Keith James opened the 2021 football season with a bang for Savannah Country Day and new head coach John Mohring.
James returned the game’s opening kick 82 yards for a score to give the host Hornets a 7-0 lead which they would never relinquish on Friday, August 20 at Saunders Field.
SCDS (1-0) won 34-14 with relative ease behind its star seniors Barry Kleinpeter and Kenny Odom. In the process, the Hornets gave Mohring his first win at Country Day, and they made up for last season’s Week 1 loss at GISA school Bulloch Academy.
Kleinpeter threw two touchdown passes to Odom and rushed for another to pace SCDS. Senior linebacker Dalton Spivey made plenty of tackles at the second level against the Gators.
Bulloch Academy’s marquee attraction coming into the game was senior athlete Rodney Hill. The Florida State commitment did not disappoint and was electric in the loss. Hill’s 81 yard kick return served to keep the Gators in the contest for the meantime.
He had one catch -- a slant which he caught against a cornerback before promptly jetting away past a would-be linebacker and safety. Unofficially, he rushed for 111 yards and also registered five tackles and a forced fumble.
BA — 7 - 0 - 0 - 7 — 14
SCD — 14 - 7 - 7 - 6 — 34
HALFTIME — SCD, 21-7.
RECORDS — BA 0-1; SCD 1-0.
NEXT — SCD at ECI (8/27); BA vs Calvary Day (8/27).
OTHER FINALS
New Hampstead 41, Windsor Forest 14
Pauly Seely threw first half touchdown passes to Toriano Bias and Kaden Sonnabend, Jamell Coast Jr. scored on a 40-yard second quarter run, and the Phoenix moved their record over the Knights to 4-0 all-time.
Six first quarter penalties and a costly turnover at midfield cost Windsor Forest a chance to answer early.
ECI 28, SCPS 21
The No. 8 Raiders were beaten by the Bulldogs for the first time in the last three meetings.
Savannah Christian never led. SCPS junior George Futch had over 90 yards receiving in the loss.
Jenkins 56, Groves 0
In their new look Wing T offense, the Warriors rushed for over 230 yards. Junior running backs Joshua Pridgen and Hunter Newman each had two rushing touchdowns apiece.
Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Contact him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Optim Orthopedics supports Savannah Country Day School athletics. The team doctor for Savannah Country Day School athletics is Dr. Thomas Alexander . Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
Photo -Kathryn Pinckney/SCDS
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