Bamberg-Ehrhardt out to finish season unbeaten with Class A football state title
Red Raiders to face 12-2 Lamar for championship
Bamberg – The top ranked Red Raiders had laid waste to every opponent they had played this season with only one team coming with in 15 points so when they entered the fourth quarter of the class A lower state finals trailing fourth ranked Cross 26-22 it was the first gut check time of the year.
Big time players make big time plays and that is exactly what Brian McMillian and Marcus Cann Jr did as they connected on 10-yard touchdown pass with just over two minutes to go in the game to give the Red Raiders a 29-26 win. The win kept the Red Raiders undefeated at 14-0 but more importantly propelled them into their 12th state championship game appearance.
The Red Raiders will face the Lamar Silver Foxes (12-2/5-0) a 48-27 winner over Lewisville. The 6th ranked Silver Foxes are in there 10th state championship game and they are looking for their 6th title.
“We challenge our kids in practice every day. We tell them standards should never change no matter the opponent. Practice is harder than the games and we put our kids in situations like that every day,” said BE head coach Corey Crosby. “Cross is a great team and I have a lot of respect for Shaun Wright and the program he has built at Cross. It took our best game to come out on top.”
Coach continued, “Our kids have been grounded all year because they know what we have a head of us. Once region play ended and when we were getting ready for the playoffs we had a saying ‘We don’t want the best players, we want the right players on the field.’ It keeps the competition high every day.”
The Red Raiders have been equally as impressive on both sides of the ball. The offense has scored 723 points (51.6 ppg) while the defense has allowed only 101 points (7.21 ppg). The scored over 50 points seven times while pitching five shutouts. They have almost 8000 yards of total offense and have scored 108 touchdowns.
Leading the offense is junior quarterback McMillian. He has completed 78% of his throws for 3820 yards and 45 touchdowns while rushing for 853 yards and another 21 touchdowns. The last two weeks he has really stepped up his game throwing for 861 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also plays corner on defense and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with five including one he took to the house.
McMillian’s top targets have been Charles (Anthony) Williams, Jason Youmans, Jordan Bovain, and Rocky Walker. Williams leads the team in receptions with 48 for 1263 yards and 17 scores. Youmans has 36 receptions for 820 yards and 10 touchdowns while Bovian has 32 receptions for 781 yards and five touchdowns. Walker has only 18 receptions but 8 have gone to the house.
Cann Jr and Jalen McGraw have both rushed for over 1000 yards and are averaging over 13 yards per carry. Cann has crossed the goal line 16 times while McGraw has 11 touchdowns. Chris Washington adds depth to the backfield and had has rushed for 503 yards and 8 scores.
Leading the way for all this offense are Michael Manigault, Jaden Moody, Simeon Bamberg, Pierre Fuller, Aaden McCormick, and Keegan Daff. They have controlled the line of scrimmage and paved the way for the Red Raider’s offensive onslaught.
Linebacker Darian Sease has been a terror all year. Coach Crosby said he has made plays all over the field. He leads the team in tackles with 134. He is second in tackles for loss with 18 to go with four picks, two fumble recoveries and 2.5 sacks.
Washington is second on the team in tackles with 112 and 9 pass breakups while Darius Walker is third in tackles with 88 to go with 16 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and two fumble recover
Ahmad Busby also has 80 tackles on the year.
McGraw has spent just as much time in the other teams backfield as he does his own. He leads the team with 24 tackles for loss to go with 10 sacks. He also forced a team high three fumbles, recovered two and has a pick.
The defensive front of Darren Carter, Bamberg and Moody have combined for 135 tackles with 12 tackles for loss. They do a great job of controlling the line scrimmage allowing the Red Raiders speedy linebackers to roam freely.
Chaz Breland has been solid in the kicking game. He is 99 for 105 on extra points and has a 47-yard field goal. He has 77 touchbacks on 107 kick offs and is averaging 44.13 yards on punts.
State Championships
At Oliver C. Dawson Stadium
In Orangeburg
Friday, December 5
3A
Belton-Honea Path (14-0) vs. Oceanside Collegiate (12-2), 12:06 p.m.
1A
Lamar (12-2) vs. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (14-0), 4:06 p.m.
5A Division II
Northwestern (12-1) vs. Irmo (12-1), 7:36 p.m.
Saturday, December 6
4A
South Pointe (13-1) vs. South Florence (13-1), 12:06 p.m.
2A
Strom Thurmond (12-2) vs. Hampton County (11-3), 4:06 p.m.
5A Division I
Dutch Fork (11-1) vs. Summerville (12-2), 7:36 p.m.
