What side are you on?
Rival Beaufort teams square off tonight
bparker@beaufortgazette.com
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The thrill is gone -- well, at least that's the assumption entering the 38th chapter of the Battery Creek-Beaufort football rivalry today at Dolphin Field.
No longer are the two schools pitted in the same region after Battery Creek's drop to Class 3-A competition, pushing the game up two months from its normal date.
And the last two meetings have been anything but close, as Beaufort has outscored the Dolphins 85-16, further punctuating Battery Creek's current 27-game losing streak.
Still, none of this can erase the mere 10 miles and more than three decades of history lying between these two programs.
"It's still the rivalry it's always been and it's very important for our youngsters to win this game," Beaufort coach Mark Clifford said. "There's going to be a lot in the air (today) and this rivalry provides plenty of motivation for the players."
And there's bound to be a little more in the air by way of Tropical Storm Hanna, which will likely turn Dolphin Field into muddy ground by the 7 p.m. kickoff.
On paper, such conditions suit the downhill running style of the Eagles and could neutralize the blazing speed of the Dolphins, placing much of the onus on the perimeter play of both teams.
"People know we're going to pack the box to try and stop Beaufort's run," Battery Creek coach Carlos Cave said. "And we know they are going to try and take advantage of that by putting their skill guys on the outside."
The focus of this pressure will be Eagles tailbacks Brad Gonzales and Alex Simmons, who combined for 144 yards in last week's 22-19 win at Hilton Head Island High School. Most of these yards came on hard runs up the middle, but nearly 70 yards were lost on holding penalties by an offensive line with four new starters.
"Most of them came at critical times during drives, when we broke long runs, and that's why we stalled," said Clifford, whose team should be helped by the return of left tackle Michael Boles from injury. "We're young, but we've got to have more discipline and not get lazy."
The Dolphins' backfield will again be without tailback Tavaras Pinckney, who's nursing a sprained ankle, but with 96 yards on just 18 carries, Antonio Hills has proven more than capable in providing balance for the offense.
Still, quarterback Antonio Wiggs remains the key cog in Battery Creek's spread formation, which uses quick passes over the middle and long bombs to move the chains.
Clifford said he plans on bringing a heavy pass rush to limit Wiggs' options, but the junior's quick legs and ability to throw on the run make him just as dangerous outside the pocket.
"We don't want to get in the habit of throwing too much, like we did last week," Cave said in reference to Wiggs' 4-for-22, 58-yard performance during a 28-0 loss to West Ashley. "But we do need to throw well to be successful."
Yet in a game where the two teams know each other so well, the final margin often doesn't come down to just strategy or skill, but rather who can grasp the momentum and passion swirling within a rivalry that's now 35 years young.
"I don't think we're necessarily going out to prove anything," Clifford said. "We're just trying to live up to where the program is headed and this game will be a good way to see where we are and how much we want it."
THREE KEYS
• Battery Creek's ability to pass in the spread offense
How effective the Dolphins offense is greatly rests on the throwing arm of Antonio Wiggs, but they'll also need their receivers to hang on to the ball and turn short passes into long gains.
• Beaufort's offensive line
All is well when the Eagles find success on the ground, and should the field be soggy, the bigger the holes opened by their young offensive line, the better.
• Early execution
Dolphin Field is not known for holding water well, meaning touchdowns will likely come easier in the game's early stages, when the field is still somewhat intact.
BEAUFORT AT BATTERY CREEK
Who: Beaufort High School (1-0) at Battery Creek High School (0-2)
Where: Dolphin Field, Burton
When: 7:00 p.m. today
What's important: The expected wet conditions favor Beaufort's downhill, running-back-by-committee style and could neutralize Battery Creek's blazing speed. Look for the Dolphins to stack the box in order to force the Eagles to pass. Still, this could play into Beaufort's favor, thanks to athletes like Jimmy Legree and Antwan Smalls, who can turn screen passes into big plays for the Eagles.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Beaufort -- Offense: Blake Gruel, QB; Brad Gonzales, RB; Alex Simmons, FB; Michael Ginn, WR; Brian Simmons, WR; Alex Amaya, TE; Michael Boles, LT; Shane Dwyer, LG; Deon Fuller, C; Zach Trent, RG; Patrick Dennis, RT.Defense: Duane Chisolm, DE; Maurice Jacques, DT; Derrell Garry, DT; Alex Wierzbicki, DE; Trey Nichols, OLB; Justin Parker, ILB; Sam Venning, OLB; Jimmy Legree, CB; Arthur Smith, CB; Bryan Jenkins, S. Special teams: Owen Plair, K; Tim Britton, P; Jimmy Legree, KR/PR.
Battery Creek -- Offense: Antonio Wiggs, QB; Antonio Hills, TB; Cecil Franklin, FB; Devon Anthony, WR; Charles Glover, WR; Jeremy Fields, TE; Aljanon Robinson, LT; Arthur Fell, LG; Spencer Butler, C; Jonathan Brown, RG; Keith Polite, RT. Defense: Jonathan Brown, DL; Freddie Polite, DL; Keith Moore, DL; Questell Scott, DL; Nigel Fripp, LB; Tieler Schabbing, LB; Luke Johnson, LB; Cleon Wright, CB; Ricardo Chaney, CB; Chris Thomas, S; Leander Mobley, S. Special teams: Israel Huerta, K; Freddie Polite, P; Leander Mobley, KR/PR.
PREDICTION
Beaufort rushing attack proves too much on soggy field -- Eagles by 17.