Showdown at Petticoat Junction

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

History has a way of repeating itself. The present groups of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School Red Raider players were only a twinkle in their parents’ eyes in 1989 and 1990, when the Red Raiders, coached by legendary coach Leon Maxwell, and the Bulldogs, coached by Butch Jacobs, faced each other in a series of epic showdowns.

Red Raider fans over a certain age, will remember the 1989 game in Bamberg, where the Red Raiders defeated the then No. 1 ranked Bulldogs 21-16 on an 86-yard flanker reverse pass from Eric Bamberg to Will Early to win the Region 6-AA Championship. In the semifinals, of the state playoffs that year, the Red Raiders would block a Silver Bluff punt in the fourth quarter to secure a 14-13 victory.

In 1990, the Red Raiders would come into the showdown with the Bulldogs sporting a (13-0) record and ranked No. 1 in the state. The Bulldogs, who came into the game ranked No. 2 in the state, would come away with a 35-14 win. The Red Raiders would rebound to win the Class 2-A Division 2 State Championship and the Bulldogs would win the Class 2-A Division 1 State Championship that year.

Now, fast forward 22- years and the Red Raiders come into the game (5-0) and ranked as high as third in some polls. The Red Raiders are coached by head coach Kevin “Butch” Crosby, who was a Captain on the 1989 Red Raider team that went to the state finals. The Bulldogs are coached by Al Lown, a Butch Jacob disciple. Both coaches believe in old fashioned, hardnosed football.

On offense, the Red Raiders come into the game averaging (35.0) points per game. The Bulldogs come into the game averaging (27.0) The Red Raiders are lead on offense by junior quarterback Sumner Cooler, who has completed 26 of 41 pass attempts for 460 yards and six touchdowns and only one interception. On the ground, the Red Raiders vaulted wishbone attack is lead by senior running back Devondree Williams, who has rushed for 498-yards and six touchdowns. Senior halfback Demetrius Odom has rushed for 303-yards and five touchdowns. Cooler has also rushed for 180-yards and seven touchdowns .Senior fullback Sean Paul Morais has been a solid blocker and performer in the B-E backfield for the last two seasons.

When they’ve needed to, the Red Raiders have shown they are capable of going to the vertical passing game. The receiving corps is lead by consensus high school All America junior tight end/defensive end K.C. Crosby, who has recorded 11 catches for 290-yards and three touchdowns. Senior Landon Sandifer has proven to be a clutch receiver over the last two seasons recording eight catches for 178-yards and one touchdown this season. Junior Tav Schwarting and sophomore Garrett Zeigler have come on strong in recent weeks catching the football for B-E.

On defense, the Red Raiders come into the game allowing (14.0) per game. The Bulldog defense is allowing (15.0). The Red Raiders are lead in tackles by junior Marcus Moody with 58 tackles, senior Mark Moody is second on the team with 46 tackles, junior Hunter Scharber 29, senior Lan Hiers 28, sophomore A. J. McDonald and senior Larry Cann have 22 tackles each and Cann leads the team in sacks with (4). Junior Jeremy Davis and senior Maurice Duggans have recorded 20 each.

In the B-E secondary senior Landon Sandifer has recorded two pass interceptions this season to go along with (16) tackles. Senior Maurice Duggans has recorded one interception and K.C. Crosby has one interception returned for a score from his linebacker spot. B-E senior defensive back Nick Halmon, a UNCC commitment, who recently returned to the lineup, has recorded one interception to go along with eight tackles this season. Halmon has recorded (251) tackles over the last three seasons.

Often in games of this type, it comes down to the kicking game. B-E junior place kicker Matt Maxwell is becoming more confident with each game and could play a big role in this game. B-E junior quarterback Sumner Cooler has done good job punting the ball and field position will no doubt be a big factor.

Keys to victory in any football game and especially in games of this type, is which team can run the ball and which team can stop the run. And as Coach Maxwell always said, “the team that makes the fewest mistakes is the team that’s going to win.” On a personal note, two years ago these Red Raider seniors and juniors played on the big stage in Columbia for a state championship so the bright lights should not affect them and the strength and conditioning of the Red Raiders will pay off in the fourth quarter.

