Fox Creek Still Optimistic Even With Slow Start

SCOTT CHANCEY

Special Contributor

NORTH AUGUSTA – Just wait.



That is the Fox Creek Predators’ motto after a 0-2 start.

What complicated that start was a preseason fight resulting in five starters’ suspensions from the first two games.

“But even with those guys out, we’ve been super close,” said first-year coach David Sammons, who was promoted from offensive coordinator in early June. “It’s hard to replace a starting left tackle, starting center, starting running back, starting middle linebacker and a starting receiver. But when you play two pretty good opponents and we’ve been right there, that’s what we’ve got to take away as a positive.”

Fox Creek lost 50-20 to Orangeburg-Wilkinson and 32-14 to Silver Bluff.

But at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Dixie, the Predators will be reunited.

“We’ll have Bryson Crawford back at running back,” Sammons said.

Never has one sentence meant so much to an offense.

“He’s a difference-maker,” Sammons continued. “In the first two games, we had to play receivers at running back. But you can’t replace a 1,300-yard rusher who scored 23 touchdowns for you.”

There’s a reason Crawford has those kinds of statistics.

“He does everything really well,” Sammons said. “He can outrun you. He’s tough to tackle and he’s physical and catches the ball really, really well. There’s a cliché saying, ‘He’s the total package.’

“But he is,” he added. “When you’ve built your entire offense around him for the past 3 months, that says a lot. He’s a kid who loves the game and means a lot to our program.”

Once Crawford is back, that’s also one more key teammate for quarterback Julian Abro.

“He’s an absolute freak at quarterback for us,” Sammons said. “He has blown expectations out of the water. He only played two varsity snaps last year against Williston-Elko. And now, for all intents and purposes, this is his first time playing regular football for us. To see what he did during the first two games – even after missing two offensive linemen – is proof he’s capable of taking things to the next level.”

On the defensive side, inside linebacker Blake Wilson is one to watch.

“He’s physical, about 150 pounds soaking wet,” Sammons said. “But he throws all that at you. He’s fast to the ball and tackles really well and flies around and strives to stick his nose on up in there. He’s not afraid of tackling. He’s not afraid of contact. He’s well undersized, but he just flies to the ball.”

Now, Sammons hopes to use the game against Dixie as a springboard.

“Us coaches have been telling the players, ‘Here’s the reward.’ We talk about playing our best football as much as possible,” Sammons said. “I think a win would be a big, mental release for us and help us realize we can go win some football games and beat a lot of good teams.”

Helping in the trenches are offensive linemen Benaiah Wixson, Johnathan Tyler, Tommie Tucker, Sean Williams and Caden Lehman. And also from defensive linemen Jaiden Smith, Pete Taylor, Kurt Wells and Bryce Gunter.