By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Dillon -- No matter how productive your offense is, Dillon (2-1) found out for the second time in four games, that when your defense gives up 420 rushing yards, you are not likely to win the game, as Hartsville (4-0) used a punishing ground attack, led by Hakeem Watters and Carmello McDaniel to overcome a two- touchdown halftime deficit (28-14) to rally the Red Foxes to a 51-34 win on September, 8th.
Dillon concluded the 2022 season with their only loss to Beaufort, in the AAA Lower State finals. In that game the Wildcats gave up 420 rushing yards also.
(Should Dillon face a team with a potent one-two running back combination in the playoffs this season, like the 2022 Beaufort team, or the 2023 Hartsville rushing machine, it might be a sound idea to start working out both OL tackles Josiah Thompson (6-7-290) and Jayden Benjamin. 6-4-320) for limited DL spot duty in the red zone once the playoffs start. Such a bold, and rare move, could land the Wildcats the 2023 AAA state title.)
Hartsville came into the game having scored 55 points in three straight wins, so scoring 51 on the usual potent Wildcat defense makes the Red Foxes strong contenders for the AAAA state title in their own right. Hartsville is the new number one AAAA team in the HSSR rankings of September, 11. Dillon slides to number two in AAA, behind top rated Daniel, led by two talented running backs Kari Bennett and Tony Shaw. Bennett had 121 yards rushing on just 8 carries in the Lions season opener.
After the comeback win road win, Hartsville head coach Jeff Calabrese said, “At half-time I told the team that we had not played very well and that I wanted to see what they were made of in the second half,” said Coach Calabrese. “I wanted to see how well we would respond to adversity. We have not been behind a lot this season. We have not seen many people knock us off the ball like we did and we got knocked off the ball a lot in the first half.
“We had to look deep down within ourselves to see how we were going to respond and I felt like our kids responded well,” said Coach Calabrese. “I got to Hartsville in 1994, and in 1992 and 1993 the games between Dillon and Hartsville were among the biggest games ever seen in the Pee Dee region. It went dormant for a long time, although we scrimmaged some. These two games we have had the past two years have been very competitive and I think it has been great for both communities and I hope it continues.
“Last year they had a big second half come-back to win and this year we had one of our own to get a win so I hope we keep playing for the next couple of years,” said Coach Calabrese. “Being able to convert that recovery into a touchdown was huge for us. We saw something in the alignment that we thought we could recover the kick, and being down two touchdowns, we needed to gain some momentum so that was a huge way for us to start off the third quarter.”
Hartsville out-scored the Wildcats 37-6 in the second half. For the game Watters had 192 yards rushing on 17 carries and four touchdowns averaging 11.3 yards a carry. McDaniel was 19 for 170 yards and two touchdowns averaging 8.9 yards a carry. Starting QB McKendric Douglas was injured during the game but he totaled 56 yards on four carries.
After four games McDaniel (65-705-12 TD’s) and Watters (52-620-10 TD’s) are among the top two rushers in the state stats wise.
The top Red Fox tacklers against Dillon included DB DaMarion Coe- 18 tackles; LB Coleman Ratcliff-12 tackles; LB Xavier Robinson-10 tackles; DB Kylif Miller-9 tackles along with LB JaQuez Coe-9 tackles.
Dillon head coach Kelvin Roller said after the game, “I thought our guys fought hard throughout the game and during practice this week we had to make several changes due to some injuries, moving receivers to running backs, and it was a challenge to teach them what to do in our running game.
“But I do not want to take anything away from Hartsville and Coach Calabrese,” said Coach Roller. “They have a tremendous football team. They are first-class all the way. A game like this is just going to make us better. We wish them well.
“We have a lot of work to do as a football team,” said Coach Roller. “We just did not do a good job finishing out this game after playing a very sound first half. “
Dillon was without the services of sophomore RB Domonick Felton. The Wildcats other RB Jamarion Fling missed the game due to suspension. Converted WR Kamarion Singletary responded well with 228 yards rushing on 33 carries and three TD’s. LB Sirmod McCallum led the defense with 11 tackles and he was used in the Wildcat with 21 net yards on six carries and two touchdowns.
Other Nasty Cat tackle leaders were LB Keryien Brown (11), DL Wayvon Bright (5) and LB James Scott (4). Zay Robertson had an interception.
Dillon sophomore QB Josiah Oxendine completed 10-of16- passes for 116 yards. He added 17 yards on the ground. The top receiver for Dillon was Rahmond Hamilton with three catches.
Hartville will play Irmo this week while Dillon hosts Socastee.
All Rights Reserved | The High School Sports Report 1986-2021