Rashawn Grate

Andrae Jacobs

South Columbus fullback Buster James (left) takes a handoff from quarterback Justin Duncan.

ST. PAULS – With a defense that allowed less than 100 yards of total offense while assuring strong field position the entire game, the South Columbus Stallions bolted to a 42-0 season-opening football victory over the host St. Pauls Bulldogs Friday night.

On the offensive side, the Stallions rolled up 308 yards behind the running of fullback Buster James and Rashawn Grate, and the passing combination of quarterback Justin Duncan and flanker Dakota Piver.

Coach Joey Price’s Stallions jumped to a 14-0 first quarter lead and held a 28-0 halftime margin.

South Columbus, relying on strong senior leadership, held the St. Pauls squad to 71 yards rushing and 21 yards passing. Seniors Andrae Jacobs and T.J. Richardson set the paces as SCHS garnered its third straight season-opening victory.

With senior back Justin Smith sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in the BB&T Jamboree, the Stallion backfield did not miss a beat as James rambled for 74 yards on 12 carries, including touchdown runs on 1, 2 and 4 yards. Grate carried seven times for 65 yards, including scoring runs of 6 and 43 yards.

Justin Duncan completed 7 of 8 pass attempts for 102 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown pass to Piver in the second quarter.

Duncan’s only other pass attempt was intercepted by the Bulldogs. Piver finished with four receptions for 84 yards. Donovan Watts kicked four extra points.

“Our defense did a great job keeping us in good field position, and our offensive line really had a good night,” Price said. “For the first game of the season, it was a pretty good effort.

South Columbus jumped to a 14-0 first quarter lead on a six-yard run by Grate and a one-yard smash by James. The TD pass from Duncan to Piver and a two-yard run by James accounted for the scoring in the second quarter. Duncan passed to Piver for a two-point conversion to round out the first-half scoring.

SCHS advanced the score to 35-0 on a four-yard run by James in the third quarter, and closed out the scoring on a 43-yard scoring dash by Grate in the fourth quarter.

Bernard Williams was the leading rusher for St. Pauls with 44 yards on 14 carries

South Columbus will have an open date this Friday before crossing into South Carolina on Aug. 31 for its annual Labor Day Weekend border grudge battle with the Loris Lions.

SC SP
Rushes-yards 34-206 37-71
Yards passing 102 21
Passes 7-8-1 3-7-0
Fumbles-lost 3-2 2-2
Penalties-yards 7-60 12-80
Punts-avg. 2-45 7-21
SC – Rashawn Grate 6 run (Donovan Watts kick).
SC – Buster James 1 run (Watts kick)
SC – Dakota Piver 34 pass from Justin Duncan (kick failed).
SC – James 2 run (Piver pass from Duncan)
SC – James 4 run (Watts kick).
SC – Grate 42 run (Watts kick)