Summerville Football Looks to Finish Strong
Running back Cam Grayson picks up yards for Summerville Oct. 30 during the Green Wave’s win over Fort Dorchester. Photo by Roger Lee.
By Roger Lee
HSSR Contributing Writer
Summerville – The Summerville Football team hit a bump in the road, but seems to be back on course.
The Green Wave is 9-2 this season with its only losses coming to a pair of teams ranked in the Top 10 for their division by the High School Sports Report. Summerville, ranked fifth for 5A, Division 1, fell to now ninth-ranked Ashley Ridge and South Florence, which is now ranked No. 2 in 4A. Summerville’s key wins include those over Stratford, Berkeley and James Island.
One of the more intriguing games of the second week of the high-school football playoffs will pit Summerville (9-2) against Ashley Ridge at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14 in The Swamp.
“I like our chances if we don’t do the dumb things at the wrong time,” said Summerville Coach Ian Rafferty. “Our defense since the last Ashley Ridge game has been pretty solid. Outside that game this whole second half of the season we have been really good. It’s rare to get a second chance to redeem yourself so I’m looking forward to it. They had a good game plan the first time and kind of stuck it to us. This time, we need to execute a little better on offense and tackle a little better.”
After that loss, Summerville defeated Fort Dorchester and West Ashley handily to capture a piece of the Region 8 Championship. Ashley Ridge and James Island also grabbed a piece.
Last week, Summerville opened the playoffs with a 65-21 thumping of West Ashley. Senior running back Cam Grayson rushed for four TDs while a pair of Green Wave quarterbacks through for three more. The Wave also had a rushing TD from Jayvyn Williams and defensive back Jakayden Pendergrass scored on a Pick 6.
Quarterback Max Stafford has completed 83 passes this season for 1,255 yards and 15 touchdowns. QB Cooper Kafina has completed 40 passes for 666 yards and four TDs.
Their favorite target is Jaiden Kelly-Murray who has 50 receptions for 796 yards and 11 TDs. Jaiden Davis has 19 catches for 402 yards and two TDs.
Williams leads the Summerville rushers with 1,151 yards and 15 TDs on 159 carries and has 13 catches for 163 yards and two more TDs. Grayson has 43 carries for 434 yards and seven TDs.
Boys Volleyball
Summerville senior Kerrick Pruitt has been named the 5A Region 8 Boys Volleyball Player of the Year. His coach, Stephen DiPaolo, has been named the Region Coach of the Year. The duo led the Green Wave to a 32-6 record and a clean sweep of its region opponents. Summerville advanced further than it ever has in the playoffs before falling to Carolina Forest during the 5A, Division 1 Lower State Championship match.
Summerville’s Alex Mose and Nick Beddard were also named All-Region.
Girls Volleyball
Summerville senior Tehani Mose has been named the 5A Region 8 Girls Volleyball Player of the Year. She was also selected for the 5A All-State Team after leading the Green Wave to a runner-up performance in the region behind James Island.
Summerville’s Emilia Markovic and Molly Jackson also received All-Region honors.
Cross Country
The Summerville Girls placed fourth in the Even Division race of 5A, Division 1 State Qualifier Nov. 8 in Newberry.
Green Wave senior Taylor Blackwelder won the race with an 18:44 time. Kinley Brown placed ninth with a 20:31 finish. Eva Inness, Kendall Griffith and Rihanna Vidor all placed in the Top 40. Trailing for Summerville were Lacie Cinnamon and Ainsley Barbee.
The Summerville Boys won the Even Division race in Newberry.
Junior David Greer led Summerville, finishing in 16:17 to place second. Jack Alberti finished in 17:00 to place sixth and Nick Alberti finished in 17:02 to place seventh. Jacek Torkel, Luke Otey, Mekhi Champaigne and Jacob Bunao also placed in the Top 50.
Summerville swept the Region 8 Cross Country Championships Oct. 20 at Wannamaker County Park.
The Summerville Boys finished with 21 team points to place first. Greer won the boys’ race with a 15:57.16 time. Nick Alberti was just behind, placing second with a 16:04.67 time. Trailing for Summerville were Jack Alberti (fourth place), Champaigne (sixth), Otey (eighth), Torkel (13th) and Bunao (16th).
The Summerville Girls finished with 27 points to place first in their race. Blackwelder won the race with an 18:31.13 time. Just behind in second place was Brown with a 19:35.86 time. Trailing for the Green Wave were Griffith (sixth), Inness (eighth), Vidor (10th), Cinnamon (19th) and Victoria Williams (24th).
