Lions use trickery, strong offense to slip past Dolphins

Augusta Christian used everything in its arsenal at Hilton Head Prep on Friday.

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The Lions showed off a high-powered offense and benefited from some trickery to beat the Dolphins, 42-39.

Coach Keith Walton's team rolled up 438 yards of offense and successfully executed two trick plays to secure the victory.

The first came after Augusta Christian running back Matt Rogers broke free for a 30-yard touchdown to shave Hilton Head Prep's lead to 26-21 with 42 seconds left before halftime.

The Lions then executed an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. Lions receiver A.J. Morinelli recovered on the Hilton Head Prep 42. Quarterback Tyler Roberson hooked up with Rogers on a 27-yard pass play, setting up a Roberson touchdown run to give the Lions a 14-point swing at the end of the half.

The second trick play came with five minutes left in regulation. Augusta Christian held a 42-39 lead, but appeared to be giving the ball back to Hilton Head Prep, faced with a fourth and 6 from the Dolphins' 48-yard line.

Sophomore punter Eric Fogle noticed nobody was covering Rogers and called for a punt fake, completing an 18-yard pass to give the Lions a first down.

"I saw there was nobody there so I just called it," Fogle said. "The game was pretty crazy."

The Lions survived a record setting performance from Dolphins quarterback Matt Layman.

Layman threw for 374 yards on 41-of-55 passing to break the school record for a second time this season.

His big night was spoiled by the Lions offensive effort.

"You've got to make a couple of tackles," Hilton Head Prep coach Ron Peduzzi said.

Layman completed 23 of his first 24 attempts and had 275 passing yards at halftime, leading the Dolphins to touchdowns on their first four possessions.

"That quarterback is good," Walton said. "His o-line gave him time and he was stroking that thing, throwing darts out there. As a coach, you just have to pray that the receivers drop the ball."

Augusta Christian running back Cole Turner and Rogers combined for 304 rushing yards. The freshman Roberson also shined for the Lions, throwing for 101 yards on 7-of-13 passing.

Lance Hanlin of The (Hilton Head, S.C.) Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette contributed to this story.