Iron Horses triumph over Class AA Timberland, BE cages the Cougars

The Philip Simmons High School football team picked up its biggest win in the program’s three-year history. And it was a first-year player who provided the heroics as the Iron Horses posted a 3-0 victory over perennial Class AA state power Timberland.

 

Sophomore Griffin Gore, a soccer player who made the transition to the gridiron this season, kicked a 23-yard field goal midway through the second quarter that turned out to be the only score of the night.

 

“Of course there’s that first win (in school history), and that’s right up there,” Bendig said. “And last year, there was that huge win against Hanahan. But this has to be No. 1.”

 

Timberland had an impressive resume under coach Art Craig, who now is in his first year at Hanahan. The Wolves won state championships in 2011 and 2014.

 

The Iron Horses pushed their record to 3-1 overall and in Region 6-AA. It was the Iron Horses’ sixth victory in their last eight games.

 

Philip Simmons has an open date this weekend. The game against Ridgeland-Hardeville was canceled prior to the start of the school year when Jasper County school officials banned fall sports because of the pandemic.

 

The Iron Horses accounted for only 116 total yards in offense with Trip Williams completing 6 of 21 for 73 yards. He hooked up with Will Ramey for a 30-yard completion that set up Gore’s winning field goal.

 

Iron Horse running back Peyton Woolridge kept the chains moving with 78 yards on 18 carries.

 

The Iron Horses gave up 245 yards in total offense with 214 yards coming on the ground. But Bendig’s bunch was able to mettle it up in the redzone.

 

Tyler Harper led the Iron Horses with 12 tackles. Hunter Ramey had two tackles for a loss and finished with 11 stops.

 

Luther Smalls broke up three passes and recovered a fumble to lead the Iron Horse secondary. 

 

BE tops Cougars 49-6

 

The Bishop England football team had one of its best efforts of the season with an easy 49-6 victory at North Charleston.

 

It could have been worse. Bishop England led 35-0 at the end of the first quarter and 42-0 at halftime to improve to 3-1 overall and 3-1 in Region 8-AAA play.

 

The Bishops capitalized on Cougar mistakes and that gave coach John Cantey the opportunity to give his younger players plenty of playing time.

 

Quarterbacks Eddie Marinaro and Marco Pampu combined to complete 8 of 15 attempts for 70 yards.

 

The Bishops pounded the Cougars with an effective running game. Marinaro scored three touchdowns on seven carries for 82 yards. He recorded a 40-yard run for the Bishops’ longest play of the night.

 

Michael Long carried eight times for 43 yards and a score.

 

Seven different Bishops caught passes, including Sammy Gress, who was on the receiving end of a 10-yard TD pass from Marinaro.

 

The Bishops short-circuited four North Charleston drives with turnovers.

 

James Murphy, Jackson Todd and Jack Mullen recorded interceptions while Markus Mullen recovered a fumble.

 

Bishop England hosts Hanahan Friday in a rivalry game that will have Region 8-AAA and state playoff implications.