Pamplico – While happy for the win, his first as head coach at Hannah-Pamplico High, coach Trey Woodberry realizes his 2023 Raiders have plenty of work ahead of them.
The Raiders opened the season with a 57-52 win over McBee on Aug. 18. The number that sticks out for Woodberry is the 52 points allowed. While the offense rolled up nearly 600 yards in total offense, the defense lacked consistency.
“We have a long way to go defensively and we knew that coming in,” Woodberry said. “We had some good moments but we got some cramps with our starters and we just don’t have the depth right now. We’re young and we’re small so we have limitations. We have to play more physical and tackle better. We’ll keep working at it and we will get better. We have to get better.”
The Raiders exploded for 536 yards on the ground in the opener. Leading the way was junior Jamarcus Williams, who rushed for 309 yards on just 21 carries. Williams was in and out of preseason practices while participating with the state champion Florence American Legion baseball team, which advanced to the World Series.
“We played him only 25 plays, just being careful,” Woodberry said. “He was ready to go. He got practice time and he worked all summer so he was good. He’s a special player.”
Quarterback Wade Poston is a returning starter and added 148 yards rushing and four touchdowns in the opener.
Expected to see carries in the run game behind Williams are defensive starters Chris Eldridge and Logan Bass, who play linebacker on defense. Sophomore Kei’Monti Wilson saw action in the opener, as did sophomore Darius Williams.
Senior JT Thompkins is the team’s top receiving threat, with junior Demarian Sparks being a solid option in the passing game as well.
The offensive line is a veteran unit with all five starters returning from last season. Avery Stone and Mason Hanna are the tackles while Al Foxworth and Will Faulkenberry are the guards, Brandon Cox starts at center. Stone and Foxworth are the only seniors in the unit. Freshman Dewey Kimbrough will rotate in often as well.
Stone also lines up along the front defensively, joined by freshman nose guard Khishawn Brown. Several players are competing for time at the other end.
Eldridge returns at inside linebacker and had 12 tackles in the opener. He is joined inside by JaQuann Bryant. Bass and Wilson are the outside backers.
Thompkins starts at one corner while De’Auje Bacchus is the other. Freshman Landon Fennell and Sparks are working at safety.
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