Sumter – Dillon High School football and region title almost always go together. In fact, that has been the case for 13 of the past 14 seasons.
The Wildcats “only” have a 17-game region win streak, but they have won 69 of their past 70 region contests. The only loss came to Aynor in 2019, when they did indeed finish second. However, Dillon would go on to play for the AAA state title.
Obviously, there has been a contender for that region crown each of those years. This year it’s the same as last year: Manning.
The Wildcats and the Monarchs are both 2-0 in Region 6-AAA heading into Friday’s game at MHS’ Ramsey Stadium beginning at 7:30 p.m. Dillon is 6-1 overall and ranked second in the High School Sports Report AAA Sweet 16 poll. Manning is 7-0 and ranked ninth.
Manning head coach Reggie Kennedy said his goal this week was to maintain a sense of normalcy with his team.
“It was a typical week for us,” Kennedy said. “I’m a big routine guy. We’ve prepared the same way we have all year long even though this game obviously means a little bit more than the first seven.”
The Wildcats have scored at least 31 points in all of their games with a high of 48 in a 23-point victory over Socastee. Their only loss was 51-34 to a then healthy Hartsville.
“I think we're getting better, gelling as a team,” said Dillon head coach Kelvin Roller. “I certainly don't think we’ve had a complete football game yet, which is not a bad thing. You want to be peaking at the end of the year.
Our preparation level in practice has been tremendous. When you do that, success usually tends to happen.”
The Wildcats’ offense revolves around the running game. They are averaging over 260 yards a game and are led by running back Jamarion Fling. He is averaging 153.8 yards in five games with 769 yards and 17 touchdowns on 81 carries. Dominick Felton has rushed for 286 yards and Kamarion Singletary for 279.
Roller credits his offensive line led by 6-foot-7-inch, 280-pound senior left tackle Josiah “Big Cat” Thompson, who is committed to University of South Carolina
“Our offensive line has played pretty well, been pretty dominant,” Roller said. “It’s hard not to work that phase of game when it's working. I understand to play a complete game we’ve got to be more balanced, but we’re having success running the ball.”
Dillon only averages 12 passes a game. Sophomore quarterback Josiah Oxendine has completed 50 of 85 passes for 622 yards and three touchdowns. He’s rushed for 271 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries.
Manning’s offense also revolves around the running game. Triston Thames leads the Monarchs with 698 yards and six touchdowns on 94 carries. Jaylnn Coard, who is a 6-0, 290-pound noseguard, also comes in to run the ball in goal line situations. He has 49 carries for 493 yards and 12 scores.
“We’ve got to be able to stop run on defense, and we’ve got to be able to run the ball on offense,” said Kennedy, whose team is averaging over 240 rushing yards a game. “All year we’ve been able to run the ball, and we’ve got to run it on Friday.”
Quarterback JaRae Mitchell has 210 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries. He has completed 45 of 71 passes for 539 yards and five TDs. His top receiver is wide receiver Jeffrey Ceasar with 26 catches for 336 yards and two TDs.
Manning has four kick returns for touchdowns this season. Jamari Wilson has three and Ceasar has one.
“We’ve got to continue to score on special teams,” Kennedy said.
Other big games this week include:
White Knoll (7-0) at Lexington (6-1)
White Knoll had a momumental 17-14 win over defending AAAAA state champion Dutch Fork last week to jump to fifth in the AAAAA poll. This week the Timberwolves travel to the other side of Lexington to face 6-1 Lexington, ranked eighth in AAAAA. The winner of this game will be sitting pretty in Region 4.
Myrtle Beach (6-1) at South Florence (7-0)
South Florence is the defending AAAA state champion and has reeled off 22 straight wins as it is off to a 7-0 start, The second-ranked Bruins will take on ninth-ranked Myrtle Beach, which has six straight wins after getting hammered by Camden in the season opener.
Northwestern (6-1) at York (6-1)
Northwestern, which was the runner-up to South Florence last year and is ranked No. 1 in AAAA, was expected to be at this point. York? Maybe not so much.
Both teams are 6-1 though and 2-0 in Region 4, tied for first along with seventh-ranked South Pointe.
Silver Bluff (6-1) at Saluda (5-2)
Saluda suffered a 48-3 defeat at the hands of Strom Thurmond last week, but the Tigers can still keep their hopes for winning the Region 3-AA title alive with a win over Silver Bluff. If Silver Bluff wins, it will be setting up a likely showdown with Thurmond for the region crown.
Thurmond is ranked seventh, Silver Bluff eighth and Saluda 10th.
Woodland (6-0) at Hampton County (6-1)
This is one of the games that will help set the pecking order in Region 6-AA. Woodland is ranked fourth and Hampton County fifth. Both still have to face 12th-ranked Barnwell, which is undefeated in region as well.
Blackville-Hilda (7-1) at Calhoun County (6-1)
Blackville-Hilda can wrap up the No. 1 seed from Region 3 in the Class A state playoffs and pretty much secure an outright region title with a win over Calhoun County.
