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Undefeated Manning challenges second-ranked Dillon for Region 7-AAA crown

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • Oct 13, 2023

A look at other big games and schedule for October 13

         Sumter – Dillon High School football and region title almost always go together. In fact, that has been the case for 13 of the past 14 seasons.

 

         The Wildcats “only” have a 17-game region win streak, but they have won 69 of their past 70 region contests. The only loss came to Aynor in 2019, when they did indeed finish second. However, Dillon would go on to play for the AAA state title.

 

         Obviously, there has been a contender for that region crown each of those years. This year it’s the same as last year: Manning.

 

         The Wildcats and the Monarchs are both 2-0 in Region 6-AAA heading into Friday’s game at MHS’ Ramsey Stadium beginning at 7:30 p.m. Dillon is 6-1 overall and ranked second in the High School Sports Report AAA Sweet 16 poll. Manning is 7-0 and ranked ninth.

 

         Manning head coach Reggie Kennedy said his goal this week was to maintain a sense of normalcy with his team.

 

         “It was a typical week for us,” Kennedy said. “I’m a big routine guy. We’ve prepared the same way we have all year long even though this game obviously means a little bit more than the first seven.”

 

The Wildcats have scored at least 31 points in all of their games with a high of 48 in a 23-point victory over Socastee. Their only loss was 51-34 to a then healthy Hartsville.

 

         “I think we're getting better, gelling as a team,” said Dillon head coach Kelvin Roller. “I certainly don't think we’ve had a complete football game yet, which is not a bad thing. You want to be peaking at the end of the year.

 

Our preparation level in practice has been tremendous. When you do that, success usually tends to happen.”

 

The Wildcats’ offense revolves around the running game. They are averaging over 260 yards a game and are led by running back Jamarion Fling. He is averaging 153.8 yards in five games with 769 yards and 17 touchdowns on 81 carries. Dominick Felton has rushed for 286 yards and Kamarion Singletary for 279.

 

Roller credits his offensive line led by 6-foot-7-inch, 280-pound senior left tackle Josiah “Big Cat” Thompson, who is committed to University of South Carolina

 

“Our offensive line has played pretty well, been pretty dominant,” Roller said. “It’s hard not to work that phase of game when it's working. I understand to play a complete game we’ve got to be more balanced, but we’re having success running the ball.”

 

Dillon only averages 12 passes a game. Sophomore quarterback Josiah Oxendine has completed 50 of 85 passes for 622 yards and three touchdowns. He’s rushed for 271 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries.

 

Manning’s offense also revolves around the running game. Triston Thames leads the Monarchs with 698 yards and six touchdowns on 94 carries. Jaylnn Coard, who is a 6-0, 290-pound noseguard, also comes in to run the ball in goal line situations. He has 49 carries for 493 yards and 12 scores.

 

“We’ve got to be able to stop run on defense, and we’ve got to be able to run the ball on offense,” said Kennedy, whose team is averaging over 240 rushing yards a game. “All year we’ve been able to run the ball, and we’ve got to run it on Friday.”

 

Quarterback JaRae Mitchell has 210 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries. He has completed 45 of 71 passes for 539 yards and five TDs. His top receiver is wide receiver Jeffrey Ceasar with 26 catches for 336 yards and two TDs.

 

Manning has four kick returns for touchdowns this season. Jamari Wilson has three and Ceasar has one.

 

“We’ve got to continue to score on special teams,” Kennedy said.

 

Other big games this week include:

 

White Knoll (7-0) at Lexington (6-1)

 

White Knoll had a momumental 17-14 win over defending AAAAA state champion Dutch Fork last week to jump to fifth in the AAAAA poll. This week the Timberwolves travel to the other side of Lexington to face 6-1 Lexington, ranked eighth in AAAAA. The winner of this game will be sitting pretty in Region 4.

 

Myrtle Beach (6-1) at South Florence (7-0)

 

South Florence is the defending AAAA state champion and has reeled off 22 straight wins as it is off to a 7-0 start, The second-ranked Bruins will take on ninth-ranked Myrtle Beach, which has six straight wins after getting hammered by Camden in the season opener.

