AIKEN - South Aiken wasted little time setting the tone Friday night, jumping out to a commanding lead and cruising to a 59-6 victory over Silver Bluff at South Aiken High School.
The game, originally scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, was delayed by roughly an hour because of severe weather. When the teams finally took the field at 8:25 p.m., the delay did little to slow down South Aiken.
The Thoroughbreds scored three times in the opening quarter and carried a 42-0 advantage into halftime.
South Aiken quarterback Tommy Burns III helped lead the early offensive surge, connecting with Kyson McLeod on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Burns later found McLeod again on a scoring play that featured a 15-yard run after a 10-yard pass, extending South Aiken’s advantage to 14-0.
The Thoroughbreds added another score late in the first quarter when Silver Bluff fumbled and South Aiken’s Connor Hamilton turned the turnover into a 30-yard touchdown run.
South Aiken continued to build its lead in the second quarter.
Burns connected with Blake Goodman for a touchdown, and Drelyn Brown followed with a 10-yard touchdown run less than three minutes later.
With just 35 seconds remaining before halftime, Burns again connected with Goodman on a 30-yard pass that set up a 20-yard scoring run by Goodman. Burns then found Ray Harris for a successful two-point conversion, sending South Aiken into halftime with a 42-0 lead.
South Aiken’s defense also played a major role in the first half, helping create opportunities for the offense and keeping Silver Bluff off the scoreboard.
“We played together as a team, which in turn set the tone for the rest of the game,” South Aiken coach Chris Hamilton said.
“Our players setting the tone early both on offense and defense” was the biggest turning point of the night, he added.
South Aiken continued to add to its advantage in the second half.
Knox Young converted a field goal, giving the Thoroughbreds a 45-0 lead.
Hamilton then scored his second touchdown of the night after another Silver Bluff fumble, taking the ball 15 yards to the end zone. Young added the extra point.
Silver Bluff finally broke through in the fourth quarter when Garrett Greene connected with Chris Jackson for a 15-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful, making the score 52-6.
South Aiken answered late, as Kendrick Eubanks Jr. scored on a 10-yard run. Young’s extra point completed the scoring at 59-6.
For the Bulldogs, the loss provided an opportunity to identify areas for improvement while continuing to develop a team with several new players.
Silver Bluff coach Lemuel Lackey pointed to speed and consistency as areas the team will need to improve.
“Definitely speed of play, and quicker reactions,” he said. “And overall consistency, but we also had some good plays to focus on and build off of.”
The team’s focus going forward will be on developing its younger and newer players and building chemistry, Lackey said.
“Moving forward we have a lot of new kids and just getting us to work together and just slowly get better day by day,” he said.
For South Aiken, Hamilton said the next step is simple: get back to work.
“Go back to work,” he said. “Let everyone enjoy tonight and remember this feeling then we go back to work for the next game.”
South Aiken’s fast start ultimately proved decisive, as the Thoroughbreds established control from the opening whistle and never relinquished it.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
SA- Tommy Burns III 20 pass to Kyson McLeod, (Knox Young extra point) 10:02
SA- Tommy Burns III 10 pass to Kyson McLeod 15 run (Knox Young extra point) 6:30
SA- SB fumbles, Connor Hamilton 30 run (missed extra point) 2:00
Second Quarter
SA- Tommy Burns III pass to Blake Goodman (Knox Young extra point) 6:32
SA- Drelyn Brown 10 run (Knox Young extra point) 3:34
SA- Tommy Burns III 30 pass to #18 Blake Goodman 20 run (Tommy Burns III pass to Ray Harris 2 point conversion) 0:35
Third Quarter
SA- Knox Young field goal 5:19
SA- SB fumbles #11 Connor Hamilton 15 run (Knox Young extra point) 2:07
Fourth Quarter
SB- Garrett Greene 15 pass to Chris Jackson (missed extra point) 6:50
SA- Kendrick Eubanks Jr. 10 run (Knox Young extra point) 2:12
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