B-E defeats Bethune-Bowman 35-10

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

A noticeable rise in the intensity level of the B-E Coaching staff in the second half was the spark the young Red Raider football team needed to rally for a 35-0 Region 5-A win over the Bethune-Bowman Mohawks in Bowman Friday night.

The Red Raiders (4-1, 2-0) overcame a “flat” first half performance by scoring 28 unanswered second half points and pitching a shutout on defense to remain undefeated in region play.

“It’s like I told the coaches at halftime, we came out flat. Our kids are playing the way we coach. We coach laid back, they play laid back,” B-E Coach Kevin “Butch” Crosby said, adding, when you have a young group that don’t understand how to get themselves up, “it’s our job as coaches to get them up.”

The change in coaching styles in the second half obviously worked as the Red Raider offense behind the blocking of David Deleon, Martin Aiken, Larry Cann Jr., Billy Williams, K'oshae McMillan, Brice Azzarelli and K.C. Crosby paved the way for sophomore running back Chip Wannamaker, who scored two second half touchdowns on runs of 12 yards and 30 yards to go with his lone one yard first half touchdown run.

“They responded well after half time,” Crosby said of his young offensive line that returned only two starters from last year. I thought they blocked well up front. I know they did an excellent job in the second half,” Crosby said, adding that he saw “some bodies flying around” noting the line must perform that way for four quarters and not just two.

Also adding to the second half Red Raider scoring barrage were sophomore quarterback Sumner Cooler, who opened the second half scoring with a one yard quarterback sneak to make the score 14-0 B-E at 9:19 of the third quarter after senior Brent Cook converted the second of his five PATs on the night.

B-E junior halfback D. J. Odom, brought the B-E crowd that followed the team to Bowman to their collective feet at 7:03 of the fourth quarter when he busted a 77 yard run down the left sidelines for a score making the final score 35-0 B-E.

Not to be outdone, the Red Raider defense came up with a season high three picks against the pass happy Mohawk offense one each by, Marcus Moody, Maurice Duggans and Landon Sandier to record its first shutout of the season.

So as the team enters the meat of the region season with an eye to the playoffs around the corner, Red Raider fans can look for more intensity in the play of their young football team: “I’m holding myself and our coaches responsible for getting our kids up and getting them intense and ready to play once we get off the bus,” Coach Crosby said, adding the days when people will just “rollover” for Bamberg- Ehrhardt are long gone. “Everybody wants to beat Bamberg and if we don’t come out and get our minds right it can happen. Getting in the playoffs, we can have home field advantage all we want. If you’re not prepared, you can get put out very easily and very quickly.”

Fox Creek topples D-O

Xavier Reed had nine carries for 25 yards and a touchdown, but it was not enough as the D-O Vikings (2-3) fell to Fox Creek 21-6 on Friday night in Denmark. On defense the team was again led by senior linebacker Ulysses Gissentaner, who recorded 11 tackles to lead the team. Gissentaner was followed on defense by Chanslar Kirkland 10 tackles and Lawrence Dowling 8 tackles, pass deflection and a forced fumble.

AJA Varsity football

Mike Hall

The young Andrew Jackson Academy varsity football team (0-5) is still in search of that elusive first victory of the 2011 season. On Friday night, the Confederates fell to Beaufort by a score of 54-30.

On offense AJA was led by Matthew Avant, who passed for 127 yards and 2 TDs and also rushed for 53 yards and 2 more TDs. Mark Corder had 102 yards receiving with 2 TDs and added 24 yards rushing. Eddie Ricks finished with 71 yards rushing. Defensively, the Confederates were led by Trey Allen with 10 tackles. Jake Sease and Dustin Brock each finished with 8 tackles and Avant and Cole Reed added 7 tackles each.

Red Raider Cross Country

The Bamberg-Ehrhardt cross country teams are both ranked 8th in the state in the latest polls. Last week the teams traveled to Barnwell for their 3rd meet of the year. The boys and girls left Barnwell with their third victory in three meets over their local rivals. “Both boys and girls teams were very successful in producing good times for their third meet in seven days,” head coach Mike Jolly said, adding “this has been a very hot, grinding stretch and a third race took it’s toll on some of the runners but the teams members gave great efforts to overcome stiff obstacles.”

Security for Head Ball Coach

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

If you have been following the University of South Carolina football team this year, perhaps you have seen a familiar face on television next to South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier when the team goes on and off the field of away football games. That familiar face belongs to none other than South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper (CRO) and Bamberg native Judd Jones.

Trooper Jones, who is a 15 year veteran of the South Carolina High Patrol is assigned to the security detail for the University of South Carolina football team. When the Carolina football team goes on the road Trooper Jones is assigned to Carolina “head ball coach” Steve Spurrier.

When the team plays’ at Williams Brice Stadium, Trooper Jones’ partner Trooper Mark McEarson is assigned to Coach Steve Spurrier and Jones is assigned to the visiting team’s head coach.

When asked Monday about his new assignment this year, Trooper Jones, who played football for four years at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School said: “I’m really enjoying it, I love football and this job gives me a front row seat,” Jones said.