May River defeats Airport 37-21 To Get 2024 Season Off To Positive Start

By Billy Baker

Publisher

Bluffton — May River fought hard in their 37-21 win against Airport High at home, to get the 2024 football season off on a very positive note for second year head coach Richard Bonneville,

“Wins have been hard to come by, the past couple of seasons, so to see all the hard work pay off for these kids is very satisfying,” said Coach Bonneville. “They have been through a lot of adversity and we hope this win over Airport can be a spring board to a winning season which is our number one goal.

“We want to have a winning season, make the play-offs and win a playoff game,” said Coach Bonneville. “This has been the total focus of the team preparing for this season.”

Senior quarterback Tanner Macy completed 3-of-three passes for 79 yards and one touchdown and he ended the game with a QB rating of 109. With his feet, Macy added 76 yards rushing, including a touchdown. Afterwards he was named “Offensive Player of the Game.”

Against Airport, DB and return man Peter Nodeman got the crowd, and the team fired up early, with his 60-yard return of the kick-off to give May River the ball in great field position. A few plays later QB Tanner Macy scored on a 12-yard run and Carter Lawson’s PAT put the Sharks up 7-0.

Running back Asa Haskins ran 9 times for 67 yards and he caught one pass for 41 yards.

Running back Andrew Johnson scored on a four- yard run in the second quarter to put the Sharks up 21-7 at the half. He ended up with 57 net yards on 12 carries for the game. Junior running back Sean Mitchell gained 58 yards on 13 carries in the win.

In the second half against Airport, Macy’s 26-yard scamper made it 28-7 and them the Sharks scored their final touchdown of the game on a Macy’s 17-yard run. The final touchdown was set up by AJ Hamilton’s recovery of an onsides kick with 9 minutes left in the game.

The Sharks netted 260 yards rushing on 49 plays against Airport.

With that kind of rushing production, you are getting a lot of push from the Big Uglies in the trenches.

Senior right tackle and HSSR Top 100 prospect William Bonneville (6-2, 280) graded out at 80 per cent with two pancakes and a knock-down. Bonneville is a three-year starter for the Sharks.  Center Beau Gwyn (6-1, 285) graded out at 80 per cent with four pancake blocks. Right guard Caleb Oko (6-1, 220) graded out at 87 per cent with one pancake and one knock-down. Left guard Nathan Vu (5-10,240) graded out at 77 per cent and junior left tackle Sean Zadroga-McNutty graded out at 70 per cent.   

Leading the tackle index was Peter Nodeman (5-8, 170) who had 10 tackles and one TFL. MLB Hudson Flanagan (6-0,10) was next on the hit index with 8 tackles. DE Xavier Polite (6-3, 170) had seven tackles and two TFL. Strong safety AJ Hamilton (-2, 190, 4.5) had seven tackles, one forced fumble, and he blocked an extra point.

The Sharks are right back at work preparing for a game against former region foe West Ashley this week.

“West Ashley is a tough and physical team and they define the standards of toughness,” said Coach Bonneville. “Two years ago, we played them toe-to-toe and lost 7-6. However, last year they beat the tar out of us.

“We know they have bigger, stronger, and faster athletes then we do, but we hope to see how well we can compete against them this week,” said Coach Bonneville. “We hope to keep the game close and see what happens at the end.”

Xavier Polite was named “Defensive Player of the Game” and Hudson Tanner earned “Special Teams Player of the Week”

Due to hot and humid weather in the Bluffton area in the summer, Coach Bonneville and his staff have been practicing with the team starting at 6 am Monday through Wednesday mornings for the past few weeks. Everyone arrives around 5 a.m. on those mornings.

“It is just so hot and humid we kept getting wet bulbed, and could not practice, so we talked to the team and all the kids agreed to practice early in the morning,” said Coach Bonneville. “We come back in the afternoon just to work on special teams with no contact.

“This has actually brought the team closer together,” said Coach Bonneville. “It takes a little sacrifice to get here around 5 am in the morning to get ready for a 6 a.m. practice start,” said Coach Bonneville. “We are done by 8 am and the players all shower and go to their first class.” 

Coach Bonneville wanted to mention the contributions of junior tight end Davis Hietman who spot starts and Cole Simmons, a wide receiver who contributes also.

Coach Bonneville also wanted to mention that all-region performer Gage Duncan, who has been out with an AC joint issue in his shoulder is expected back in time to contribute in the play-offs. Duncan had 600 yards in receptions last year and he will be moved to running back when he returns to action.

On July, 28^th a host of May River players were invited to the annual High School Sports Report media day at the University of South Carolina.

The five players from May River included William Bonneville who is reporting a 300-pound bench press and a 530 squat with an 1,140 SAT score. He was all region last year. Ethan Sprinkle (6-1,235) is a linebacker with a 215- pound bench press and 415 leg squats. He has a 3.8 GPA.

Tanner Macy (6-1, 170) runs a 4.7 forty with a 375- leg squat and 205-pound bench press. LB Ethan Sprinkle is carrying a 4.72 GPA in the class room and his goal this season is to be the leading tackler in the region. Gage Duncan (5-10, 165) runs a 4.5 forty with a 205- pound bench press and 375 leg- squat. He has an 1,110 SAT with a 4.7 GPA. Senior Will Bostick (6-2, 180) is a safety/H-back who runs a 4.64 with a 215- pound bench press. Bostick has a 4.6 GPA.