 

Northwestern (6-1) at York (6-1)

 

Northwestern, which was the runner-up to South Florence last year and is ranked No. 1 in AAAA, was expected to be at this point. York? Maybe not so much.

 

Both teams are 6-1 though and 2-0 in Region 4, tied for first along with seventh-ranked South Pointe.

 

Silver Bluff (6-1) at Saluda (5-2)

 

Saluda suffered a 48-3 defeat at the hands of Strom Thurmond last week, but the Tigers can still keep their hopes for winning the Region 3-AA title alive with a win over Silver Bluff. If Silver Bluff wins, it will be setting up a likely showdown with Thurmond for the region crown.

 

Thurmond is ranked seventh, Silver Bluff eighth and Saluda 10th.

 

Woodland (6-0) at Hampton County (6-1)

 

This is one of the games that will help set the pecking order in Region 6-AA. Woodland is ranked fourth and Hampton County fifth. Both still have to face 12th-ranked Barnwell, which is undefeated in region as well.

 

Blackville-Hilda (7-1) at Calhoun County (6-1)

 

Blackville-Hilda can wrap up the No. 1 seed from Region 3 in the Class A state playoffs and pretty much secure an outright region title with a win over Calhoun County.

 

Eighth-ranked B-H is 7-1 overall and 4-0 in region play. After facing 12th-ranked Calhoun County, which is 6-1 and 2-1, Blackville-Hilda takes on winlessWilliston-Elko.

 

Lake View (5-1) at Latta (7-1)

 

Lake View is ranked sixth in Class A, while Latta is ranked seventh. Lake View, 1-0 in Region 6, needs a win to keep itself in position to win the region title. The 1-1 Vikings need a win to keep their region hopes alive. There is a distinction between the two.

 

Dorchester (5-2) at Clarendon Hall (6-1)

 

Dorchester jumped from fifth to third in the HHSR SCISA Class A Pick 6 poll with a 38-23 triumph over No. 1 Patrick Henry last week. This week the Raiders get to face No. 2 Clarendon Hall.

 

AAAAA

Thursday

Dutch Fork 41, Chapin 8

Friday

Berkeley at Ashley Ridge

Boiling Springs at Gaffney

Blythewood at Clover

Conway at Socastee

Dorman at Byrnes

Fort Dorchester at Stall

Fort Mill at Spring Valley

Goose Creek at Cane Bay

Mauldin at J.L. Mann

Nation Ford at Rock Hill

Stratford at Wando

Summerville at West Ashley

Sumter at Carolina Forest

T.L. Hanna at Hillcrest

White Knoll at Lexington

 

AAAA

Friday

A.C. Flora at Irmo

Airport at South Aiken

Berea at Easley

Bluffton at James Island

Catawba Ridge at Lancaster

Colleton County at May River

Eastside at Riverside

Greenville at Pickens

Greenwood at Westside

Hartsville at North Myrtle Beach

Lucy Beckham at Hilton Head Island

Midland Valley at Aiken

Myrtle Beach at South Florence

Northwestern at York

Richland Northeast at Lugoff-Elgin

South Pointe at Indian Land

Wade Hampton at Laurens

West Florence at Wilson

Westwood at Ridge View

 

AAA

Thursday

Blue Ridge 49, Carolina 0

Philip Simmons 43, North Charleston 0

Friday

Aynor at Waccamaw

Brookland-Cayce at Dreher

Clinton at Woodruff

Crescent at Pendleton

Crestwood at Darlington

Dillon at Manning

Emerald at Chester

Fountain Inn at Belton-Honea Path

Gilbert at Orangeburg-Wilkinson

Hanahan at Battery Creek

Lakewood at Marlboro County

Loris at Georgetown

Seneca at Daniel

Southside at Powdersville

Swansea at Lower Richland

Travelers Rest at Chapman

West-Oak at Walhalla

Wren at Palmetto

 

AA

Thursday

Strom Thurmond 43, Pelion 7

Friday

Abbeville at Landrum

Academic Magnet at Oceanside Collegiate

Andrews at Kingstree

Blacksburg at Chenee

Buford at Chesterfield

Central at Andrew Jackson

Columbia at Fairfield Central

Fox Creek at Batesburg-Leesville

Keenan at Eau Claire

Lake Marion at Timberland

Marion at Lee Central

Ninety Six at Liberty

North Central at Cheraw

Ridgeland-Hardeeville at Barnwell

Silver Bluff at Saluda

Strom Thurmond at Pelion

Woodland at Hampton County

 

