Lee Academy football ends Thomas Heyward’s SCISA championship run

Thomas Heyward football had its championship streak come to an end Saturday at Charleston Southern.

Deshon Hadden scored three touchdowns as Lee Academy defeated Thomas Hewyard, 28-0, in the SCISA Class A championship. It is the Cavaliers’ first championship since 2015.

The loss ends the Rebels’ bid for their fifth consecutive championship. Thomas Heyward defeated Lee Academy the past two years in the championship game.

“We have been here five of the last eight years and this is only the second one we have, so it is bittersweet,” Lee Academy coach David Rankin said. “But the fact we got one for our 15 seniors on the team. I am so proud of them. They led our team all year.”

Thomas Heyward finished the year at 8-4 and was shut out for the first time since the 2017 season.

With a smaller than usual roster, the Rebels were able to overcome the lack of depth and three-game losing streak in the middle of the season to make it to another championship game. That wasn’t lost on coach Nic Shuford, who discussed that with his players after the game.

“I am so proud of the heart and determination they played with all year,” Shuford said. “Not many people gave us a shot to be back on this field. They played with that chip on the shoulder and came to work every day ready to go. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Thomas Heyward’s lack of depth and loss of key players was a factor Saturday. Starting running backs Anthony Fripp and freshman Tony O’Banner left the game with leg injuries in the first half with Fripp going down on the third play of the game. Running back Donovan Robinson also was injured.

Fripp and O’Banner combined for more than 1,500 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns on the season. O’Banner had three touchdowns in last year’s championship game.

Thomas Heyward quarterback Dietrich Shuford also was banged up in the second half and came out on a couple of occasions.

“We lost three of our running backs in the first half so that wasn’t an ideal situation,” Shuford said. “But hats off to Lee Academy. They came out and executed their game plan and got one on us.”

From the start, Lee Academy wanted to be the more physical team up front and was able to do that. The Cavs’ offensive line was able to open up running lanes for Hadden, who transferred from North Central and scored on two TD runs in the second quarter to give the Cavs a 14-0 lead.

Thomas Heyward’s best drive in the first half came late in the second quarter, but the Cavs’ knocked away a fourth-down attempt in the end zone.

Hampton Gaskins made it 21-0 with a 1-yard run with 5:02 in the third quarter.

Thomas Heyward got it to the Lee 6-yard line in the fourth quarter before it fumbled to end the drive.

“We have been physical all year,” Rankin said. “We win games up front. We knew scheme-wise they are faster than us, but we were a more physical team.”