Football
Written by: Gabe McKinney
The Savannah Country Day Hornets football team has shown both resilience and heart this season, navigating a series of tough matchups and memorable moments. Under the leadership of newly hired head coach Roc Batten, the Hornets are proving their dedication to excellence on and off the field.
The Hornets opened the season on the road with a narrow loss against Charlotte Country Day, falling just short in a 21-22 thriller. The night was filled with standout plays, including senior Andrew Nicholson’s scoop-and-score on a punt and junior running back Najee Young’s bruising 9-yard touchdown. Junior quarterback Isaiah Batten connected with sophomore wide receiver Ben Kleinpeter for a 27-yard touchdown pass, and the defense, led by senior Tyler Scott with 15 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and an interception, kept the game tight until the final moments.
In their second game, the Hornets faced a tough Athens Academy team, ultimately losing 0-35. Despite the setback, standout performances by seniors Barton Mixon, Jeremiah Brown, and Hyers Holland on offense, as well as key defensive efforts from Tyler Scott and junior Hayes Beaver, kept the team fighting until the final whistle.
Week three saw another road challenge against Porter Gaud, where the Hornets battled hard but fell 3-23. Junior Cash Ramirez kicked a 22-yard field goal giving the Hornets an early lead, and the defense, led by Junior Najee Harris and seniors Andrew Nichols and Brooks Kleinpeter, made several key stops to keep the game competitive in the first half. Unfortunately the Hornets fell short in the second half.
Finally, in their home opener, the Hornets secured a commanding 44-16 victory over Bluffton High School. Junior QB Isaiah Batten threw for 134 yards and two touchdowns, connecting multiple times with senior wide receiver Brooks Kleinpeter, who hauled in 11 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. The defense was aggressive all night, led by Tyler Scott’s 11 tackles and 1 sack, and junior Hayes Beaver’s 9 tackles. Senior Hyers Holland added an explosive 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, keeping the momentum in Savannah Country Day's favor.
Following a bye week, the Hornets took to the road again to face Tattnall County High School, securing another dominant 31-9 victory. Senior Barton Mixon led the rushing attack with 103 yards, and senior Jeremiah Brown caught two touchdown passes from Isaiah Batten, who finished the night with 134 passing yards. Junior Boone Wiesner made a game-changing play with a sack-fumble that was recovered by senior Brooks Kleinpeter for a defensive touchdown.
Unfortunately, the Hornets' momentum hit a wall when they faced Savannah Christian in a heated rivalry, falling short in the contest. Still, the Hornets continue to show great effort and unity as they move deeper into the season #KeepChoppin
