Socastee wins by a field goal

HILTON HEAD -- Less than two minutes earlier, Socastee kicker Andrew Musgrove missed an extra point try that would have put his team ahead late in the fourth quarter. But with 0.7 seconds left, Musgrove redeemed himself when he nailed a 32-yard field goal to break a 20-20 tie and lift the Braves past the Seahawks 23-20 on Friday night in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.

Just getting that close was a struggle.

The Seahawks (6-5) scored the games first 13 points, but Socastee rebounded in the second quarter with a 25-yard scoring pass from quarterback Zack Elliman to Stoan Waldroup and a 2-yard touchdown run by Elliman to take a 14-13 into halftime.

Hilton Head retook the lead in the third quarter and seemed poised to survive in the closing minutes before Elliman took control, finding Waldroup for the second time in the game, this time for a 75-yard touchdown with 1:35 left in the game.

But Musgrove missed on the extra point try.

The Seahawks got the ball back, but Elliman snared the last of four Socastee (6-5) interceptions at his own 30-yard line with 1:04 to play to give the Braves a chance to avoid overtime.

The drive nearly stalled, but Elliman completed a 15-yard pass to Brandon Alston on 4th-and-seven from the Seahawks' 30-yard line. Elliman spiked it; setting up Musgrove's shot at redemption.

"I felt like if we got down to the 20-yard-line and give [Musgrove] as chance, he could do it," Socastee coach Time Renfrow said. "We are either going to win the game or go to overtime, but we can't lose," he said.

Hilton Head tried to ice Musgrove by calling a pair of timeouts, but Musgrove split the uprights to give the Socastee football program what Renfrow believes is its first ever playoff win.

The Braves will travel to Marlboro County next week for the second round of the playoffs.

(At) Cheraw 34, Waccamaw 7 | Chad Wilkes scored on a 75-yard run the first play from scrimmage and Cheraw didn't let up until late in the game as the Braves rolled past Waccamaw (7-4) in the first round of the Class AA playoffs.

Wilkes finished 21 carries for 176 yards and two touchdowns.

John Gibbs was the lone star for Waccamaw, rushing for 81 yards on 15 carries with a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter with Cheraw already ahead by 34.

The Braves (7-4) will face Silver Bluff or Bishop England in the second round.

(At) North Charleston 47, North Myrtle Beach 27 | The Chiefs started strong, jumping out to a 14-7 lead at halftime before the Cougars (10-1) pulled away in the second half as North Myrtle Beach fell in the opening round of the Class AAA playoffs.