Heathwood Hall’s John Fowble tries to strip the ball from Ben Lippen running back Tyler Renew as he struggles for more yards. Renew led Ben Lippen with 246 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 29 attempts. The Heathwood Hall Highlanders led the visiting Ben Lippen Falcons 13–7 at halftime Friday, August 27, but the Falcons rattled off 419 rushing yards and 34 unanswered points in the second half to take the SCISA 3A Region I opener 41–13.

Running back Tyler Renew led the way for Ben Lippen with 246 yards and three touchdowns on 29 attempts.

Both teams replaced star quarterbacks—Joey Carter for Ben Lippen and Mac Whalen for Heathwood Hall—which made for shaky offensive starts on both sides. Ben Lippen junior Austin Irish threw two incomplete passes, one of which was nearly intercepted, and the Falcons went backwards on a first possession three–and–out.

Taylor Wilson is pursued by Heathwood Hall’s C.J. Miller. Wilson had 85 yards rushing including 38–yard touchdown run. The Highlanders, led by freshman quarterback Will Detwiler, turned to the run first with C.J. Miller but punted after five plays netted 16 yards.

The Falcons then drove to the Heathwood Hall 22 yard line behind the running of Renew, but Irish was sacked and fumbled the ball back to the Highlanders.

Detwiler led Heathwood Hall to the Ben Lippen 42 yard line, but the drive stalled. However, Thomas Burg dropped a punt perfectly at the 10 yard line pinning the Falcons deep in their own territory. On the next play, Renew fumbled over to Heathwood, as he fought for extra yards.

An interference call a play later set up Heathwood with a first and goal at the Ben Lippen eight yard line. Detwiler then tossed a screen pass to Jance Shine who took it in the end zone for the first score of the game. The extra point was blocked making the score 6–0 with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Ben Lippen’s Corey Jackson–Patrick runs for a 9–yard touchdown. The Falcons bounced right back with a seven play, 70–yard drive. Two quick runs by Renew netted 29 yards, and receiver Taylor Wilson stepped in at quarterback, and, after a procedure call, he used his legs to gain 24 yards on three carries. The Falcons then turned back to Renew who raced 15 yards for the touchdown. Tuck Benefield’s extra point made it 7–6 Ben Lippen.

The Falcons appeared to be on the march later in the quarter, but Monty Todd leapt high in front of Wilson to make an interception and set up Heathwood Hall at its own 18 yard line. Facing a 3–and–7 from the Heathwood 32 yard line, Detwiler found Shelton Whitaker on a jailbreak screen; he raced to the Ben Lippen five before getting caught from behind. After two sure touchdown passes were dropped, Detwiler found Chris Barton cutting in the end zone to give Heathwood a 13–7 lead with 2:02 remaining in the half.

In his freshman debut, Heathwood Hal l freshman Will Detwiler completed 23–of–43 passes for 182 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. But that would be it for Heathwood. The Falcon defense forced the Highlanders into six punts and 62 yards net offense the rest of the way.

Meanwhile the Falcons turned to a powerful running game that was aided by seven offsides calls against the Heathwood defense.

Ben Lippen took the lead on a punishing ten play, 77–yard drive which featured 70 yards rushing on eight attempts by Renew including a 9–yard touchdown run to put the Falcons up for good.

With Wilson back at quarterback, Ben Lippen needed just three plays to score on its next possession. Wilson rushed twice for 12 yards then found the corner and raced 38 yards for a touchdown with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter. Benefield’s extra point gave Ben Lippen a 21–13 advantage.

After another Heathwood punt, the Falcons turned to Cory Jackson– Patrick. He rushed three times for 37 yards including a 9–yard touchdown run to help give Ben Lippen a 28–13 lead with 11.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

After a Highlander failed pass attempt on 4–and–7 from the Heathwood 33 yard line with 3:59 remaining in the game, Ben Lippen turned to Renew again. He powered 30 yards to the Heathwood three yard line, then a play later he waltzed into the end zone to widen the lead to 35–13.

After a Heathwood punt was nearly blocked and traveled six yards, Zach Perry ran virtually untouched 25 yards through the heart of a tired Heathwood defense with 1:41 remaining in the game to make the final outcome 41–13.

In his freshman debut, Detwiler completed 23– of–43 passes for 182 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Wilson added 85 yards rushing and a touchdown for Ben Lippen. He also averaged 46.3 yards per punt including one that traveled 62 yards. Linebacker Jimmy Carlen had six tackles, two for loss, including a sack and a forced fumble.