Scott's Branch football finishes season winless
Eagles' State said goal for 2024 is to become more physical
Summerton – Scott’s Branch High School football head coach Randall State knew the 2023 season would more than likely be a difficult one. The Eagles were a young team that had lost their three primary offensive weapons to graduation.
That being said though, the season was more than likely more difficult than State had anticipated.
The Eagles went 0-10 on the season and 0-4 in Region 5-Class A. Scott’s Branch allowed 435 points while scoring just 78. Since they lost one game by forfeit, that means it allowed over 48 points a game.
State believes some positives came out of the season though.
“We had some guys who grew up,” said State, who just completed his second season at Scott’s Branch. “We've got some young blue chippers who'll be something to watch in the next couple of years.”
One thing that State knows is the Eagles have to develop a much more physical presence than they showed this year.
“We're just not a physical team right now,” he said. “We've got to spend more time in the weight room and get more physical.”
State said the Eagles’ 47-8 loss to East Clarendon in the regular-season finale was a microcosm of the season.
“They beat us up and down the field,” State said. “That's been happening all year. We've just got to get dedicated in the weight room.”
Senior Jordan Kind was the leader of the offense. He rushed for 342 yards and three touchdowns, caught four passes for 189 yards and two more touchdowns and completed 7 of 11 passes for 70 yards and two more touchdowns.
Scott’s Branch had five different players throw six or more passes as it tried to find some pop on offense besides Kind. Sophomore Jojo Jackson completed 10 of 21 passes for 287 yards and a touchdown.
Freshman Nyren Bowman caught five passes for 222 yards and one touchdown. Another freshman, Quintin Jackson, had three catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Junior Nigel Lawson completed 8 of 13 passes for 136 yards and a score while rushing for 223 yards on 221 carries.
Junior Dreshawn Blanding was the leading tackler with 72 to go with 10 tackles for loss. Bowman had 58 tackles and three tackles for loss.
The Eagles only had a handful of seniors on the roster so State is looking forward to seeing what a year of development in fundamentals and in the weight room will lead to for his young team.
“We're going hard. Everyone will be back except for about three guys. We've got to get them in the weight room and we’ll be tougher next year.”
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