Iron Horses repeat as Region 6-AA champs; Bishops sneak into playoffs
The Philip Simmons High School football team earned its second consecutive Region 6-AA championship, while Bishop England nailed down the fourth and final playoff spot in Region 6-AAAA.
That’s the summary of success for the Daniel Island schools as the regular season concluded the weekend of Oct. 30-31, as both teams posted impressive victories.
The Iron Horses won for the eighth straight time with a 28-14 victory over Andrews High to improve to 8-2, 5-0. The Bishops blasted Colleton County 55-0 to improve to 7-3, 2-3.
PHILIP SIMMONS 28, ANDREWS 14
The regular-season finale pitted the Nos. 1-2 teams in Region 6-AA, and the Iron Horses were crowned region champs for the third time overall in the program’s eight-year history.
Quarterback Hayes Goddard had a big role in the win as his passing continued to be right on time – and on target. The junior has shown signs of quarterback maturation every week and was 20-of-26 passing for 328 yards and three TDs against the Yellow Jackets.
He enters the Nov. 7 playoff game against Whale Branch at The Phil with 128 completions in 213 attempts for 2,082 yards. The 2,082 passing yards puts him in 11th place overall in The Palmetto State, according to MaxPreps.com. He’s thrown for 24 touchdowns.
Ashton Kellermann and Alex Tchoryk were his favorite targets. Kellermann caught 13 passes for 238 yards and two scores, while Tchoryk caught four balls for 40 yards and a TD.
Kellermann, one of the top juniors in the state, combines quickness, great hands, and route running. That has translated into 1,129 receiving yards, which is second among all receivers in South Carolina in yards, according to MaxPreps.
The Iron Horses will face a Whale Branch team that is entering the playoffs with a 3-7 record.
BISHOP ENGLAND 55, COLLETON COUNTY 0
The Bishops trounced Colleton County at Jack Cantey Stadium in their final regular-season game, and the only thing more impressive than quarterback Will Donato was the defense’s collective effort. They held Colleton County to only 60 yards in total offense as the Cougars finished with a 1-9 record for the third time in four years.
Donato, filling in for the injured Quinn Mahoney, accounted for five touchdowns as the Bishops were never challenged, taking a 20-0 lead after one stop. They pushed the advantage to 41-0 at halftime.
Donato completed 7 of 11 passes for 143 yards and four touchdowns. He was effective on the ground with 61 yards and a score.
Brody Tonon led the Bishops with four catches for 105 yards and three TDs. Zach Balog caught only one pass, but it went for 32 yards and a score.
Senior running back Mitchell Plaisance led the Bishops with six carries for 64 yards and a TD. Sophomore Chase Tonon scored on a 48-yard run.
The Bishops host Lower Richland in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs. The Bishops are the No. 8 seed in the Lower State. Lower Richland, the No. 9 seed, enters the playoffs at 6-4.