The May River Sharks are taking a road trip to square off against the Bluffton Bobcats at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Friday, May River didn't have too much breathing room in their matchup against Beaufort, but they still walked away with a 10-6 win. Those ten points were actually the fewest the Sharks have put up all season, but given the result they're probably not too concerned.
May River relied on the efforts of Sean Mitchell, who rushed for 121 yards and one touchdown, and Luc Tran, who rushed for 81 yards.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: May River was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 245 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 190 rushing yards in 11 consecutive contests dating back to last season.
May River didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Brahlin Paylor and Brayden Harris. Zavier Polite was another major factor on D, picking up a sack and making nine total tackles.
Meanwhile, Bluffton waltzed into their game on Friday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They walked away with a 31-24 victory over the Battling Bishops. Bluffton's win was all the more impressive since the Battling Bishops were averaging only 15 points allowed on the season.
May River better keep an eye on Aedan McCarthy. He was instrumental in Bluffton's win, throwing for 231 yards and a pair of TDs, while also rushing for 47 yards and one score. They also got a significant boost from Kordell Holley, who ran away from the competition to the tune of 92 yards.
May River's record now sits at 7-2. As for Bluffton, their record is now an identical 7-2.
The upcoming matchup will be a clash of competing strengths. May River has deployed a run-first offense that has averaged 304.2 rushing yards a game. Meanwhile, Bluffton has preferred to attack from the air: they average 339.7 passing yards per game. So which strategy will prevail on Thursday? There's only one way to find out.
May River barely slipped by Bluffton when the teams last played back in November of 2024, winning 46-45. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was McCarthy, who threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns, and also rushed for 54 yards and a pair of TDs. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will the Sharks still be able to contain McCarthy? There's only one way to find out.