Thief hits Cheese and Cracker Box

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

If times weren’t hard enough for the staff of the Cheese and Cracker Box in Bamberg, the agency was recently targeted by a thief or thieves.

“I feel real sad about it because they didn’t touch anything in the place except the food,” long-time director Enid Bishop, said adding “so they came for food, they were so hungry, when you think about it that’s sad.” {Staff members later learned that all the agency’s baby diapers were also stolen.}

According to a Bamberg Police Department Incident Report, on September 15, central dispatch received a call from a volunteer who was dropping off some items with the agency and who stated that she was at the rear door of the Cheese and Cracker box and the back door was open.

The report noted that the caller said she was afraid to go in the agency and waited for law enforcement. When law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, the volunteer stated that she had come to leave some items when she saw that the door was open. She stated she did not go in the building and did not know whether someone was in the building or not.

After officers went inside and made sure the building was secure, the volunteer came inside and stated that the only thing that looked out of place was some canned items. According to the report, nothing else was observed to be out of place. According to the report, the volunteer called her father and stated that he would come and replace the lock on the door so that the store could be secured.

Mrs. Bishop noted that the with the Christmas season quickly approaching the things that the agency needed most was “a variety of food” including canned meats, canned fruits and monetary donation with no amount being too small.

Bamberg School District 1 Board

Mallory Biering, Staff Reporter

Monday, September 24th, Bamberg School District 1 met in the media center of Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School for their monthly meeting. Throughout the meeting, it was stressed over and over again to make sure the children are put first, be it their safety or education.

At the meeting a mother told a story of what happened to her child. According to the mother, a teacher threw away her child's lunch after they punched in the account number, told the child there was no money on the account and they could not eat. The child was also made to put the beverage back while the teacher threw away the food. Other students saw this happen and began picking on the child.

The shocked board members reassured the mother this would never happen again, and Phyllis Schwarting, superintendent of BSD1, would make sure the situation was taken care of first thing the following morning.

In other business, the school board gave Schwarting the go ahead on the purchase of two long buses and one short bus for the use of the athletes. The bus situation was previously discussed at the last board meeting. Financially, Schwarting pointed out the school could make the purchase and it would be a safer way to travel with the students, rather than continuing to make improvements on current transportation. The new buses will be more fuel efficient, safer, and include additional storage.

Overall, the students were able to increase their SAT scores in critical reading, math and writing resulting in over a 70 point increase from last year. Schwarting also stated that she believed BSD1 had the third highest scores in the state with what little research she had the time to complete.

Tony Duncan, Seat 5, was named delegate to attend the South Carolina School Board Association meeting in Hilton Head on December 1st. Rita Sease will serve as alternate if Duncan is unable to attend the meeting.

Duncan also asked if a type of historical monument or painting of Richard Carroll could be created honoring Richard Carroll. Duncan stated citizens have been asking about the history of the school and the man who founded the school so many years ago. Any person with photographs or information is asked to contact Duncan at (803) 707-2686.

Monique Dawson from the South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative spoke to the board about adopting a new school policy concerning a tobacco free district. The board approved the draft Dawson presented to them, which states there shall be no tobacco use of any kind on any property of BSD1 by students, staff, faculty, or visitors. This will enable the district to apply from $1500 to $5000 to help the school reach a tobacco free environment.

During the financial report it was stated that the district overspent for the new school in reference to washer, dryer, refrigerator, and other furniture needs that were not projected. It was also stated there are rumors of a mid-year cut. Which causes the board to look very closely at the 83% remaining in the budget. It was suggested that more teachers apply for grants through different companies. Currently, Jane Williams, art teacher at the middle school is applying for a grant from the Clorox Company which could be used for the middle school gym renovation.

In visitor's comments, a retired teacher from the area suggested teachers do a better job of uplifting rather than criticizing the students of BSD1.