By Thomas Grant Jr.

A win.

It’s all Cardinal Newman needs to double its win total from last season.

It also brings head coach Cory Helms a step closer to achieving his goal of a SCISA Class 4A title for the Cardinals.

Only one major obstacle stands in the way – defending champion and longtime nemesis Hammond. Earlier this season, the Skyhawks extended their winning streak to 23 games over Cardinal Newman with a 35-20 victory.

A win Friday at Eden Stadium in the semifinals would simultaneously end that streak as well as accomplish the other listed goals.

“The streak doesn’t mean anything to me,” Helms said. “But it would be cool for the school. I know there’s a lot of supporters that are eager for that. But to me, it’s another game. The goal isn’t to ‘beat Hammond’. The goal is to play for championships, and it just so happens that Hammond is the team that everyone has to go through to do that.”

The offensive duo of quarterback Duncan Skelton and running back Cortez Lane gives the Cardinals a punching chance. They combined for six touchdowns, four rushing by Lane, in the 41-24 victory over Augusta Christian.

It was the second straight win Cardinal Newman had defeated the Lions at home. If the Cardinals are to fare better in the rematch with Hammond, Helms knows they will have to play a near-perfect game.

“I think our guys saw that we can play with them,” he said. “But you can’t make as many mistakes as we did and have a chance to beat a team that’s that talented and well-coached.”

This means slowing down Hammond’s backfield of Manny Johnson and Kinson Holland. The tandem combined for 268 yards and four touchdowns in the first meeting.

Quarterback Robert Malanuk can also stretch the field and had two touchdown passes in the 41-7 win over Trinity Collegiate.

Winning the battle at the line of scrimmage will determine the Cardinals’ post-season fate, according to Helms.

“The offensive line needs to be able to block all their stunts and not let their guys off blocks,” he said. “They get off blocks better than anyone. And the defensive line needs to make some plays and bow up Vs their physical offensive line.”

Friday’s winner faces either Laurence Manning Academy or Porter-Gaud in the final Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Charleston Southern University.

RNE Makes History

It was truly a historic night for Cavaliers’ football in Beaufort County.

The 88-54 victory over Bluffton was not only the program’s first playoff victory since 2015 which was also the last time they have won seven or more games.

The points total shattered the school record of 73 set a month earlier against A.C. Flora. Like the matchup with the Falcons, junior quarterback Will Wilson was dominant in accounting for just over half of the team’s 1,003 total yards.

Wilson finished with 401 rushing yards and five touchdowns and threw for 122 yards. Running back James Willingham also scored five touchdowns to go with 330 rushing yards.

The Cavaliers have won four of their last five games, three on the road. They will need another strong effort to upend undefeated and defending Class 4A champion South Florence.

The Bruins (11-0) currently own the Palmetto State’s longest winning streak at 26 games. One of those victories took place over Richland Northeast 61-18 in the opening round of last year’s Class 4A. It was the first meeting between the two schools.

Seasons end for

Northeast teams

Ridge View and Blythewood all dropped their first-round matchups.

The Blazers were stunned 26-14 at home by Lancaster. The Bruins entered the first-round Class 4A playoff matchup at 1-9 and had not won a playoff game since 2014.

Mikal McCollum scored two touchdowns for the Bruins who rallied from 7-6 halftime deficit. Siah Mack rushed for a score and Tre Howard threw a touchdown pass to Carter Coleman for the Blazers (8-3).

In Class 5A, Blythewood was shut out at J.L. Mann 44-0 to finish with a 4-7 record.

Photos by Cardinal Newman High School – Cardinal Newman head coach Cory Helms