Hampton County ready for the final step
Hurricanes taking on Strom Thurmond for AA state championship
Varnville – Back on September 26th the Hurricanes had just dropped their third game in a row to Christ Church 40-35 when talking with head coach Rob Hanna after the game it was not the loss that bothered him the most it was the lack of discipline and attention to detail that his team showed all game day.
“I told our team that I would never question their heart and fight. I’m frustrated because our word of the week was ‘Discipline’ and we weren’t disciplined when we got on the bus today, guys forgetting their equipment and just not doing their job at the right time,” said coach after the game.
Coach continued, “I told them the effort was unbelievable. To come back from three scores down to almost win the game. That kind of effort will help us down the road.”
The loss to Christ Church dropped their record to 3-3 but those three losses came to AAA and AAAA playoff teams with a combine record of 27-9. Since that game, the Hurricanes have ripped off 8 consecutive wins with all the wins by 18 points or more.
The Canes earned their trip to Orangeburg by beating Central (11-2) 43-22. The Canes scored on their first five possessions jumping out to a 36-8 lead. Senior running back Jaylen Singletary rushed for 273 yards and five touchdowns while the defense led by Jazmir Goines and Malik Terry held the potent Eagle offense to less than 200 yards.
After the game coach told the HSSR, “I told you after Christ Church that we were going to win the rest them. Those three games sharpened us and showed us that to win we had to take care of the little things. Heading into the game our word of the week was ‘Preparation.’ We knew if we prepared for what they do we could shut them down. I’m thrilled for next week.”
Coach told his team after the win to enjoy the win tonight but they still had unfinished business and they would get back to work on Sunday.
The Cane’s offense is led by its offensive line which only had two returning starters in junior left tackle Charles “CJ” Williams, and sophomore left guard Cleavon Maxwell. The first year starters are senior center Hunter Lawson, junior right tackle Ty'Quavian Jones and sophomore right guard Jayden Frazier. This group of Road Graders have paved the way for over 4000 yards on the ground with three running back averaging over 10 yards a carry.
Singletary said of his offensive line, “My O-line, one thing we have is we our strong outside of football. We made a bond and a connection outside of football and that has made them block harder for me. When you love somebody you will do anything for them.”
Singletary, arguably the best running back in the state, has rushed for a state leading 2482 yards and has scored 42 touchdowns. In the playoffs he has rushed for 927 and 18 touchdowns. He has great vision, especially in the hole and when he makes his cuts he is at full speed in two steps. He had three touchdowns over 45 yards including a 75 yarder that broke that Eagles backs. He is one of the backs averaging over 10 yards a carry.
Seniors Karinton Sabb and Desmond Mathis average 12 and 11.6 yards per carry respectively. They are also quarterback Tarrell Grants favorite targets. Mathis is the team leader in receptions with 21 for 368 yards and four scores while Sabb has 15 catches for 323 yards and a team high five touchdowns. They both have over 700 yards of total offense on the year. They also play in the secondary and Sabb is second on the team in picks with four.
Grant has thrown for 940 yards on the year and has 13 touchdown passes. He is second on the team in rushing with 640 yards and seven scores. He had two 100-yard rushing games during the season and is a threat every time he carriers. On defense he and Singletary form one of the best corner combo’s in the state and they tied for the team lead in interceptions with five. Grant also had a team high six passes defended.
The defensive front rotates several players during the game with Goines, Maxwell, and Frazier leading the way. Goines is constantly double teamed during the game but he still causes havoc along the line of scrimmage. He had two big catches from his H-back position against Central and he has also blocked a punt this season.
Maxwell and Frazier have combined for 17 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. They do a great job of tying up the offensive line allowing the Canes linebackers to make plays.
The Linebacking corps is the heart of the Canes defense with Malik Terry, Braydon Blake, and Gavin Polite. These three make plays from sideline to sideline. Terry is the team leader in solo tackles with 66, total tackles with 103, and fumble recoveries with three. He also had 12 TFL’s.
Blake is second on the team with 79 tackles while Polite leads the team in tackles for loss with 17 and passes defended with 12.
Free safety Tyler Davis is the leader of the defense. He gives the Canes an extra defender in the box but can also drop back into coverage. He was All State last season and has upped his game this year. He is second in solo tackles with 46 and third in tackles with 73.
The kicking game is handled by Rafe Sullivan. He connected on 70 of 78 extra points and averages 30 yards on punts.
Coach Hanna on what it will take for the Cane’s to come out on top, “I think the team that controls the ball and wins the turnover battle will be the team that wins. We need to continue to protect the ball and capitalize on our opportunities to score when we get a chance. Our running game needs to get established early, which will open up our passing game. On defense, we need to continue to swarm the ball and play with relentless effort.”
State Championships
At Oliver C. Dawson Stadium
In Orangeburg
Friday, December 5
3A
Belton-Honea Path (14-0) vs. Oceanside Collegiate (12-2), 12:06 p.m.
1A
Lamar (12-2) vs. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (14-0), 4:06 p.m.
5A Division II
Northwestern (12-1) vs. Irmo (12-1), 7:36 p.m.
Saturday, Decembber 6
4A
South Pointe (13-1) vs. South Florence (13-1), 12:06 p.m.
2A
Strom Thurmond (12-2) vs. Hampton County (11-3), 4:06 p.m.
5A Division I
Dutch Fork (11-1) vs. Summerville (12-2), 7:36 p.m.
