Warriors beat Bishops on day one of Sertoma

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Sertoma Classic

First Baptist faced Garrett Academy, Lincoln played Norhtwoods Academy, Academic Magnet/Cross, Military Magnet/Goose Creek, Baptist Hill/Timberland, Stratford/North Charleston and Bishop England went against Wando in the 39th Annual Sertoma High School Football Classic at The Citadel's Johnson Hagood Stadium. Fourteen more Lowcountry teams face off tonight.

First-year Wando football coach Jimmy Noonan has seen the good, the bad and the ugly since his team opened fall practice three weeks ago.

But it's a fourth category that has Noonan the most concerned: injuries.

The Warriors were missing eight starters Thursday night when the 39th annual Sertoma Football Classic kicked off at The Citadel's Johnson Hagood Stadium. Some of the starters are out for the year, and some, like quarterback Michael Paul, will miss the majority of the year. Paul, one of the key components of the offense, is out with a collarbone injury.

The Warriors still have some firepower left, including running back Lee Oree, who scored on an 8-yard touchdown with 2:29 left to give the Warriors a 6-0 victory over Bishop England in the final quarter of the night.

An estimated crowd of 7,000 fans watched 14 teams in action. The other results included: North Charleston 12, Stratford 0; Timberland 14, Baptist Hill 0; Goose Creek 13, Military Magnet 0; Cross 14, Academic Magnet 6; Northwood Academy 20, Lincoln 0 and First Baptist 7, Garrett Tech 0.

Noonan said the Warriors had a strong first scrimmage of the year, but that's when injuries started adding up.

"It's a part of football that no one likes to see," Noonan said. "But you have to deal with it and move on. The No. 2s have to step up and sometimes, the No. 3s have to step up, too."

Junior quarterback Ryan Turnage played well at times, setting up Oree's TD with an 18-yard pass to Dezmon Venning. Turnage showed athleticism and, most importantly, didn't make any costly mistakes.

"He's our starter for now," Noonan said of Turnage. "He's still rough around the edges. He's got more confidence with a running back with Oree's experience back there. It's reassuring to have an experienced running back."

Oree rushed for 1,000 yards as a sophomore, but his total fell to 700 last year.

Bishop England, which went 9-3 last year, moved the ball, but couldn't sustain a drive. Quarterback Mikell Fosberry is back after passing for 1,591 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore. He has some new pass catchers, including Stephen Griffith and promising sophomores Andrew Bunch and Cameron Swails.

Coach John Cantey, who is in his second year as coach at Bishop England, said his team didn't execute well Thursday night, and must be ready for the season opener Saturday against Ben Lippen.

Were the Bishops looking ahead?

"No, not when we're playing Wando," Cantey said. "They're too much of a rival not to be ready. It's not hard to motivate the team when it's Wando."

North Charleston 12, Stratford 0

North Charleston scored on two of its three possessions, and the other drive stalled at Stratford's 12 as the Cougars dominated the Knights.

The Cougars marched 70 yards in three plays for their first score as Denzel Myers rifled a 43-yard touchdown pass to quarterback/wide receiver Corey Washington, an imposing target at 6-3.

The dynamic duo also hooked up for a 14-yard score.

The Cougars went 8-4 last year, and have 16 seniors on the team and 12 returning starters.

"We competed against (Stratford) in the passing league and played some of the other big boys," coach Jimmy Brown said. "These kids took a licking for three years, and now it's time for them to dish it out."

Myers and Washington hooked up for a 41-yard pass on the non-scoring drive, and should be a threat all season long.

"That combination has been four years in the making," Brown said. "Those guys are seniors making big plays. You expect them to do that."

Timberland 14, Baptist Hill 0

Senior quarterback Cody Craig scored on a 1-yard keeper, and Byron Mayes scored on an 8-yard run to lead Timberland past Baptist Hill.

Timberland went 13-1 last year and reached the Class AA Lower State championship. The Wolves open the season Saturday at Carolina Forest.

"It's going to be a lot tougher Saturday," Timberland coach Art Craig said.

"It's going to be a tough game and we have a lot of young players. We needed some game-time experience. We have a lot of young kids and they needed to play under the lights."

Goose Creek 13, Military Magnet 0

Goose Creek has been known for its running attack during Chuck Reedy's tenure, but two promising quarterbacks were showcased Thursday night: sophomores Zach Laverly and Jaquan Marsh.

Laverly completed a 44-yard touchdown to Kevin Glears to cap an 85-yard drive. Old reliable, Virgil Smalls, had the other score, a 2-yard run.

"Kevin Glears is an outstanding playmaker," Goose Creek coach Chuck Reedy said. "He caught 40 passes and is a big-time target. Our quarterbacks are sophomores, and they complement each other with their style of play."

Cross 14, Academic Magnet 6

Corde Doiley scored on a 3-yard run and Kendall Frazier scooted 29 for Cross' other score against Academic Magnet.

The Raptors' score came on Chris Austelle's 35-yard scoring strike to Keegan Shelton.

Shaun Wright is the new coach at Cross, and has some impressive experience.

"I'm from Cross," Wright said. "I was born and raised there, so this job is special for me. I coached at Timberland under Art Craig, and I'm just trying to make Berkeley County proud."

Northwood 20, Lincoln 0

Northwood, the defending SCISA Class AA state champ, got big plays from their rocket, Uriah Singleton. He returned a punt 60 yards for a score with 9:54 left against Lincoln and added a 73-yard touchdown run two minutes later.

"I don't have any personal goals," he said. "I just want to defend the state championship. I just want to win."

Brenden Gilbert added an 18-yard touchdown run.

Lincoln dressed only 11 players for the scrimmage.

First Baptist 7, Garrett Tech 0

Harrison Greer completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Lawton Hendricks to lead First Baptist past Garrett Tech.

Greer ran and passed well for the Hurricanes, who are looking to rebound from last year's 1-9 record.

"He worked hard over the summer," First Baptist coach Will McCombs said of his quarterback.

"He plays defense, and I hate that I have to play him so much because you live and die with the quarterback."

This is Hendrick's first year as a high school football player. He also plays baseball and basketball.

"I love having him out there," McCombs said.

Reach Philip M. Bowman at pbowman@postandcourier.com or at 937-5592. Read his blog at postandcourier/prepblog/.