Burke captures 1st title since '68

The gymnasium at Burke High School has numerous basketball championship banners hanging from the rafters. Make room for a football banner now.

Burke defeated Cane Bay, 42-24, to win the Region 6-AA title, marking the first football title for the school since 1968.

Senior quarterback Del'Javon Simmons threw four touchdown passes and rushed for one, totaling more than 300 yards in total offense as the Bulldogs completed an 8-2 regular season and a perfect 5-0 mark in region play.

Burke will host either Barnwell or Ridgeland next Friday in the first round of the lower state AA playoffs. Cane Bay, making their first-ever playoff appearance, will travel to either Edisto or Ridgeland.

Coach Earl Brown, the school's highly successful basketball coach, took over the football program this season and now has his team set to host a playoff game next week.

"It's a credit to these young men," said Brown. "They worked very hard and they have improved each week. We have some good athletes and we have good leadership. I'm proud of the way they have approached each week with focus and determination. "

Simmons finished the night with 246 passing yards, completing 8-of-16 attempts. He raised his season total in touchdown passes to 26 while his favorite target, senior Sidney Sanders, caught three scoring tosses and now has 17 touchdown receptions this season. Running back Branden Bell caught a touchdown pass and rushed for a score as well.

"They've have some great athletes and Simmons is unbelievable," said Cane Bay head coach Jeff Cruce, who led his team to a 4-6 record and third-place finish in the region in their second year as a program. "We hung in there and played hard but they were just better. Hats off to Burke and coach Brown. They were the best team in this region, hands down."

Burke scored on their first possession, going 71 yards in six plays with Simmons scoring on a 14-yard run with 7:52 left in the first quarter. Cane Bay tied the scored with an impressive nine-play, 70-yard drive with Fritz Simmons scoring from 5 yards out with 6:06 left in the half.

On Burke's next possession, Simmons was intercepted by Xavier Moultrie, who returned the pick 70 yards for an apparent touchdown. However, a block in the back during the return nullified the score. Cane Bay failed to score on their possession and Simmons quickly directed the Bulldogs downfield in six plays, tossing a 35-yard touchdown pass to Sanders with 1:14 left in the half for a 14-8 lead.

Burke put the game away quickly in the third, opening the quarter with a 70-yard drive, capped by Bell's 48-yard run with 8:11 left in the period.

The ensuing kickoff was a line drive squib kick that bounced off a Cane Bay player and was recovered by Burke at the Cobras' 41. On the very first play, Simmons found Sanders wide open for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 26-8.

Early in the fourth, Simmons hit Sanders on a 33-yard scoring pass as the Bulldogs covered 80 yards on only four plays and upped the lead to 34-8.

Cane Bay showed some fight in the final period. Brandon Hall hit Montez Powell with a 69-yard scoring play with 10:22 left. After Simmons connected with Bell on a 22-yard touchdown pass, the Cobras scored on Anthony Enos' three-yard run for the final margin.

Running back James Bishop finished the night with 101 yards rushing while Simmons added 86 yards for the Cobras.

"It was a real struggle tonight but I honestly believe Cane Bay had a lot to do with that," said Brown. "They were as good as any team we've played in the last six weeks or so. I was proud of the way our players came out and took control of the game in the quarter because the game was in doubt."