Barnwell grounds Blackville-Hilda in high school football season opener

BARNWELL 24, BLACKVILLE-HILDA 7

BLACKVILLE -- Barnwell head football coach Brian Smith went back and watched the film from last year's Week 2 loss to Blackville-Hilda.

He didn't mince words with his players - he wasn't happy reliving those memories. Who were those Warhorses? Certainly not the same group that picked up a pair of wins in the playoffs to earn a shot at Oceanside Collegiate in the Class AA quarterfinals.

Where this year's Warhorses end up remains to be seen, but this film session will certainly be a more positive one after Thursday night's 24-7 win at Blackville-Hilda to begin the regular season.

"I felt like we had control all night. We just couldn't put them away," Smith said. "They're talented. They're a good bunch. We made a lot of mistakes with penalties, but, you know, we didn't turn the ball over. Played well in the kicking game. I just felt like our kids fought hard all night, so I'm very happy with that."

The latest installment in what's been a seesaw county rivalry felt like it was taking a seesaw swing of momentum in the second half. Barnwell led 10-0 at the break against a Blackville-Hilda defense that was hanging tough while the offense struggled to find a rhythm.

Prep Football, Week 1: Barnwell at Blackville-Hilda

The Fighting Hawks brought that same defensive intensity to the third quarter, forcing a Barnwell three-and-out that set up their offensive breakthrough - a touchdown pass from Samari Williams to Messiah McFadden to cut it to 10-7 with 4:54 left in the quarter.

Then Barnwell took control.

Cameron Austin hit Jaquan Peeples for a 14-yard gain on fourth-and-3 to the Blackville-Hilda 10, setting up the second of Austin's three rushing touchdowns on the night.

And then things got even worse for Blackville-Hilda.

Lane Evans pooched the ensuing kickoff, dropping it right in between waves of Hawks. It landed behind McFadden, who turned around to pick up the ball and was blindsided and fumbled - the Warhorses recovered at the Hawks' 29-yard line, and a few plays later Austin was back in the end zone again for a commanding 17-point lead.

"Obviously, they completed a big pass on a third-down play that really kind of put them in position. The turning point, the kickoff," said Blackville-Hilda head coach Kevin Jones. "We had a guy that tried to call a fair catch, and the ball hit the ground, and I don't think he necessarily understood the rule. They get the ball back after going up 17-7, and they're on your end, that makes it very difficult."

Austin, a University of South Carolina baseball commit and reigning Class AA All-State selection, accounted for 134 yards of total offense and all three touchdowns. Peeples was his top target in the passing game, snagging three catches for 62 yards, and Nehemiah Brown showed signs of being a potential workhorse back by rushing for 88 yards on 22 carries.

The Warhorses leaned on their experience, physicality and depth up front to extend drives, but the Hawks' defense was still able to hold a powerful group to 161 rushing yards on 42 carries.

The problem for Blackville-Hilda was that the Warhorses' defense also came ready to play, limiting the Hawks to 143 yards of total offense - 52 of those on Williams scrambles on a pair of fourth-and-21s on the same drive, one for 32 yards and a first down and the other a yard short. Logan Sturkie had a pair of solo sacks and had a hand in another to lead the charge.

Barnwell, which allowed a combined 317 yards rushing and five touchdowns to Williams and USC football commit Jaquel Holman in last year's 36-34 loss, limited the duo to 108 yards and no scores on 27 carries this time.

"We knew coming in that, to win this ballgame, we had to play great defensively," Smith said. "(Coach Isaac Cooper) and his guys did a great job on that side of the ball. Holman's a great back. I think he's a little banged-up right now, from what I've heard. He's a great football player, and it's going to be one of those things where we had to play well. I thought our kids played hard, they enjoyed it, and it's a great win for us."

Evans put the first points on the board after a scoreless first quarter when he booted a 41-yard field goal in the opening minute of the second, and he blasted the ensuing kickoff directly into Blackville-Hilda's front line of blockers for a Barnwell recovery. Austin found Peeples for a 34-yard gain down to the Hawks' 3, then ran it in on a keeper for the 10-0 lead the Warhorses held at the half.

Holman had a potential 59-yard touchdown run negated when he couldn't break free from Barnwell defenders quickly enough, so the play was blown dead. That kept the Hawks off the board in the first half, but they finally broke through on their first possession of the third quarter.

Barnwell had been bringing plenty of pressure, disrupting Blackville-Hilda's screen game and forcing the Hawks to adjust. They caught the Warhorses creeping up to the line and dialed up a fake toss from Williams, who found the 6-foot-4 McFadden down the middle for a 26-yard touchdown.

"We worked all week on that pass," Smith said. "That's the thing. They're so good in the backfield, you get sucked up in there and they throw it behind you."

The Hawks only got the ball one more time in the second half, though, and the momentum they had built in their favor snowballed the other way. There were no turnovers forced this time, which was one of the keys to last year's win - Namair Anderson returned an Austin interception for a touchdown, and Barnwell fumbles set up two more Hawks scores that night.

The good news for Blackville-Hilda, the preseason No. 6 in Class A, is that this loss only hurts in the pride category. It's going to sting throughout the weekend, but the Hawks will have to get back together Monday ready to move forward toward next Friday's home game against Edisto.

"All of our goals are on the table," Jones said. "We've still got region to play for, and the playoffs, and the reality is you play a really good 2A football team that's got a chance to go really deep in the playoffs themselves, and a bounce on a kickoff and a really nice play by their guy out there changed the momentum and kind of turned it around on us."

For Barnwell, Thursday was a chance to exorcise some demons from last year while also building toward what the Class AA No. 5 Warhorses hope is also a big season for them. They have another Thursday nighter next week, this time at home against their other county rival in Williston-Elko.

"A win over these guys is always good," Smith said. "They're going to make some noise in 1A. We know that, and they know that. I don't think their season is shot at all. I think they're a talented bunch that's going go win a bunch of football games and make a long run."

B 0 10 0 14 -- 24

BH 0 0 7 0 -- 7

SCORING SUMMARY

Second Quarter

B - Lane Evans 41 field goal 11:11

B - Cameron Austin 3 run (Evans kick) 9:15

Third Quarter

BH - Samari Williams 26 pass to Messiah McFadden (Darius Jenkins kick) 4:54

Fourth Quarter

B - Austin 1 run (Evans kick) 11:55

B - Austin 1 run (Evans kick) 7:40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

B - Nehemiah Brown 22-88, Cameron Austin 16-66-3, Torye Pickens 3-6, Jaquan Peeples 1-1. Totals 42-161-3.

BH - Jaquel Holman 17-54, Samari Williams 10-54, Jamarien Kirkland 1-14, Jayden Jackson 1-3. Totals 29-125.

Passing

B - Cameron Austin 4-7-68-0-0.

BH - Samari Williams 4-6-18-1-0.

Receiving

B - Jaquan Peeples 3-62, Jayden Peeples 1-6. Totals 4-68.

BH - Messiah McFadden 1-26-1, Jamarien Kirkland 2-(-8), Jaquel Holman 1-0. Totals 4-18-1.