Senior receiver Derrick Salley is out to a strong start this season.
By Roger Lee
Summerville – Ashley Ridge has a new head football coach and he is opening up the offense.
Jeff Tate, who has more than 40 years of football coaching experience in the state, was hired this Spring to lead the Swamp Foxes. He favors an explosive offense and so far that is what the team has shown.
During the Dorchester County Showdown jamboree Aug. 18, Ashley Ridge only needed one offensive play to find the end zone. After the Swamp Foxes’ defense held Woodland on its first possession, sophomore quarterback Trevor Kalisz connected with senior receiver Derrick Salley on a 62-yard touchdown pass.
That duo connected several more times during the Swamp Foxes’ season opener Aug. 25 as Salley hauled in four TD passes from Kalisz during a 33-12 victory over Cane Bay.
“We had a couple of turnovers, but we run a lot of plays,” Tate said. “For the most part it was a really good showing. We have some things we need to work on and hopefully we can make our team a little more explosive and maybe can contend with some of the better teams in this area.”
Salley’s longest TD catch of the night covered 39 yards and gave the Swamp Foxes a 13-0 lead with 10 seconds remaining in the opening half.
Cane Bay gambled on the first possession of the second half, going for it on a fourth-and-one deep in its own territory. The Ashley Ridge defense stuffed a run to take over on downs at the Cane Bay 30-yard line.
The Swamp Foxes capitalized in just a few plays as Kalisz completed a pass to running back Jayden Acosta, a pass to tight end Dwayne Simmons and two passes to Salley. The second pass to Salley was good for a 9-yard TD catch and a 19-0 lead.
The passing attack continued to work for Ashley Ridge on its ensuing drive, but the Swamp Foxes also mixed in a healthy dose of running by Acosta. Ashley Ridge capped the drive with a 20-yard scoring pass from Kalisz to Simmons.
Salley scored his final TD on an 11-yard catch late in the final quarter. He finished with more than 150 receiving yards. Kalisz finished with approximately 280 passing yards.
Tate also praised his defense after the game.
“Cane Bay is very solid and I think we controlled the gaps, especially in the first half and into the third quarter,” he said. “Luca Sciannamea had a heck of a ball game at linebacker. Jimmy Ancrum played well on the edge and Dylan Polansky played well. Our guys up front were really consistent at the four and five techniques.”
Ashley Ridge is a little young so developing depth is key but it has a lot of talent. The Swamp Foxes do have multiple players returning to the offensive line. Seniors Isiah Richardson, Kevin Cobbs and Derek Pickel, along with junior Bryce Lawhon and sophomore center Cody Peterson, are back to set the tone for the offense.
“All those guys have either started or had significant playing time,” Tate said. “They have been in some battles and know what to expect during competition.”
Kalisz, senior Cohen Phillips and junior Zion Spivey are the team’s quarterbacks.
Salley (6-4, 200) and Simmons (6-3, 200) provide big, athletic and experienced targets. Senior Matthew Phillips and junior Nivay Picou also return with receiving experience.
“Those four give us a variety of talent and skill that we hope will help us create some matchup problems,” Tate said. “Salley is receiving offers from colleges and is a great kid who is strong and can run. Phillips is a state pole vault champion and elusive athlete. Simmons can play inside or outside and is a team captain.
Acosta, junior Jeffery Ruffin and senior Desmond Langevin all return with experience at running back.
Senior Gamble Ford returns as a four-star long snapper and sophomore Keith McCune returns after handling some of the kicking duties last season.
Ashley Ridge is still having healthy competition for many of its defensive positions.
“During evaluation we showed we have a really good secondary,” Tate said. “We are very athletic up front and have speed at linebacker.”
The team’s secondary is probably its most seasoned group on that side of the ball. Senior captain Nikolas Jefferson anchors the group from his corner back position. Senior Jermaine Alexander plays opposite of Jefferson. Ancrum and senior Givari Loggins return with experience at safety.
Junior returning lettermen Jermiah Venning and Markel Moore have led the way for the team’s linebackers.
Sophomore nose guard Malachi Mitchell and senior Makhi Palmore anchor Ashley Ridge’s defensive line.
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