Crestwood football looking to continue to build on strong 2022 season
Javion Martin returns for his fourth year as starter at QB after throwing 34 TD passes
Sumter – Coming off an 8-4 season in which his team reached the third round of the AAA football state playoffs, Crestwood High School head coach Roosevelt Nelson thinks spring practice left his team in a good position enterking summer workouts.
“I think things went really well,” said Nelson, who will begin his 10th season as CHS head coach when the Knights play host to Richland Northeast on August 18. “We got a lot of stuff done, and we got a good feel for our team.”
Crestwood certainly has a good feel for its quarterback. Senior Javion Martin returns for his fourth season as the starter. Martin had an outstanding junior year, completing 155 of 279 passes for 2,845 yards and 34 tocuhdowns against just seven interceptions. He also rushed for 479 yards and sevens cores on 68 carries.
“He’s definitely doing a tremendous job,” Nelson said of Martin, who has received offers from NCAA Division II schools Benedict, Newberry and Kentucky State. “The game definitely is slowing down for him. He’s really starting to show leadership skills, that he can bring those guys along on and off the field. He is being much more consistent in all facets.”
The Knights have to work on coming up with new targets for Martin as they lost the three leading receivers from last season. They were wide receiver Dominick West with 50 cathces for 8487 yards and nine touchdowns, tight end Anthony Steele with 36 catches for 816 yards and 13 scores, and wide receiver Nigel Johnson with 26 catches for 630 yards and eight scores.
CHS has Kyle Mitchell back after coming up with nine catches for 122 yards last season. Also, senior Khalil Moody, a defensive standout in the secondary, will see a lot more time on the offensive side of the ball. Moody had seven catches that accounted for 180 yards and four touchdowns.
“We’ve got some guys that we think can take that next step,” said Nelson, whose team lost to eventual state champion Beaufort 30-21 in the third round. “Every year we know we’re going to lose two or three main guys, but we've got a plan in place to replace them. Kyle Mitchell is a guy who had a tremendous spring and summer. Jahiem Jones is another young man who comes to mind.”
Crestwood does lose its leading rusher from a year ago in Ryan Cowell, who had 698 yards and eight TDs on 128 carries. However, it does return senior Azarian Yates, who rushed for 602 yards and eight scores on 85 carries.
Figuring out who will fill three holes on the offensive line was a big part of spring practice. The two returning starters are senior interior linemen Armante Bradford and Santiago James.
“We definitely need to take care of the offensive line and defensive line,” Nelson said. “We’ve got to get those guys in place. That’s where a lot of games are won and lost.”
CHS will return eight starters on defense. Included among that group is Moody, who has a Football Bowl Subdivision offer from Charlotte and a Football Championship Division offer from The Citadel along with offers from DIIs Wingate and Newberry.
Other key returning starters are senior defensive lineman Javion Lammie, who has offers from Benedict and Newberry, senior 3-year starting linebacker Jenoryen Gleaton and senior defensive tackle Carron Dawson.
“We’ve got a good group of guys back,” Nelson said. “We just need them to stay healthy the entire year. We’re glad to have them back. Khalil Moody, getting him back is a blessing for us. He is highly effective on both sides of the ball.”
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