7 halftime advantage. Two more third quarter touchdowns led to a running clock in the fourth quarter and the Raiders coasted from there.
HHC – 0 - 7 - 0 - 0 – 7
SCP – 14 - 26 - 14 - 0 – 54
HALF: SCP 40-7.
NEXT: SCP at Islands (8/26).
SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY 31, WINDSOR FOREST 0
SCDS led 14-0 after one quarter and freshman Cash Ramirez booted a 35-yard field goal with seconds remaining in the second quarter to give the host Hornets a 17-0 halftime lead over the visiting Knights.
The Hornets (1-0) got a great performance from running back Michael Grandy as the senior rushed for three touchdowns and easily eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground. SCDS freshman Josh Washington had a 68-yard TD run and Tyler Scott’s 16 tackles paced the defense en route to a shutout at Saunders Field.
WF – 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 – 0
SCD – 14 - 3 - 7 - 7 – 31
HALF: SCD, 17-0.
NEXT: WF vs New Hampstead (8/26 at Memorial Stadium); SCD vs Pinewood Christian (8/26).
BETHESDA ACADEMY 8, HILTON HEAD PREP (SC) 7
Bethesda led 8-7 at halftime of the Blazers home game at Daffin Park’s stadium and that score would hold up for the duration as Bethesda earned its first win of the new season.
Both teams scored a touchdown in the first quarter, but Bethesda’s two-point conversion was the difference maker.
RICHMOND HILL 14, EFFINGHAM COUNTY 0
A scoreless game going into the second half, Richmond Hill broke the stalemate and took a 7-0 lead with just under five minutes left in the third quarter. That would be enough to win, as the RHHS defense pitched a shutout. For good measure, Richmond Hill tacked on a fourth quarter touchdown to win the game by two scores.
It was the fourth consecutive win for the Wildcats over their rival Rebels.
The rushing touchdowns for Matt LeZotte’s team came from Zion Gillard and Ravon Grant. Dontae Goodner led RHHS with nine tackles. Grant and Mason Wilcox each hauled in three catches to lead the Wildcats and Ty Goldrick was 8-14 with 73 passing yards.
SE – 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 – 0
RH – 0 - 0 - 7 - 7 – 14
HALF: Tied, 0-0.
NEXT: RH at Ware County (8/26); EC at Burke County (8/26).
VIDALIA 21, SOUTH EFFINGHAM 14
VIDALIA – The Indians scored 14 points in the fourth and outscored the visiting Mustangs 21-7 after halftime to erase an early 7-0 deficit.
SEF – 0 - 7 - 0 - 7 – 14
VID – 0 - 0 - 7 - 14 – 21
MCINTOSH COUNTY ACADEMY 20, JOHNSON 12
DARIEN – MCA won the non-region game against the visiting Atomsmashers. The Buccaneers held a 20-6 lead late in the fourth before Johnson scored on a six-yard run to make it 20-12. An onsides kick attempt failed to be recovered by SCJ and MCA was able to bleed the clock until the game’s end.
FINAL SCORES
AUG. 18 (Thursday)
New Hampstead 47, May River 27 (Pooler Stadium)
AUG. 19
Richmond Hill 14, Effingham County 0
Benedictine 45, Jenkins 0 (Memorial)
Calvary Day 49, Islands 6 (Islands)
Savannah Christian 51, Hilton Head Christian 7 (Pooler Stadium)
Savannah Country Day 31, Windsor Forest 31
Josey 22, Savannah High 16 (Savannah High)
Thomas Jefferson 47, St. Andrew's 21
Bethesda 8, Hilton Head Prep 8 (Daffin Park)
Bluffton 42, Beach 13
MCA 20, Johnson 14
Memorial Day at Palmetto Christian
Lincoln County 23, Bryan County 20
Vidalia 21, South Effingham 14
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FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
PHOTO - Benedictine twitter
Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. The team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill is Dr. David Palmer. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
