HENDERSONVILLE
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Beech didn’t exactly struggle offensively in the first half Friday night.
However, the Buccaneers erupted for 35 points in the third quarter en route to a 70-15 win over Portland at Shackle Island Stadium.
“In the locker room, we just put everything together,” Beech junior Rodrick Napper said. “Our coaches just put us in the right positions to make plays.”
Portland (0-5, 0-2 9-AAA) fumbled the second-half kickoff, with Beech senior Damon Wilson recovering. That was the first of three third-quarter turnovers for Portland.
Beech junior quarterback Ian Hafner had a 14-yard touchdown run two plays later.
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The other two turnovers led to touchdowns by Napper on a 45-yard interception return and an 81-yard fumble return.
“It came right to me … right place at the right time,” said Napper, who also had a 38-yard touchdown run in the first half. “Our safety — Ian (Hafner) — he made a great play to strip the ball.”
Of Beech’s 10 touchdowns, eight covered 38 yards or more.
“I don’t know if we have playmakers, but we have some guys who have some ability,” Beech coach Anthony Crabtree said. “They have to mature. They have to understand that they have to do the little things better. Then they’ll have a chance to be decent football players.”
Auston Vanzant rushed for a game-high 201 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries for Beech.
Beech (3-2, 3-0) finished with 528 yards of offense.
“Athleticism took over in the second half, and turnovers bit us again,” Portland first-year coach Greg Cavanah said.
Portland recovered two Beech fumbles in the first half, the first of which led to quarterback Chris Greer’s 2-yard touchdown run.
Portland senior tailback Devontae House later capped a 12-play, 71-yard scoring drive with a tackle-breaking, 10-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion trimmed the lead to 21-15 with 7:48 left in the first half.
Vanzant broke off a 35-yard touchdown run three plays later, starting a stretch of 49 unanswered points by Beech.
