BAMBERG, S.C. - After trailing most of the first half, a player ejection and bad weather conditions which delayed the start of the second half an hour the Bamberg-Ehrhardt Red Raiders made it a happy homecoming as they defeated the Burke Bulldogs 48-20 Friday night.

Bamberg's Daquan Bowers, the top-ranked defensive prospect in the nation according to ESPNU, was ejected early in the fourth quarter. Despite being ejected Bowers led the Red Raiders with 150 yards rushing on 14 carries and three touchdowns, including a blocked extra point on special teams.

However the ejection will deliver a big blow to the Red Raiders as Bowers will have to sit out next week's contest against the Edisto High Cougars, according to South Caroline High School League rules as result of getting tossed.

The story of the first half -- at least for the visiting Bulldogs -- was quarterback Yavone Simmons who had 13 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown, and was 9 of 15 passing for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the first half to help keep the Burke in the game. But, Bowers was Bamberg-Ehrhardt's counter to Simmons. The 6-5, 260 pounder rushed for 79 yards on his first three carries as both teams moved the ball up and down the field.

Burke led 20-14 with 7:33 left in the second quarter, but Bamberg-Ehrhardt's Anquan Thomas scored on a 25-yard run with 6:38 to go in the second quarter as B-E regained the lead 21-20. Bowers then closed out the first-half scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds to go in the first half to put Bamberg-Ehrhardt up 27-20 at the half.

The rest of the night belonged to the Red Raiders as Bamberg put up 21 unanswered points in the second half to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Simmons finished the night 14 of 27 passing for 166 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions, as well as accumulating 117 yards rushing on 18 carries.

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