Flashes open 2023 season at 1-1
Johnsonville – The 2022 season was a great run for the Johnsonville High Flashes football team. The Flashes went 13-1 and finished as the Class A state runner-ups last fall.
The expectations are high once again in 2023 but coach Ken Cribb will be counting on a lot of new faces as he looks to replace eight offensive starters and five from the defense.
“We’re just going to work hard and try to do it the right way and see where the chips fall,” Cribb said. “We had a really good season but a lot of them cats are gone. We’re starting over but they have worked really hard. We’re excited about the season and we’ll see what it holds.”
Johnsonville opened the 2023 season with a 28-21 loss to North Central but earned win No. 1 on Aug. 25, beating Green Sea Floyds, 50-26. A major factor in the loss to North Central was 23 penalties. North Central was flagged three times.
“We showed improvement from game one to game two and as a coach, that’s what you want to see,” Cribb said. “We still have plenty to fix but we showed progress. We cut down on the penalties and turnovers.”
While there are a lot of new faces on the offense this season, the one key constant is senior quarterback Malik Shippy. The 6-3, 180-pounder is starting for the fourth consecutive season and has earned high praise from his coach.
“He’s been a blessing. Malik’s a great kid and he loves football,” Cribb says. “He’s like another coach on the field. Heck, he might can run it better than I can sometimes. He’s a blessing to have and kids like him don’t come along often.”
Shippy posted 75 yards passing and 53 yards on the ground in the loss to North Central. He has four touchdown passes in the first two games, including three scoring tosses in the win over Green Sea Floyds.
Johnsonville must replace 2,000-yard rusher and all-state running back Daquan Burroughs. Senior Neal Martin (5-11. 215) returns as the most experienced back but also holds a key place as a starting linebacker on defense. Martin has rushed for more than 100 yards in the first two games.
Adding to the run game is newcomer Zagne Davis, a freshman. Davis played junior varsity ball last season but has been a key performer in the first two weeks. He rushed for 79 yards in the opener and went over 100 in the win over Green Sea Floyds, including a 90-yard touchdown run.
“He’s a good player and he will help us a lot,” Cribb said. “He’s fast, shifty little back but he is strong for his size. He runs hard.”
Shippy has several quality targets in the passing game. Senior Travis Wilson (6-1. 215) has been the top receiver in the first two games. Junior CJ Woodbury, Quandrell Woodbury and Taysawn Brown will be factors as well. Wilson had three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown in the season opener.
Two returners along the offensive line this season include tackle Bubba Tapia and center Taylor Davis. Working at the other tackle is sophomore Jason Brigham while junior Will Grubbs and sophomore Brayden Baxley are the guards.
“They have the potential to be a solid unit,” Cribb says. “They have been getting better since we started and had a good week in the second game.”
Wilson is a key returner on defense and will start at one end while senior Luke Altman starts on the other side. Working inside on the line are Payne Alford and Zy’kel Cooper.
Junior Landyn Cribb is a returning starter at middle linebacker. Martin starts on the outside and Brown is the third starting linebacker.
Quandrell and CJ Woodbury are the starting cornerbacks. Clovell Woodbury starts at one safety and Bryson Howell starts at the other.
Senior Reid Baxley returns as the starting placekicker and punter.
After two games, the Flashes went into a bye week with hopes of improving and healing up some bumps and bruises. They return to action on Sept. 8 against Waccamaw, followed by games against Latta and Hannah-Pamplico. They close out the month with a region game against Carver’s Bay on Sept. 29.
Scott’s Branch, East Clarendon and Hemingway are the final three games, all region contests, in October.
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