Mullins, SC – The Atlantic Collegiate High Armada football team took to the road for the first region game in program history on Friday night at Mullins High.
The host Auctioneers are enjoying a resurgence this year after going winless in 2023, entering play with a perfect 4-0 record. The Armada went into the contest on the hunt for its first varsity victory.
Early on, the game was a being played in the trenches, with neither team able to make much traction.
That changed three minutes into the second quarter when Mullins junior quarterback Kanazzion Bethea connected with senior Zayan Grant for a 44-yard touchdown. Bethea converted on the two-point conversion, giving the Auctioneers an 8-0 lead.
The game stayed there until the final three minutes of the half when Bethea struck again, scoring on a short run. Mullins again attempted a two-point conversion, but failed, leaving the score 14-0 at the half.
Mullins began to exert its experience in the third quarter, scoring on a pair of late possessions in the period. Bethea led the way for the Auctioneers, connecting with junior Braden Hughes for a 29-yard score with just two minutes left in the half. Bethea then threw to junior Amir Lee for the two-point conversion and a 22-0 lead.
Just moments later, the Mullins' defense got in on the action, with sophomore Nathan Peracki forcing a fumble at the Mullins' 44 yards line. Junior Ayntwain scooped up the loose ball and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown. The Auctioneers added another two-point conversion, this one from senior Lonnie Alston, to push their advantage to 30-0.
ACA found the end zone early in the final period on a rushing touchdown by senior
Juvi Livingston. The Armada's two-point conversion try failed, leaving the score 30-6.
Just three minutes later the Armada hit paydirt once again, this time on a pass from freshman
Brennan Moore to freshman
Tyler Yock. ACA again attempted a two-point try, but came up short, leaving the score 30-12.
The Armada was driving again with four minutes left in the game when senior Lebron Avant intercepted a Moore pass, returning the pick 70-yards for a touchdown. The two-point try for Mullins failed, leaving the Auctioneers with a 36-12 lead.
Undeterred, the Armada went right back down the field into scoring range. Moore connected with sophomore
Rylan Watts for the touchdown. ACA failed again on its two-point try, leaving the Mullins lead at 36-18.
The Auctioneers responded quickly with Lee running in for a touchdown with less than two minutes to play. Bethea threw to Alston for the two-point conversion, leaving the final score 44-18.
The Armada proved to be its own worst enemy in the game, turning the ball over a total of six times, with Mullins converting two of those directly into scores.
Junior linebacker
Luke Butchka was a standout in the game for the Armada, recording a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery. Senior
Justin Bellamy also had a strong performance on the defensive side with a pair of sacks.
The Armada will go in search of its first win of the season this Friday in Charleston when they square off against sister school Oceanside Collegiate Academy at The Citadel's Johnson-Hagood Stadium.
About Atlantic Collegiate Academy: Atlantic Collegiate Academy (ACA), located in Myrtle Beach, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while also earning up to two years of college credit. ACA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10 grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades.
Learn more about ACA by visiting our website at AtlanticCollegiate.Academy and by following us on social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
