Summerville looking to claim its 13th state football championship
By Roger Lee
Contributing Writer
Summerville - A lot of hard work and dedication as well as some grief and strife went into it, but Summerville has returned to the state football finals.
The Green Wave has one of the strongest and most storied football traditions in South Carolina. Over the years, the revered program has claimed 12 state football championships.
Legendary coach John McKissick led Summerville to 621 wins to set a national record and helped the program capture 10 of those state titles. However, sometimes even the strongest of programs are denied the deep playoff run they desire.
Summerville hadn’t made the state finals since 2007, but that changed with its victory over previously undefeated Sumter Dec. 6 in the 5A, Division 1 Lower State Championship game. Summerville (13-0) will take on Dutch Fork (12-0) in this year’s state title game.
“I couldn’t be more proud of you guys, but the job’s not done baby!” Summerville coach Ian Rafferty told his team after the victory. “We have to go finish the job, but hey, we are there and we have a chance to play for a state championship. We kicked the door in.”
Rafferty, a former Green Wave lineman, took over as the team’s coach in 2020. In part due to Covid, the team had a couple of subpar seasons by Summerville standards.
Then Rafferty, who played for North Carolina State and in the NFL before entering the coaching profession, led Summerville to the 5A semifinals the next three seasons. Last season the team suffered its only loss in the Lower State title game, falling 21-14 to White Knoll.
“This means a lot,” Rafferty said. “I think people wanted me out of here after those Covid years, but we put our heads down and we went to work so it means a lot to me. I never got to play in a state championship as a player so I’m excited for our guys.”
Summerville is on a roll entering the finals. It received a bye in the first round and then claimed convincing playoff wins over Fort Dorchester (36-13), Ridge View (49-20) and Sumter (35-6).
“We played a pretty complete first half both against Sumter and Ridge View,” Rafferty said. “In both games we scored on multiple first-half drives while our defense didn’t give up a score. This is what we train for. We always want to be physical, play with great effort and execute and we’ve been doing that.”
Summerville has out rushed its opponents this season 3,243 yards to 1,380 yards. The Wave has passed for 2,488 yards while holding its opponents to 2,133 passing yards. Summerville has rushed for 47 touchdowns and passed for 30 TDs.
The Green Wave is strong up front on both sides of the ball.
Leading the way for the offense are center Brayden Schlabach, guards Jahmarion Lott and Francis Roberts, tackles John Corley and Avian Kinard and tight end Brice Taylor. Keshon Washington has also been key as a tight end and h-back, but has been out with an injury the last several weeks.
Senior quarterback Jaden Cummings is a strong field general. The Dartmouth College signee has completed 164 of 252 pass attempts this season for 2,290 yards and 29 TDs while only throwing one interception. He has rushed for 579 yards and 15 TDs.
“We knew that the later in the year we would have to use Jaden as a runner more so we designed some things for him and in the passing game he knows when to pull it down and get out of there. He does a good job of knowing when people are double covered or when a route is not there. He is good at making things happen.”
Sophomore running back Jayvyn Williams has rushed for 1,877 yards and 24 TDs on 224 carries with only three fumbles. He also has 13 receptions for 84 yards and a TD.
Summerville’s leading receiver is sophomore D-1 prospect Jaiden Kelly-Murray who has 75 catches for 1,050 yards and 11 TDs as well as 30 carries for 200 rushing yards and four more TDs. Rafferty likes to use him in the Wildcat and the receiver has completed 3 of 4 pass attempts for 89 yards.
Senior receiver Carson Guinn has 25 catches for 362 yards and four TDs. Junior Kemori DeWeese holds down the other starting receiver spot and has a bigger role in the absence of Washington.
Senior kicker Bennett Kelley has made three field goals this season, handled most kickoffs and made 59 of 63 PAT kicks. Cummings handles most of the punting and averages 37.5 yards per punt. Nolen Giet is the long snapper and Cooper Kafina is the holder.
Kelly-Murray, Williams, DeWeese, Guinn and junior DJ Grant provide good return speed for the team.
Nose guard Nick Lincoln and tackles Yasir Smith and Julian Lofay anchor the Summerville defensive front. Inside linebackers Tyree Patton and JT Williams and outside linebackers Demarcus King and Eli Pressley man the team’s second level of defense.
Rhyan White and Jacqueez Walker are the starting cornerbacks and Jadin Waring and Melvin Teal are the starting safeties.
Patton is the leading tackler with 123 stops including 18.5 for a loss and 3 sacks. JT Williams has 91 tackles including 15 for a loss and 8 sacks. Pressley has 83 tackles including 15.5 for a loss and 6 sacks. JT Williams and Smith both have a team-high 7 pass break ups. Walker has a team-high 3 interceptions. The defense has forced 13 fumbles this season and recovered eight.
Summerville hasn’t won a state championship since 1998. Dutch Fork also has strong tradition and has largely dominated its competition since the creation of the 5A class so Rafferty knows his team faces a challenge.
“We are looking to take the next step,” Rafferty said. “I know my coaches will do a great job and we are relatively healthy so we will see what happens. Dutch Fork has been there before so they know the process. They won it at South Carolina State last year so they understand everything that goes into this game and it won’t be new to them. We’ve talked to our kids a bunch about not letting the moment be too big for them and just treating it like another Friday game.”
