(Photo by GoFlashwin.com)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
High school football returned to Lake Murray this past Friday with Week One.
Both River Bluff and Gilbert opened their respective campaigns in victorious fashion.
The Gators scored the first 34 points in their 41-14 win over Cane Bay in The Swamp. Caleb Pinkney opened up the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run, followed by a 57-yard touchdown pass by Davis Taylor to Darius Carter.
Taylor finished with 113 passing yards, with Carter catching seven passes for 118 yards.
Bubba Alexander then marked his return to River Bluff in the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown to make it 20-0. Pinkney scored his second touchdown with 54 seconds left in the first half, followed by a 2-point conversion to make it 28-0.
Just before halftime, Liam Flynn connected on the first of two field goals. His second of 43 yards in the third quarter closed out the scoring run.
In Fort Mill, the Indians came back from an early deficit to defeat Nation Ford 21-14. Swansea transfer Kendall Wright threw for 181 yards and completed touchdown passes to Charles McLauchlin and Chandler Guthrie.
Army commit Gavin Elliott also scored and Tyson Lewie and Asher Lowe both had interceptions for Gilbert. The Indians will have an early start to Week Two with a Thursday night game at Memorial Stadium in Columbia against A.C. Flora.
Meanwhile, Lexington, Saluda and Swansea all suffered home losses in high-scoring games. The Wildcats fell 49-42 to Midland Valley, while the Tigers were edged by Abbeville 35-33.
Saluda quarterback Avery Coyle threw for 216 yards and four touchdowns in defeat.
The Tigers of Swansea lost 36-34 to Keenan. After Tarez Jones went down with an injury following two touchdowns, running back Dante Caldwell finished with 125 rushing yards and a score.
Quarterback Trace Selfridge had two touchdowns for Swansea.
New coach wins debut
The Jody Haltiwanger era opened with a victory for Mid-Carolina.
Ryker Woolstenhulme and Akai Williams each scored twice in the 42-21 victory over Ninety-Six.
Up next for the Rebels is a road trip to Batesburg-Leesville for its season-opener.
Over in Newberry, Sincere Glymph accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) in the 27-0 shutout win over Union County.
WEEK TWO SCHEDULE
(Thursday’s Game)
Gilbert at A.C. Flora
(Friday’s Games)
Mid-Carolina at Batesburg-Leesville
Gray Collegiate Academy at River Bluff
Lexington at North Augusta
Newberry at Emerald
Saluda is idle