Eighth-ranked B-H is 7-1 overall and 4-0 in region play. After facing 12th-ranked Calhoun County, which is 6-1 and 2-1, Blackville-Hilda takes on winlessWilliston-Elko.
Lake View (5-1) at Latta (7-1)
Lake View is ranked sixth in Class A, while Latta is ranked seventh. Lake View, 1-0 in Region 6, needs a win to keep itself in position to win the region title. The 1-1 Vikings need a win to keep their region hopes alive. There is a distinction between the two.
Dorchester (5-2) at Clarendon Hall (6-1)
Dorchester jumped from fifth to third in the HHSR SCISA Class A Pick 6 poll with a 38-23 triumph over No. 1 Patrick Henry last week. This week the Raiders get to face No. 2 Clarendon Hall.
AAAAA
Thursday
Dutch Fork 41, Chapin 8
Friday
Berkeley at Ashley Ridge
Boiling Springs at Gaffney
Blythewood at Clover
Conway at Socastee
Dorman at Byrnes
Fort Dorchester at Stall
Fort Mill at Spring Valley
Goose Creek at Cane Bay
Mauldin at J.L. Mann
Nation Ford at Rock Hill
Stratford at Wando
Summerville at West Ashley
Sumter at Carolina Forest
T.L. Hanna at Hillcrest
White Knoll at Lexington
AAAA
Friday
A.C. Flora at Irmo
Airport at South Aiken
Berea at Easley
Bluffton at James Island
Catawba Ridge at Lancaster
Colleton County at May River
Eastside at Riverside
Greenville at Pickens
Greenwood at Westside
Hartsville at North Myrtle Beach
Lucy Beckham at Hilton Head Island
Midland Valley at Aiken
Myrtle Beach at South Florence
Northwestern at York
Richland Northeast at Lugoff-Elgin
South Pointe at Indian Land
Wade Hampton at Laurens
West Florence at Wilson
Westwood at Ridge View
AAA
Thursday
Blue Ridge 49, Carolina 0
Philip Simmons 43, North Charleston 0
Friday
Aynor at Waccamaw
Brookland-Cayce at Dreher
Clinton at Woodruff
Crescent at Pendleton
Crestwood at Darlington
Dillon at Manning
Emerald at Chester
Fountain Inn at Belton-Honea Path
Gilbert at Orangeburg-Wilkinson
Hanahan at Battery Creek
Lakewood at Marlboro County
Loris at Georgetown
Seneca at Daniel
Southside at Powdersville
Swansea at Lower Richland
Travelers Rest at Chapman
West-Oak at Walhalla
Wren at Palmetto
AA
Thursday
Strom Thurmond 43, Pelion 7
Friday
Abbeville at Landrum
Academic Magnet at Oceanside Collegiate
Andrews at Kingstree
Blacksburg at Chenee
Buford at Chesterfield
Central at Andrew Jackson
Columbia at Fairfield Central
Fox Creek at Batesburg-Leesville
Keenan at Eau Claire
Lake Marion at Timberland
Marion at Lee Central
Ninety Six at Liberty
North Central at Cheraw
Ridgeland-Hardeeville at Barnwell
Silver Bluff at Saluda
Strom Thurmond at Pelion
Woodland at Hampton County
CLASS A
Thursday
Lewisville wins by forfeit over Great Falls
Friday
Allendale-Fairfax at Whale Branch
Bamberg-Ehrhardt at Bethune-Bowman
Blackville-Hilda at Calhoun County
Burke at Baptist Hill
Calhoun Falls at Ware Shoals
Christ Church at Dixie
Denmark-Olar at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler
East Clarendon at Johnsonville
Hannah-Pamplico at Lamar
Lake View at Latta
McBee at C.A. Johnson
McCormick at Southside Christian
Military Magnet at Cross
Ridge Spring-Monetta at Wagener-Salley
Scott’s Branch at East Clarendon
Williston-Elko at Whitmire
CLASS A VS. AA
Friday
Green Sea Floyds at Mullins
SCISA
Friday
11-MAN
Beaufort Academy at Thomas Heyward
Bethesda Academy at Northside Christian
Calhoun Academy at The King’s Academy
Cardinal Newman at Camden Military
Colleton Prep at Carolina Academy
Dorchester at Clarendon Hall
Florence Christian at Wilson Hall
John Paul II at Northwood
Laurence Manning at Augusta Christian
Lee Academy at Dillon Christian
Orangeburg Prep at Williamsburg
Pee Dee at Hilton Head Christian
Pinewood Prep at Hilton Head Prep
St. John’s Christian at Cross Schools
Thomas Sumter at Spartanburg Christian
Trinity Collegiate at Hammond
8-MAN
Friday
Andrew Jackson at Jefferson Davis
Faith Christian at Holy Trinity
Oakbrook Prep at Richard Winn
Wardlaw at Newberry Academy
W.W. King at Laurens Academy
SCISA VS. SCHSL
Friday
First Baptist at Bishop England
Patrick Henry at Branchville
All Rights Reserved | The High School Sports Report 1986-2021