Class 3A Title: Breaking Down Beaufort

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Beaufort coach Bryce Lybrand walked off the playing surface at Benedict College last year, it came with a lot of disappointment as well as hope. The Eagles lost the Class 4A championship to South Pointe, but Lybrand felt with what he had coming back, Beaufort could again be a factor with a move down to Class 3A after realignment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It only took one game this season for those feelings to grow even more. The Eagles lost the season-opener to Fort Dorchester, a finalist in Class 5A this season, 21-6 but it was the way his team went about it that made Lybrand feel good about things.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We felt like we had a lot coming back from last year and we felt if things went our way, we would have a chance,” Lybrand said this week. “But after we played Fort D like we did, I saw a lot of fight and character in the guys. They fought like crazy. They've carried that over into every game this season.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beaufort hasn't lost since that season opener. They get a chance to atone for last year against Powdersville Thursday night in the first game of the Weekend of Champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lybrand feels like his team has learned a lot from last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I think we understand all the things that go into playing in a state championship a little better than we did last year,” Lybrand said. “We get interviewed more and we have TV around more. It's just a lot of extra stuff you have to manage. But when its gametime, you still have to go play the game.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE MAINSTAYS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the fourth game of the season, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336146' first='Kacy' last='Fields'] </strong>(pictured) made the move from wide receiver to running back. It seems to have worked out for the best. Since then, Fields has rushed for 2,011 yards and 29 touchdowns. The fact that he remains the Eagles leading receiver with 24 receptions for 234 yards speaks volumes to what he's meant to the running game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254143' first='Samari' last='Bonds'] </strong>has found a way to be a threat as well. He has rushed for 607 yards and eight touchdowns and thrown for an additional 967 yards with 8 TDs as well. If there is a drawback, he's thrown six interceptions in 142 pass attempts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336140' first='Colton' last='Phares']</strong> is the second leading receiver with 19 catches for 349 yards and four touchdowns. <strong>Relchel McLeod</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262689' first='Michael' last='Dennison']</strong> and <strong>Caleb Ulmer</strong> could also factor into the offensive game plan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beaufort doesn't have any flashy numbers to show on defense but it's a unit that has allowed just over 13 points per game this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jack Sumner</strong> leads the defensive line with 50 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. <strong>Quion Rivers</strong> (61 tackles) and <strong>Will Codding</strong> (51 tackles, 11 tackles for loss) lead a solid linebacker group. <strong>Jamar Knight</strong> and <strong>Lamar Knight</strong> are a couple of leaders in the secondary. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997373' first='Dom' last='Camacho']</strong> has three of the 11 interceptions for the Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYER TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Phares has turned into a jack of all trades for Beaufort. They recently went to a two-back set on offense and Phares has responded in a huge way. He has 400 yards rushing and four touchdowns on just 21 attempts this season. He's also a bigger safety at 6'2”, 185 pounds. He has 64 tackles and four interceptions this season. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 3A State Championship</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 5 Beaufort (12-1) vs. No. 4 Powdersville (13-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When: Thursday, 7 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where: Benedict College, Columbia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tickets: $15, available only through gofan.co. Parking an additional $10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->