Bishops notch first win of season in home opener

Team scores school record 774 yards

Bishop England football coach John Cantey was joking, of course, when he posted “Didn’t realize we were playing basketball tonight” on Facebook following his team’s season-opener against Christ Church on Aug. 18.

But the Bishops’ offense will be no laughing matter as opponents scheme to stop the Battling Bishops.

The Bishops exploded for a school record 774 yards and put up 64 points against the visiting team. The downside was that the Bishops gave up 46 points in the game, which was played at Jack Cantey Stadium.

“I never thought we would score 64 points,” Cantey said. “But then I didn’t think we would give up 46. When you score 46 points, you usually win.”

It was the climax of an interesting and unusual first week of the season. Cantey felt the hot, humid and oppressive weather leading up to the game might hinder his team’s execution Friday night. The team practiced without pads on Tuesday because of brutal heat and humidity, and Wednesday’s practice was canceled when the comfort level reached 109-110 degrees on Daniel Island.

Friday, the Bishops’ offense never missed a beat as they rushed for 551 yards while passing for 223.

Senior quarterback Leo Albano had the best game of his brilliant career. He carried 16 times for 233 yards and scored four touchdowns, while completing 4 of 6 passing for 223 yards and three scores.

The four touchdowns on the ground give Albano 43 career rushing TDs - just one off of the school record of 44, which is shared by Derek Hughes and Andrew Bunch.

Running back Christian Greavu also had some impressive numbers. He carried 11 times for 222 yards and two scores.

“Things went really well,” Cantey said. “We made some long plays and had some long touchdowns.”

That might have been the understatement of the year. The Bishops had seven touchdowns on plays that covered 36 yards or longer.

The Bishops found themselves on the wrong end of a 10-0 score early in the game, but then the big plays and TDs began.

Greavu scored on runs of 82 and 38 yards and was on the receiving end of a 99-yard TD pass from Albano, which was a school record.

Albano scored on runs of 69 and 36 yards while he completed touchdown passes of 47 and 62 yards to Jacob Shiver. Those seven scoring plays accounted for 433 yards.

Cantey, who took over control of the defense this season, was impressed by the offensive numbers. But there was a number that caused concern. The Bishops gave up 22 first downs.

“We have to shore up the defense,” Cantey said. “There are definitely some things we have to work on. But it was the first game, and the body is not used to all that adrenaline and you get tired more easily.”

The Bishops travel to West Ashley Friday night to take on the Wildcats. West Ashley opened the season with a 34-14 victory at Colleton County.

“They are very athletic,” Cantey said of West Ashley. “Defensively, we can’t give up the yardage like we did against Christ Church.”

Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

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