With three starters, including star quarterback Denzel Myers, sitting out the first half of Friday night's first-round playoff game against North Myrtle Beach, the North Charleston Cougars trailed at the half, 14-7.

With Myers back in the lineup for the second half, the Cougars were a different team. North Charleston scored 40 second-half points en route to a 47-27 win, advancing to the second round of the Class AAA playoffs with its 10th win in 11 games.

The Cougars host Camden, a 38-14 winner over South Aiken, next Friday.

Myers directed the North Charleston offense to more than 300 total yards in the second half, scoring on a 47-yard run on the third play of the third quarter. He also caught a touchdown pass and threw two touchdown passes, finishing the half with 170 all-purpose yards.

North Charleston coach Jimmy Brown decided just before kickoff to bench his star player and two of his teammates for missing a practice earlier in the week. He does not regret his decision but is disappointed with how his team responded in the first half.

"I was disappointed with how we played in the first half, with or without Denzel," said Brown. "It seemed we were just waiting around for him to come in, and we're better than that. We were pouting and feeling sorry for ourselves, and North Myrtle Beach took it to us. I'm glad we were able to rally in the second half and play better, but there was no excuse for us playing as poorly as we did in the first half."

Myers, a recent selection to the North-South All-Star game, was apologetic for his actions.

"It was hard to watch in the first half because I let my team down and they needed me out there," said Myers. "I learned my lesson. This will never happen again."

North Myrtle Beach opened the game with a nine-play, 73-yard drive, taking a 7-0 lead on Kelton Chestnut's 3-yard run with 7:18 to play in the first quarter. Chestnut had 94 yards rushing in the first half and finished with 126 yards.

North Charleston looked out of sync offensively in the first half, committing two turnovers, and the Chiefs took a 14-0 lead on Chestnut's 8-yard run with 10:04 left in the first half.

Jerrial Ray scored on a 2-yard run late in the second quarter to cut the lead to 14-7 by the break.

North Charleston exploded in the third quarter, totaling 161 yards on just 11 offensive plays.

Myers scored early in the third quarter, then caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Corey Washington with 6:10 left in the third to give the Cougars a 21-14 lead.

After the Cougars forced a punt, Myers threw a 34-yard scoring pass to Washington with 3:32 left in the third for a 27-14 lead.

Early in the fourth, a three-play, 51-yard drive ended with Myers hitting Washington on a 25-yard pass play to make it 35-14, and the rout was on.

Thomas Smalls added a 14-yard touchdown run after Denzel White's 71-yard run, and the Cougars led, 41-14, with 9:23 to play.

Ray added a 2-yard run and North Myrtle Beach tacked on two late scores for the final margin.

"I know my job is to win games, but I also have a higher calling, and trying to teach these young men about life is what I'm here for," said Brown. "This was a tough week and I've been fighting with this decision for two days. Fortunately, it worked out for us. Hopefully, all three young men understand what they did wrong and we can move on from here."

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