By Thomas Grant Jr.
Facing a team four times in a span of a year is not new to White Knoll head football coach Nick Pelham.
He faced a similar situation as a defensive coordinator for Dutch Fork.
“In 2016 and 2017 when I was at Dutch Fork, we played Fort Dorchester four times in a 14-month span,” he remembered. “We played them in regular season and then in the semifinals both years. It creates a unique challenge when playing a team that many times.”
While the Silver Foxes were on the winning end in all four meetings, Pelham has found himself on the opposite side at White Knoll. The Timberwolves have lost both regular-season meetings, including last month by a 14-3 score, and last year’s Class 5A Division II Lower State final.
They now return to W.C. Hawkins Stadium for the third time during that span. The goal – to finally break through against the Yellow Jackets and earn a third straight trip to the state semifinals.
“An adjustment that worked previously won’t work this time and something that you did poorly might work next time if done more effectively,” Pelham said. “There definitely aren’t a lot of unknown details about the other team’s schemes when you play that many times for sure. So you have to find some counters off of the things that worked and plan for what their counters might be.”
White Knoll is coming off a 14-10 win over Lucy Beckham in the second round of the Class 5A Division II Lower State playoffs. Quarterback Jai McKiever accounted for both scores on a touchdown pass to Caleb Geronomi and a scoring run.
A “full team effective performance” will be needed this Friday against Irmo, according to Pelham.
“In the last three meetings, our offense, defense, and special teams have all played well…but never all at the same time or in the same game even,” he said. “If we are to win, we will have to play and coach well with all three of those units.
“At times, we have slowed them down and at times they have scored easily. At times, we have moved the ball efficiently and at times they stopped us completely. At times, we have made extra points and punted well and at times, their kickoff return unit has dominated us and our kicking game didn’t execute. If we can play well in all three phases we have a chance. If we don’t play well in all 3 phases we don’t have a chance to win.”
Pelham hopes to have the Timberwolves “practice, play, and handle frustrations in a positive way and as a great teammate” following last Friday’s win. As for the game, the key will be mainaining their composure and fighting through the negative plays as a team.
The winner will face either Myrtle Beach or Berkeley for the Lower State title.
Bulldogs still perfect
For the first time since Week 0, Newberry will face another undefeated opponent.
Standing in the way of an appearance in the Class 3A Lower State final is fellow 12-0 Loris. It’s the first ever meeting between the two schools.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 41-20 win over Hanahan in the second round. Trailing 21-20 at the half, Newberry scored 21 unanswered points on two touchdown runs by B.J. Jones and one by quarterback Kenton Caldwell.
Loris is coming off a 56-20 rout of Orangeburg-Wilkinson. As a team, the Lions are averaging 49 points a contest and holding teams to only 12 points per game.
Quarterback Moon Gerald has 2,251 yards and 41 passing touchdowns this season. Markel Stephens is the leading ball carrier with 837 yards and 15 touchdowns.
On defense, defensive end Landon Connor had a team-high 12 sacks, senior defensive back Khalil Sherma has six interceptions and sophomore Jay Dalton Todd has 93 tackles.
The winner faces either defending champion Oceanside Collegiate Academy or Dillon in the Lower State final.
Batesburg-Leesville, Saluda fall
The second-round Class 2A Upper State matchup between Batesburg-Leesville marked the first post-season meeting between the two schools since 1928.
The Panthers did not fare as well this time, losing 42-28 to the Cyclones. Quarterback Reese Boehnke threw four touchdowns, two each to senior wide receivers K.D. Whitt and J.R. Stewart.
Batesburg-Leesville ends the season with a 8-4 record.
On the other side of the Upper State bracket, Saluda faced defending champion Clinton. Despite 277 total yards and four touchdowns by quarterback Bray Williams, the Tigers were defeated 35-25 by the Red Devils.
Wide receiver Cedric Springs had six catches for 140 yards and caught all three touchdowns. The Tigers finished the season 6-6.
Photo by GoFlashWin.com