CLASS A

Thursday

Lewisville wins by forfeit over Great Falls

Friday

Allendale-Fairfax at Whale Branch

Bamberg-Ehrhardt at Bethune-Bowman

Blackville-Hilda at Calhoun County

Burke at Baptist Hill

Calhoun Falls at Ware Shoals

Christ Church at Dixie

Denmark-Olar at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler

East Clarendon at Johnsonville

Hannah-Pamplico at Lamar

Lake View at Latta

McBee at C.A. Johnson

McCormick at Southside Christian

Military Magnet at Cross

Ridge Spring-Monetta at Wagener-Salley

Scott’s Branch at East Clarendon

Williston-Elko at Whitmire

 

CLASS A VS. AA

Friday

Green Sea Floyds at Mullins

 

SCISA

Friday

11-MAN

Beaufort Academy at Thomas Heyward

Bethesda Academy at Northside Christian

Calhoun Academy at The King’s Academy

Cardinal Newman at Camden Military

Colleton Prep at Carolina Academy

Dorchester at Clarendon Hall

Florence Christian at Wilson Hall

John Paul II at Northwood

Laurence Manning at Augusta Christian

Lee Academy at Dillon Christian

Orangeburg Prep at Williamsburg

Pee Dee at Hilton Head Christian

Pinewood Prep at Hilton Head Prep

St. John’s Christian at Cross Schools

Thomas Sumter at Spartanburg Christian

Trinity Collegiate at Hammond

8-MAN

Friday

Andrew Jackson at Jefferson Davis

Faith Christian at Holy Trinity

Oakbrook Prep at Richard Winn

Wardlaw at Newberry Academy

W.W. King at Laurens Academy

 

SCISA VS. SCHSL

Friday

First Baptist at Bishop England

Patrick Henry at Branchville

 

South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association announces All-State teams

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • 16 May, 2024
Summerville's PJ Morlando chosen as AAAAA Player of the Year

PHOTOS: Pee Dee vs Orangeburg Prep on 5-13

By Larry Gamble • 15 May, 2024
Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR SCISA Softball Championship play kicked off on May 13th, 2024, with teams playing an intense two days of games hoping to make a sweep to victory in the best of three game series to crown State Champion this week. The HSSR Camera was at Pee Dee for the Girls Softball ball Game 1. More photos from this Game 1 are available by following this link or the one below. High resolution prints and digital downloads from this event are available at www.LarryGamble.com by clicking this link to the photos.

