Don't Miss a single moment of the best prep coverage in South Carolina in print and on the web! Two For ONE!
Get HSSR ONLINE AND 12 Issues of The Sports Report FOR ONE Price $40! Click here to subscribe online!

click to return home page

click to return schools page

Knights capture region crown in wrestling

By Rob Gantt

Special to the HSSR

Goose Creek – For the eighth time since 2002 and the fourth time over the last five seasons on the mat, the Stratford wrestling team is the region champion.

The Knights completed a clean sweep of all region foes with a 42-18 win over rival Goose Creek at GCHS Jan. 25. They are 26-3 on the season heading into the Class AAAA state playoffs, which begin Saturday.

The Knights host Spring Valley first on Saturday then will compete against either White Knoll or Beaufort in the second match of the day.

The region championship was more of an expectation this winter. The Knights didn’t treat it as the most important goal.

“The last couple of years we’ve put too much emphasis on (the region championship) and when we won it, the kids thought the season was over,” Nearhood said. “Then we’d kind of go into the state duals kind of flat. This year, we kind of approached (the region championship) as an expectation. I’ve been really pushing and focusing on the state duals, and seeing if we can get to that last match of the year and wrestle for a state championship.”

Against the Gators, the Knights put forth a good team effort to pull out the victory. They win certain matches they didn’t expect to make up for a few setbacks.

“We did a great job wrestling as a team,” said Nearhood, whose team also easily defeated James Island, West Ashley and Wando in region competition this season. “There were matches we thought ahead of time we were going to win and we didn’t. Then there was a couple we didn’t think we were going to win but we wrestled as a team and came through. It was a great team effort. I’m real proud of them.”

Against Goose Creek, Austin Koile (160), Brandon Young (220) and Chad Johnson (126) had pins for the Knights. Oscar Rodriguez (145) had a tech fall.

On Jan. 28, the Knights finished second in the Stratford Invitational wrestling tournament.

The winners for Stratford were Billy Ackerman (108) and Koile.  Nick Young (122), Brandon Young (197) and Isaac Greer (222) were runner-ups for the Knights in the event, which was won by Bamberg-Ehrhardt.

 

 

Mason had interceptions.
    Offensively, quarterback Joseph Hayes completed both of his pass attempts and both went for touchdowns. A.J.Washington caught a 54-yarder and David Townsend caught a 30-yarder.
    "We played a lot of kids and we saw some backups do some good things as well," said King.

Wild Gators rebound with win over Creek Bridge, host Latta next

By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
Lake View (10/14/09) - The Lake View football team rebounded from a tough loss to Carvers Bay by downing Creek Bridge, 46-6, this past Friday.  The Wild Gators improved to 5-2 (3-1) on the season.

"We were able to jump out early on them 14-0 and then held them out the end zone when they got down to our five-yard line.  The defense came to play the other night," head coach Daryl King said.  

Kentell Kelly rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries while Denton Jones also found the end zone twice on eight touches for 43 yards.  Kenneth Turner added another rushing score with nine attempts for 63 yards.  

Quarterback Joseph Hayes was three of four passing for 109 yards and two touchdowns.  His top target was A.J. Washington, who made two receptions for 106 yards and both scores.

Defensively Roderick Robinson led the way with eight tackles.  Jerome Mason and Kelly each recorded seven total stops.

"The kids have played as hard as they could play all year.  They've made some mistakes that have hurt us in both games we've won and games we've lost but as far as effort goes, they play hard for four quarters and that's what we ask them to do," King said.

Next week the Wild Gators host Latta in another conference clash.
"
Offensively their quarterback is probably the best runner we've seen all season.  Their offensive line does a great job blocking and their backs run hard too.  They're a complete offensive team.  Defensively they're big and fast.  We tell our kids that every week it gets harder and harder in the region and each team gets better throughout the year.  We know Latta is going to play us tough," King said.

Wild Gators hold on over Johnsonville, await Carvers Bay

By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
Lake View - After a lengthy weather delay, the Lake View Wild Gators were able to hang on to defeat Johnsonville, 26-24, in a game that did not end until after midnight.
     The Wild Gators were led by Kentell Kelly, who rushed 20 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns.  Jerome Mason had seven attempts for 78 yards and had a rushing and receiving touchdown.  Joseph Hayes completed his only pass attempt for a 48-yard score and also carried nine times for 55 yards.
     "After we came back out (from the delay), both teams were ready to play.  Coach Lineberger and his staff did a good job with their kids.  They're a really good football team and we caught some breaks in that game to come away with the win," head coach Daryl King said.
     Defensively Lake View was paced by Hayes, who had a team-high nine tackles.  Roderick Robinson recorded eight stops with Kelly, Tion Jones, Brody Smith and A.J. Washington making six tackles each.
    "We had to make some defensive stands to keep the lead.  It was a back and forth game, and it will help us in the long run," King said.
     The Wild Gators will be tested again this Friday when they travel to Carvers Bay.  The running game will be the biggest factor and King hopes his offensive line (Robinson, Jones, McKenzie Arnett, Josh Jordan, Keith Sims, Terry Williams, David Townsend and Jason Locklear) can continue to do their jobs.
     "They're really big and physical.  They've got a great defense, and offensively they run the ball right at you.  It's going to be tough to find a way to play with them," King said.  "We hope our offensive line can block them and the backs hit the holes like they've been doing.  Our offensive line has done a good job all year."