First game. First loss. Big reason for optimism.

For Adam Holmes and the Orangeburg Prep Indians, a couple of key turnovers proved to be the difference in a deceiving 42-27 regular-seasoning opening loss to Augusta Christian Thursday night at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. OPS had the ball, down 28-27, with 8:34 to play in the game when Indians’ quarterback Thomas Plumb, who was an impressive 12 of 22 passing for 223 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in his first game operating a spread offense, was picked off by an Augusta Christian defender near the goal line. Augusta Christian, the runners up for the Class AAA state title last season and the second-ranked team in the classification this season, went on to score two late touchdowns and pull away for the victory.

The Lions struck first in the opening quarter when Jackson Whitley connected on a 30-yard touchdown pass to Mike Robinson to give their team the early 7-0 lead. With just over two minutes to go in the first, William Banks, who rushed 24 times for 231 yards and four touchdowns, gave Augusta Christian a 14-0 lead thanks to an 11-yard touchdown run. Banks found the end zone again in the second quarter with 8:16 to go. His 33-yard run put the Lions up 21-0.

“Banks is a good little player,” Holmes said. “He made some things happen. We were in position. We just couldn’t make plays when we needed to.”

OPS responded nearly two minutes later with a 63-yard pass from Plumb to Michael Williamson, who had three receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns, cutting the Lions’ lead to 21-7. A little trickery helped Augusta Christian regain its 21-point advantage. On third-and-seven, Whitley hit Evan Wells on a short pass in the left flat. Wells, then tossed the ball to Banks -- a hook-and-ladder play -- and the Lions’ tailback waltzed across the goal line to make it 28-7.

Once the Indians got the ball back, Plumb took charge. The senior quarterback drove his team down the field and scored on a 12-yard draw to cut into the lead and make it 28-14 before the half.

“He had a really gutty performance tonight,” Holmes said of his signal caller. “He really fought. He really battled. He’s our leader out there. He’s our go-to guy.”

The Indians crept even closer in the third quarter. With 7:37 to go in the third, Plumb found Williamson again, this time for a 24-yard touchdown. OPS botched the snap on the extra point, but was within one score, 28-20. After a key defensive stand by OPS, Plumb hit A.J. Andrews on a 10-yard slant for his second touchdown pass of the night. With a little over two minutes remaining, the Indians found themselves in a 28-27 game.

Plumb proved to be the thorn in the side of the Augusta Christian defense with a newly installed scheme for much of the second and third quarter. The late mistakes made the difference, but Holmes wasn’t disappointed in the performance.

“They picked up very quick,” Holmes said. “These are smart young men. They were excited about coming in. So, they wanted to learn it quick. It’s not an easy offense to learn...but they’ve been working hard and it’s been paying off.

“In the end, we didn’t protect the football like we needed too, but we’ll learn from that,” Holmes added. “It’s early. You expect this in the first season game. So, we’re going to learn from that and we’re going to move forward and focus on Thomas Heyward.”

T&D Sports Writer Emery Glover can be reached by e-mail at eglover@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532. Check out his blog, Cover 2, at www.thetandd.com.

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