Crestwood football team has loads of young talent
Knights beat Manning 48-14, Richland Northeast 35-13 to open the season
Sumter – The Crestwood High School football team had an outstanding freshman last season in Jayden Martin, who split time between quarterback and wide receiver.
Martin is obviously back, and the Knights have another highly anticipated freshman to join him this season in freshman running back Brayden Boults.
Boults already had five Football Bowl Subdivision offers to his credit before playing his first high school game.
Boults had an impressive debut, carrying the football 10 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the Knights’ 48-14 triumph over Manning on August 22 in their first game at their on-campus facility, Knights Stadium.
Boults had touchdown runs of 42 and nine yards, respectively.
“He’s a special player,” Crestwood head coach Roosevelt Nelson said of Boults. “He can score from anywhere on the field when he touches the ball.”
Between Boults, Martin, sophomore quarterback Marek Yates and junior running back Calvin Wofford, the Knights have plenty of options on offense. Yates completed 9 of 13 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns in his varsity debut. Martin finished with five catches for 117 yards and three scores. while Wofford had 11 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown.
“We’ve got a lot of options in all three phases, in running backs and receivers,” Nelson said. “Marek Yates’ first time starting a varsity game, he was phenomenal. The quarterback play has definitely taken a big jump in the past couple of weeks.”
Crestwood, which defeated Richland Northeast 35-13 in its second game, hopes that continues to translate into success as the season progresses. The Knights went 5-6 a year ago, losing in the first round of the AAAA state playoffs. They are part of Region 5 with defending state champion South Florence and perennial power Hartsville.
Senior Mekhi Calhoun and senior Kameron Edwards are two other wide receivers Yates will be eyeing throughout the season.
The offensive line is led by senior Aiden Mack, a 3-year starter. He is one of two starters returning up front along with junior Ty’Shon Tate. Other key performers along the front are senior Mckahi Tindal, sophomore Jarius Haney and junior Kyson Rigby.
“That’s kind of what we see on a daily basis,” Nelson said of the O line’s strong performance against Manning. “They come out and are working hard. They’re a group that has a lot of upside. They are working hard to become one unit.”
The Knights have a lot of experience on the defensive side of the football, returning eight starters.
They are stout with the front seven, starting in the trenches with the likes of junior noseguard Jordan Carter, senior Mikah Pressley and junior Peyton Bradshaw-Grant. The linebacking corps is led by junior Ahmadre Ricks, who has been moved inside after playing on the outside last season. Sophomore Yachin Gamble is back after starting as a freshman.
The secondary is strong as well. Senior Da’shan Scriven is back after coming up with five interceptions last season. Senior LaDamien Belton will play fulltime in the secondary this year after sharing running back duties with Wofford. Junior Ja’Quaylen Dennis-Harriett is back at safety.
“We’ve got a good team, a team that can do a lot of things down the road,” Nelson said. “If we stay together and work hard, we’ll be just fine. I’m excited about them.
“I think we’ve got the opportunity to do some good things. As long as we continue to play complimentary football and stay healthy. I think we’ll be fine.”