Jefferson Davis Academy Wins 1st Girl’s State Title In 19 Years

By Billy Baker • 15 May, 2024
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Bluffton — With an 11-1 win over the Cross School at Bluffton High on May, 14 the Jefferson Davis Academy Raiders softball team (14-7) won the school’s first girl’s state title in any sport, since the basketball team won gold 19 years ago, sweeping the series in two games to claim the SCISA Class A championship. The dog pile on top of senior pitcher Reagan Still , at the end of the game, exemplified all the raw emotion that had gone into this historic season, and fulfilled a pledge that head coach Bart Owens had made to the team, in the team huddle, after the Raiders were swept in two games against Holly Hill Academy last season. “The night that we lost to Holly Hill at JDA last season I told the team that if everybody comes to work and does their job that we have the pitcher and the catcher and everything in place for us to win a state championship this season,” said Coach Owens. “I told them we just have to go get it done. “After three innings we decided as a coaching staff we were going to small ball and see how we could do and we were able to follow that up with some hits and from that point on the pressure was on them,” said Coach Owens. “We made great plays on defense, put the ball in play, ran the bases well, and we just did everything the way you are supposed to in this game. “There was no better way to send out Reagin Still than with a state championship,” said Coach Owens. “She is the best pitcher I’ve ever coached at JDA and she has been the main pitcher in our softball program since the 8 th grade. I couldn’t be happier for her and those final two strike-outs in the final inning were just fantastic.” The only other senior on the JDA team is third baseman Gylian Googe who came on strong, playing her best softball of the season during the playoffs. Still, who is headed to Florence-Darlington Tech to play softball, told the HSSR from the field, “I have never been prouder of this team,” she said. “This was a goal of ours all season. It’s just a proud moment for the whole team. My goal is to keep improving on my pitching and to get faster and faster.” Still has been named the HSSR-SCISA Class A Player of the Year by the HSSR . Joining Still on the HSSR-SCISA Class A all-state softball team will be catcher Kinlee Ray , center fielder Carrie Lynn Loadholt , infielder Sydney Owens and Googe. After three scoreless innings Still appeared locked into a pitcher’s dual with Savannah Hollings of the Cross School. However, JDA put up six runs in the top of the fourth inning to break the game wide-open. Kaylee Jackson led off the JDA, in the 4 th , with a single followed by an infield hit from Jamilynn Mock . Both runners advanced on a sac bunt from junior Madeline Respass . Two batters later, Elie Fogle’s infield hit scored Jackon to put JDA up 1-0 while also loading the bases. Catcher Kinlee Ray was up next and her single scored Mock to make it 2-0. A third run came in on a passed ball from courtesy runner Esme Montejano . Junior Rynn Fickling then singled in Fogle to make it 4-0 and Still singled in Ray to make it 5-0. Then, on a head’s up play, Fickling stole home for the sixth and final run of the JDA 4 th inning. In the bottom of the 5 th the Stingrays scored their only run of the game. Alaysia Hollings led off with an infield single and later scored on an RBI single by third baseman Bethany Carson . JDA added five insurance runs in the 6 th inning to go up 11-1. They produced these runs on four singles by Riley York , Fickling, Googe and Jackson along with two bases loaded walks while Owens and York were batting. Still had 8 strike-outs and allowed 9 hits during the game with no walks issued. JDA pounded out 12 hits as a team. After the game Cross School head coach Robert Hollings told the HSSR , “We have only been a varsity program for two years, so I am very proud of my team making it into the finals,” said Coach Hollings. “We only have two seniors on the team and most of my players are 9 th graders. We hope to be back in the finals again next year.” Coach Hollings has three daughters on the team who also play softball year-round. They are center fielder Alaysia Hollings , pitcher Savannah Hollings , and catcher Sydney Hollings .

Laurence Manning captures SCISA AAAA softball state championshiip

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • 15 May, 2024
LMA claims ninth state championship, first since 2017

SCISA Softball and Baseball Championship Update for Tuesday

By Larry Gamble • 15 May, 2024
Updates to the SCISA Championship Series for Softball and Baseball. Some games in this best of three series are not complete, others were weather postponed. SCISA SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES CLASS AAAA Champions - Laurence Manning Monday Laurence Manning 5 Hammond 4 Tuesday Hammond 0 Laurence Manning 9 CLASS AAA Champions - Pee Dee Academy (third straight state title) Monday Orangeburg Prep 0 Pee Dee Academy 3 Tuesday Pee Dee 6 Orangeburg Prep 5 AA Monday Colleton Prep 1 Clarendon Hall 6 Tuesday rescheduled for Wednesday at 5pm Clarendon Hall Colleton Prep Wednesday At Neutral Site if Needed CLASS A Champions- JEFFERSON DAVIS ACADEMY Monday Cross Schools 0 Jefferson Davis 4 Tuesday Jefferson Davis 11 Cross Schools 0 SCISA BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Best-of-3 series AAAA Monday Augusta Christian 3 Cardinal Newman 1 Tuesday rescheduled to Wednesday Cardinal Newman at Augusta Christian, 6 p.m. Thursday At - Lexington HS - if Needed AAA Monday Hilton Head Christian 3 Pee Dee Academy 1 Tuesday rescheduled to Wednesday Pee Dee at Hilton Head Christian, 6 p.m. Thursday At Neutral Site if Needed CLASS AA Champion - Dorchester Academy Monday Calhoun Academy 2 Dorchester 6 Tuesday Dorchester 5 Calhoun Academy 1 CLASS A Monday Richard Winn 8 Holly Hill 2 Tuesday rescheduled for Wednesday Holly Hill at Richard Winn, 6 p.m. Thursday At Neutral Site if Needed

