The South Aiken Thoroughbreds secured a decisive 59-6 victory over the Silver Bluff Bulldogs at South Aiken High School on Friday night. Despite a roughly hour-long delay due to severe weather, pushing the kickoff to 8:25 p.m., South Aiken quickly established control of the game.
South Aiken scored three times in the first quarter, building a 42-0 lead by halftime. Quarterback Tommy Burns III led the early offensive charge, connecting with Kyson McLeod for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Burns later found McLeod again on a scoring play that included a 10-yard pass and a 15-yard run, extending the lead to 14-0. A Silver Bluff fumble was recovered by South Aiken’s Connor Hamilton, who then ran 30 yards for another touchdown.
In the second quarter, Burns connected with Blake Goodman for a touchdown, followed by a 10-yard touchdown run by Drelyn Brown less than three minutes later. Before halftime, Burns and Goodman linked up for a 30-yard pass, setting up a 20-yard scoring run by Goodman. Burns then completed a two-point conversion pass to Ray Harris, solidifying the 42-0 lead.
South Aiken’s defense also played a crucial role in the first half, creating turnovers and keeping Silver Bluff off the scoreboard. Coach Chris Hamilton noted that the team’s collective play set the tone for the entire game, highlighting the early offensive and defensive efforts as the turning point.
The Thoroughbreds continued to extend their lead in the second half. Knox Young converted a field goal, making it 45-0. Hamilton scored his second touchdown of the night on a 15-yard run after another Silver Bluff fumble, with Young adding the extra point.
Silver Bluff finally scored in the fourth quarter when Garrett Greene connected with Chris Jackson for a 15-yard touchdown, though the extra point attempt was unsuccessful, bringing the score to 52-6. South Aiken responded with Kendrick Eubanks Jr. scoring on a 10-yard run, and Young’s extra point completed the scoring at 59-6.
Silver Bluff coach Lemuel Lackey indicated the loss provided an opportunity to identify areas for improvement, particularly in speed of play, quicker reactions, and overall consistency. Lackey emphasized developing younger and newer players and building team chemistry moving forward. Coach Hamilton of South Aiken stated the team’s next step is to return to work, encouraging players to enjoy the win before preparing for the next game.
