SEAHAWKS 55, BOBCATS 21

"DE JA II"

For the second time in three seasons, the Bobcats have their postseason dreams crushed on the turf of arch rivals Hilton Head Island High School. The Seahawks route Bluffton 55-21 Friday night in the fourth installment of the Bridge Bowl. The loss - coupled with a Battery Creek blowout of Lake Marion - leaves the Bobcats as the odd man out of the Class 3A Lower State playoffs.

Bluffton (3-7, 2-3 Region 8-3A) fell victim to the exact same scenario two seasons ago, finishing in the three-way tie for the final two Region 8-3A playoff spots. Dooming the Bobcats was a flawed tiebreaker system that rewarded Battery Creek (a team Bluffton beat) the region's third spot based on "region points allowed" this season. From there, the whole scenario resets to head-to-head matchups for the fourth spot. The Bobcats lost to Lake Marion in September's region-opener on a missed last-second field goal attempt.

At least that's the story being fed to Bluffton at this moment. By the morning, everything could change.

As of right now, however, the season is over for the Bobcats.

BRIDGE BOWL IV

"THIS TIME, IT'S PERSONAL"

A win tonight gives Bobcats their first-ever victory over rival Seahawks of  Hilton Head and locks up home playoff game - also a first in program history.

MEET BLUFFTON'S DEFENSIVE GURU

"THE GROWING LEGEND OF LEWIS BLACK"

Lewis Black doesn't sleep...he waits.

HEAD GAMES

"HAIR TODAY, WIN TOMORROW?"

Bluffton hopes wins are in style tonight against Hilton Head.

above: B.J. Kitty

DON'T THROW ON ME

"SHUT DOWN CORNER"

Opposing teams choosing not to throw on  cornerback Anthony Smith Jr. The freshmen is the first frosh to start all 10 games in the Jeremy West era.

AND THE WINNER IS...

"LEWIS BLACK"

After three tries, the junior finally nabs his first Game Ball.

Conference Championship Dashed...Playoff Bid Still Alive

"Cougars Snarl Bluffton's Region Title Hopes"

Bad injuries, questionable officiating and pourous run-defense mark Bluffton's attempt to overtake region-leader North Charleston.

NORTH CHARLESTON 40, BOBCATS 22

Cougars dash Bluffton's Region 8-3A title hopes Friday night in the Holy City. Zach Frazier scores twice and Desmond Jenkins added a touchdown and 2-point conversion, but it's not enough to hold off region champ North Charleston.

above, left, Alfonza Powell and Steven Sczcepanik celebrate Powell's goal-line catch late in the second quarter of Friday's game.

GET WELL SOON, JIMMY

 

"TILLMAN ESCAPES MAJOR HARM"

Click "headline" for full story

Bluffton defensive back Jimmy Tillman suffered a serious neck injury Friday night in North Charleston after attempting to make a stop in the end zone on a Cougar touchdown. The junior was taken to the hospital after lying prone on the turf for nearly 25-minutes. The move was purely precautionary. Tillman was able to leave the hospital before the game's end and returned home safely. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery and no lasting affects.

ONLY THE LONELY

Forgive the Bobcats if they're feeling a bit snake bitten these days. For the second time since region play began four weeks ago, Bluffton believes they are the victim of shoddy officiating. The men in stripes denied the Bobcats their final timeout of the first half Friday night with their offense on the North Charleston 4-yard line and four seconds to play. Trailing 22-7 at the time, the Bobcats were on the verge of swinging the momentum in their favor. The refs argued that Bluffton used up their allotted timeouts, but would not specify when. The general consenus is the Bobcats were dinged with a T.O. after defensive back Jimmy Tillman was badly hurt (25-minute game delay) early in the second quarter. Above, the Bobcat faithful that traveled 100-miles north to Charleston give the refs an earful during halftime - moments after the alleged botched call.