LMA, Pee Dee, JDA win SCISA softball titles, Dorchester claims baseball crown

By Staff reports • 15 May, 2024
Other four Game 2s postponed, rescheduled for Wednesday

Clarendon Hall Uses Five Run Second Inning to Defeat Colleton Prep 6-1, In Game One Of SCISA AA Softball Best-of-Three Championship Series

By Billy Baker • 14 May, 2024
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Summerton — Softball championships are not always won just by the plays of the moment; they are won by the players on championship teams who prepare on a year-round basis, through summer ball, fall ball, outside instruction, and a total commitment to the sport. In Clarendon Hall’s 6-1 win over Colleton Prep (18-5-2) in Monday’s first game in the best- of- three SCISA AA state title series, observers could see the aforementioned on full display as a relaxed and well-trained team from Clarendon Hall played error free softball. Pitcher Calli Yount had 11 strike-outs, and the Saints produced timely hits with runners in scorer’s position.  It was the third time the two teams had meet this season and it was the third win for Clarendon Hall. The two previous wins were 8-0 and 6-0 so Colleton Prep improved by scoring a run this time. They hope to score even more as the two teams (weather permitting) get ready to play game two at 5 p.m. at Colleton Prep today. After the game Clarendon Hall head coach Jeffrey Bays , told the HSSR, “We definitely got some timely hits today but we didn’t hit the ball like we usually do,” said Coach Bays. “You do have those games where you are not as strong as you usually are at the plate, and we tell our girls to be patient and wait on their pitch. “Getting some walks, mixed in with a few timely hits, proved to be a game changer for us, said Coach Bays. “I was really proud of how the girls responded to the challenge today. I can’t think of an error we made, and that is really important, and we have played very clean ball most of the year. “Our pitcher tomorrow will be a game time situation,” said Coach Bays. “Calli had a good outing today but we do have several pitchers who can throw strikes so we’ll just have to wait and see.” Colleton Prep head coach Tiger Martin told the HSSR , “They scored six runs total and five of them came in the second inning and then they got a solo home run later and made some errors and gave them some walks that helped them score the six runs,” said Coach Martin. “More games are lost then ever won. The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually comes out on top and they played a cleaner ball game then we did tonight. “It didn’t help that we had four backward K’s and we need to swing the bats more,” said Coach Martin. “We have to lay off her riser ball that was coming in high today and it can be virtually unhittable. Hopefully, we will have an umpire today that likes them thrown a little lower. We have to hope she can bring the ball down a little.” The Saints pushed across five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Yount led off with a single and then Colleen McIntosh drew a walk. Lacey Corbett singled to score Yount for a 1-0 lead and a throwing error on the throw in allowed both runners to advance to second to third. Two batters later, Macie McIntosh drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Brynlee Brewer , the only new starter on the team this season, reached on an error allowing two runs to score to make it 3-0. Two batters later, Macie McIntosh , drew a one-out walk to load the bases. An RBI ground-out RBI by junior Mandy Wells made it 4-0. The Saints 5 th run scored on a passed ball. In the CP 4 th inning, Ava Murray led off with a double down the third base line. She was brought in on a two-out single by Hannah Strickland to close the deficit to 5-1. CH added an insurance run in the bottom of the 5 th on a solo home run by Yount over the left field fence. Yount had three hits in the game including a home run. Clarendon Hall had six hits for the game and they benefitted from several CP errors and five walks they were issued. Yount gave up five hits in the game with two walks to go along with her 11 K’s. Senior Sydney Stivender pitched all six innings for CP. She recorded four strike-outs in taking the loss.

SCISA BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDUP

By Staff reports • 14 May, 2024
Hilton Head Christian, Augusta Christian, Dorchester, Richard Winn take openers

SCISA SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ROUNDUP

By Staff reports • 14 May, 2024
Laurence Manning, Pee Dee, Clarendon Hall, Jefferson Davis win openers

Cardinal Newman wins fifth consecutive SCISA boys soccer state title

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • 14 May, 2024
Cardinals beat Hammond 4-0 to finish as undefeated AAAA champion
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