MIAMI, FL – Two of the south’s most prestigious all-male Catholic high schools met on Friday, August 26 in the second part of a home-and-home series between the two. Christopher Columbus-Miami won the game 41-15, outscoring Benedictine 27-8 in the final three quarters for its second victory over BC in as many years.
Alberto Mendoza’s 17-yard passing touchdown to Jose Leon got the ball rolling for the Explorers on the game’s opening drive. Columbus led 7-0 with 10:12 remaining in the first quarter but Benedictine answered quickly. Luke Kromenhoek’s 30-yard touchdown toss to Za’quan Bryan tied the score at 7-7 midway through the first, but Columbus took a 14-7 lead with 4:29 left in the first thanks to Ahmere Foster’s 66-yard receiving TD from Mendoza.
Columbus (1-0) pulled away in the middle quarters by scoring a touchdown in the second and third stanza while holding BC to just two points over the middle 24 minutes.
Na’Seir Samuel scored the other touchdown for Benedictine (1-1), doing so on a nifty fourth quarter touchdown run. BC kicker Hudson Grove missed two medium range field goals and an extra-point.
The Explorers were 9-4 overall last season, including a 42-21 victory over Benedictine at Memorial Stadium in Week 1 of 2021. Under head coach Dave Dunn, Columbus won the 2019 Class 4M state championship before reaching the state semifinals last year. Benedictine won the GHSA Class 4A state championship last year under Danny Britt, and the Cadets entered Friday’s game in Miami as the No. 1 ranked team in Class 4A this season.
Leon had two touchdowns for the Explorers, who are ranked No. 21 in the entire state of Florida. Sed Irvin also had two touchdowns for Columbus.
BC – 7 - 0 - 2 - 6 – 15
CC – 14 - 7 - 7 - 13 – 41
HALF: CC, 21-7.
RECORDS: BC 1-1; CC 1-0.
NEXT: BC vs. Westminster (9/2 at Memorial Stadium); CC vs. Miami Killian (9/1).
WARE COUNTY 20, RICHMOND HILL 7
WAYCROSS – Richmond Hill led 7-6 through the first quarter of the non-region game at Class 5A No. 6 Ware County. The Gators (1-0) outscored the Wildcats (1-1) 14-0 over the next three quarters to close things out.
For RHHS, Zion Gillard led the way offensively with 101 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Senior receiver Ravon Grant had a game high 10 receptions but his damage was limited to just 49 yards thanks to a tough Ware County defense. Lee Johnson had a team-high eight tackles for the Wildcats. Gabe Bauman and Phoenix Emberton had seven tackles apiece.
RH – 7 - 0 - 0 - 0 – 7
WC – 6 - 6 - 0 - 8 – 20
HALF: WC, 12-7.
SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN 69, ISLANDS 6
The Raiders won in a blowout for the second straight week and just like he was last week, Savannah Christian’s Zo Smalls was electric. Smalls’ second rushing touchdown of the game came early in the second and made the score 35-0 in favor of the visiting Raiders with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
Smalls helped SCP to a dominating halftime lead of 55-0 as the sophomore carried the ball five times in the opening half. He rushed for 136 yards and four touchdowns on those five first-half carries and the running clock was in play for the second half.
SCP – 28 - 27 - 7 - 7 – 69
IHS – 0 - 0 - 0 - 6 – 6
HALF: SCP, 55-0.
JENKINS 34, BLUFFTON (SC) 21
The Warriors showed a lot of fight in the non-region victory at Pooler Stadium. Jenkins (1-1) trailed the Bobcats 21-14 with seven minutes left in the game. From there, Jenkins scored 20 straight points for an impressive comeback victory for head coach Tony Welch’s team.
HVJ struck first, taking a 6-0 lead in the first quarter after a pick-six interception from the defense gave them the lead. Jenkins led 14-13 at halftime, but trailed until tying things up at 21-21 with 6:44 left in the game.
BHS – 0 - 13 - 8 - 0 – 21
HVJ – 6 - 8 - 0 - 20 – 34
NEW HAMPSTEAD 44, WINDSOR FOREST 7
The Phoenix led 16-0 after one quarter thanks to a safety and a touchdown in the first few minutes of the non-region game at Memorial Stadium. The visitors ked 37-0 at halftime and coasted in the second half for their second straight blowout win to start the season.
Windsor Forest (0-2) scored on a rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
New Hampstead (2-0) has scored 91 points through two games. Head coach Kyle Hockman’s team will play at home versus Bradwell Institute next week on September 2.
NH – 16 - 21 - 7 - 0 – 44
WF – 0 - 0 - 7 - 0 – 7
HALF: NH, 37-0.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
COMPLETE FINAL SCORES
FRIDAY AUGUST 26, 2022
LOCAL TEAMS at HOME
Bluffton 2 1 @ Jenkins 34
Savannah Christian 69 @ Islands 6
New Hampstead 44 @ Windsor Forest 7
Brantley County 42 @ Groves 8
Pinewood Christian 6 @ Savannah Country Day 28
Treutlen 0 @ Bryan County 56
Richmond Academy 49 @ Savannah High 0
LOCAL TEAMS ON THE ROAD
Richmond Hill 6 @ Ware County 20
Effingham County 10 @ Burke County 28
Benedictine 15 @ Columbus (Miami, FL) 41
Beach 0 @ Vidalia 42
St. Andrew's 7 @ Valwood 30
Memorial Day 13 @ Fullington Academy 42
Bethesda 40 @ John Paul II 24
PREP SPORTS REPORT SPORTS SCOREBOARD TICKER!
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Photo Credit - RDP Sports on Instagram
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!
