Last week’s high school football schedule was marred by lightning storms in the area. Games were called off prematurely at Calvary Day and over at Memorial Stadium for Benedictine and Westminster. But the Cavs and Cadets both won, so all is well.
This week is a lighter slate, with many of our Savannah area teams using Friday, September 9 as a bye week ahead of region play beginning next week (September 16). Still, a few notable matchups are on the docket for this Friday.
Here’s a look at the three biggest games for area squads this week.
BENEDICTINE (2-1) at WARE COUNTY (2-0)
A battle of south Georgia powers, Class 4A No. 1 Benedictine travels south to meet Class 5A No. 3 Ware County at Memorial Stadium in Waycross. It’s a rematch from one of the best regular season games of the year in 2021 when (then) No. 4 BC knocked off No. 2 Ware County in a 49-42 shootout.
Neither team will have the same quarterback from that game last year, however, as Holden Geriner has moved on to Auburn and Thomas Castellanos to Central Florida.
Last week, Benedictine shutout visiting Westminster, 28-0 in a game shortened (12 seconds remaining in third quarter) by lightning. Luke Kromenhoek logged a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the first quarter while Na'Seir Samuel and Za’Quan Bryan added a rushing touchdown each. Thomas Blackshear caught a touchdown for head coach Danny Britt (122-27 in 12 seasons at BC).
The Gators are coming off an emphatic 41-3 victory over Baldwin last week. Quarterback Nikao Smith threw for 211 yards and two touchdown passes to Jarvis Hayes. Hayes finished with five catches for 131 yards and running back Dae'jeaun Dennis tallied 124 rushing yards.
Both teams were ranked No. 3 in the first ever meeting between Ware and Benedictine in 2020. Ware won that one by a score of 43-21 making this week’s game a de facto rubber match in the series. According to the Georgia Football Historians Database, Benedictine is just 3-16 all-time in games versus teams ranked inside the Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s Top-5.
BATTERY CREEK (1-2) at SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN (2-0)
Coming off back-to-back blowout wins to open the year, Savannah Christian had a bye last week to prepare for Battery Creek (Beaufort, SC) this Friday at Pooler Stadium. The Raider offense is averaging an absurd 61.5 points per game while the defense is allowing just 6.5 on average.
For SCPS, this will be the 20th game ever versus a team from the state of South Carolina. The program has a record of 13-6 against South Carolina teams but has never faced Battery Creek prior to this week.
This game represents the final chance for head coach Baker Woodward’s team to tune up for region 3-3A play beginning September 16 versus rival Savannah Country Day (2-1). After this week, SCPS will play four consecutive region 3-3A games before another bye week break and three more region contests to close the season.
Sophomore SCPS running back Zo Smalls is on a historic pace as he already has six rushing touchdowns and 255 rushing yards on just 11 carries this season. Austin Saylor leads the defense led by coordinator Robert Walsh as the senior has 17 tackles while David Bucey has 15. Sophomore Logan Brooking has five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks on the season while fellow sophomore Elijah Griffin has 10 tackles (five for loss) and three sacks.
As a team, the Raiders have forced seven turnovers already (four fumbles, three interceptions). Bucey has two of those picks and one of the fumble recoveries.
The Dolphins of Battery Creek should not represent a big threat to the Raiders, as the program has not finished a season with a winning record since 2012 when it posted a 7-6 mark.
NEW HAMPSTEAD (3-0) at SOUTH LAKE (0-2)
The Phoenix take their undefeated record south to Groveland, Florida this week for a date with the Eagles of South Lake High School. It’s the third straight year in which Kyle Hockman’s team has begun the season with a 3-0 record. Unlike last season when NHHS was knocked off by a future state quarterfinal team (Brunswick) in the fourth game, this year should see the Phoenix reach the 4-0 mark as they are considerable favorites over the winless Eagles. New Hampstead began the 2020 campaign at 4-0 before eventually finishing with a 6-2 record.
The program is 41-42-1 since it began competing in varsity football back in 2014. The Phoenix are 0-1 all-time against teams from the state of Florida, losing to The Bolles School (Jacksonville) in 2018 by a score of 43-34.
Senior quarterback Pauly Seeley has led the NHHS offense to a solid start, as was expected of the Wofford commit before the season began. His Phoenix are averaging 39.3 points per game and have twice eclipsed the 40-point plateau. Through three games, Seeley is 39-of-61 (64%) passing for 606 yards and 10 touchdowns (two interceptions). The Alma, Michigan native has thrown for 2,827 yards and 36 touchdowns in his prep career (15 games).
Seeley’s passing game targets are many, as juniors Jalen Hampton and Machai Lonnon have formed a formidable receiving core alongside senior Zion Griffin. Freshman tight end Nate Pearson and sophomore slot Kamari Maxwell have also played well. In the running department, senior Kaleb Smith has been everything Hockman could’ve asked for. He rushed for 104 yards last week in the 27-10 victory against Bradwell.
The Eagles have yet to score a point in two losses (8-0, 41-0) so far this season and they have not posted a winning season since 2018. They are coached by Laquentin Taylor and are a mostly run-oriented team on offense.
Sophomore Greg McKinnond is the likely quarterback for South Lake after rushing for 297 yards last year behind center as a freshman. He was, however, objectively poor in the throwing department in 2021. McKinnond was just 10-of-54 passing for 174 yards and one touchdown with five interceptions. Jahnear Allen should receive a bulk of the carries at running back for Taylor’s team against NHHS. He rushed for 428 yards and four scores in nine games last year.
WEEK #3 SCHEDULE
(Kickoff 7:30pm unless noted)
FRIDAY SEPT. 9
LOCAL TEAMS @ HOME
SE Bulloch @ Effingham County
Bradwell @ South Effingham
Windsor Forest @ Islands (Islands)
Brantley County @ Johnson (Savannah High)
John Paul II @ Memorial Day (Memorial Stadium)
LOCAL TEAMS ON THE ROAD
Benedictine @ Ware County
New Hampstead at South Lake (FL)
Calvary Day @ Frederica Academy
Groves @Claxton
Savannah Christian @ Battery Creek
Savannah High @ Butler
St. Andrew's @ Hilton Head Prep
Bethesda @ Carolina Academy
Saturday SEPT. 10
Richmond Hill @ Baker County
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Photo credit - Burke Herrath Photogrpahy
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!
