By Thomas Grant Jr.
The Lexington County Sports-A-Rama this past Friday at Wildcat Stadium was the final preseason warmup for eight participating teams.
Lexington and White Knoll were both victorious in their two-quarter scrimmages. For the host team Wildcats, the 21-0 win over Airport provided an opportunity to see the team’s progress entering Friday’s season-opener against county rival Gilbert.
The game kicks off the Sonic Friday Night Rivals Game of the Week schedule on WACH 57.
I thought we executed our plays well on offense and were very efficient in the box defensively,” Lexington head coach Dustin Curtis said. “Proud of our effort in all three phases.”
As expected, linebacker Matt McAulay stood out on both sides of the football. Curtis said he plans to utilize him both on defense and offense at running back.
“Matt is one of the best pure football players I’ve ever coached, and he will always be utilized to impact the game in every phase,” Curtis said.
The scrimmage also showed other players for Lexington. Torie James showed explosiveness out of the backfield with a 55-yard touchdown run, new starting quarterback Brennan Connor threw a 21-yard touchdown to Nigel Lewis and safety Bennett Watford had a 6-yard touchdown run.
Defensively, Lexington’s defensive line overpowered the younger Eagles. Artem Kalinkin, Isaiah Saxon and Nathan Escoe at the line of scrimmage.
Lexington looks to avenge last year’s 14-3 loss at Gilbert. The Indians are under new leadership as Ozzie Exume was promoted to replace the school’s winningest head coach Chad Leaphart, who’s now the Lexington School District One Athletics Director.
Gilbert was defeated 14-7 by defending Class 5A Lower State champion White Knoll. Kaden Kingery’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Luke Harvey was the lone score for the Indians, who return its entire backfield with Trevon Williamson and Jaylen Jay.
“It’s an important community game and certainly carries some “bragging rights,”’ Curtis said. “It will be particularly important to stop the run and force Gilbert to the air. Both running backs are incredibly good players and we have to do our best to make them one dimensional.”
White Knoll will have an extra day of preparation for its season-opener on the road. The Timberwolves head to historic Zemp Stadium to face Camden in a matchup of state runners-up.
The Bulldogs moved up to Class 4A this season.
While the Bulldogs graduated All-State quarterback Grayson White, White Knoll returns a hungry senior Landon Sharpe. Along with having both Devon and Caleb Geronomi as wide receiver targets, sophomore running back Tiyon Jennings looks to build on his freshman year success.
Head coach Nick Pelham also returns four starters on the offensive line, a position which has grown into a team strength under position coach Justin Crocker. Although the Timberwolves All-State players like All-State linebacker Jaiden Kimble and fellow linebackers Domenico Banks and Lincoln Illunga, middle linebacker Connor Burgess is back along with Bradley Benjamin and a young, but promising defensive line.
After finishing the preseason with a 14-3 loss to North Augusta, the Gators open the season against Rock Hill in “The Swamp”. Head coach Christopher Hardin is hoping for a rebound season for the Gators, who return senior quarterback Parker Murray and wide receiver/safety Stephen Collier.
CHAPIN KICKOFF CLASSIC
After a season of junior varsity, American Leadership Academy will play its first-ever varsity game at Bray Park in West Columbia against Providence Athletic Club.
The Patriots look to improve upon their performance in the 35-0 loss to Gray Collegiate Academy at the Chapin Kickoff Classic. They were unable to muster a first down against the more experienced War Eagles, but head coach Robin Bacon still has confidence in his team leaders like Ian and Phoenix Briggs, Harrison Williams, and Abe Hoffman.
American Leadership Academy will compete in Region 2-2A with Batesburg-Leesville, Pelion, Saluda, Ninety-Six and Strom Thurmond.
The Chapin Kickoff Classic closed out with the host team and Ridge View playing to a 10-10 tie. The Eagles rallied from a 10-0 deficit with a touchdown pass by Brady Albro to Cooper Derrick and a field goal by Cooper Derrick set up by a fumble return by Gavin Stam.
The scrimmage took place the same day as the ribbon-cutting ceremony for refurbished Cecil Woolbright Field. The $8.5 million project featured a 5-story press box with two floors available for athletic and academic usage.
LAKE MURRAY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
(Friday’s Games)
Chapin at Catawba Ridge
Oceanside Collegiate at Irmo
Gilbert at Lexington
Union County at Newberry
Swansea at Mid-Carolina
American Leadership Academy at Providence Athletic Club
Rock Hill at River Bluff
ALL GAMES START AT 7:30 P.M.
(Saturday’s Game)
White Knoll at Camden 7 p.m.
