With 21 Wins And Back-to-Back Region Titles At Lewisville, Boulware Focused On Class A State Title in ’24
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Richburg — The Lewisville Lions (10-2) continue to make great strides under the head coaching leadership of Leon Boulware with 23 wins and only four losses over his first two years at the Class A school.
After an early season loss on the road against eventual Class AA state champion Oceanside Collegiate, the Lions reeled off 10 straight wins and won their second region title in a row.
The Lions had their potential state championship season come to an end in the second round of the playoffs with a 7-0 loss to St. Joseph Catholic, a charter school from the Greenville area.
“We just picked the worse time of the season to have our worse game of the season,” said Coach Boulware. “We lost a fumble on their five-yard line. We had numerous passes dropped including a wide a touchdown pass in the end zone. We had an injury to a key starter in the first period so for whatever reason it was just not our night.
“We had better over-al game statistics, and most of the time, you win when this happens,” said Coach Boulware. “You just have to learn the experience, wish your hard-working seniors the best moving on, and hope that your returning players learn from the loss.”
In the first round of the playoffs, Lewisville defeated Calhoun Falls 52-0, and there was a running clock mid-way through the second quarter.
Against St Joseph’s junior quarterback prospect Ian Grissom completed 15-of-30 passes for 150 yards. Damion Fee led Lion’s with 87 net yards on 13 carries. The top receiver was De’Adrian Robinson with six catches for 50 yards.
On defense versus St Joseph’s, OLB Joaquan Howze led the tackle index with 23 tackles including three TFL. Jordan Strong had four tackles, 1 TFL an one interception. Daquan Evans had 11 total tackles and 1 TFL and junior FS Zach Rogers had seven tackles and 1 TFL.
The Lions had 11 players earn all-region honors led by junior quarterback Ian Grisson (6-2, 175) who completed 138-of-150 passes for 2,665 yards and 35 touchdowns. “Ian was very consistent at the QB position al year,” said Coach Boulware. “He is certainly one of the better rising senior quarterbacks in the state for next season. He took a visit to Charleston Southern during the season but his recruiting should take off really strong the first of the year.”
Joaquan Howze earned all-region honors after leading the team in tackles with 147 including, 17 TFL and four picks. Sophomore Daquan Evans earned all-region honors after making 111 tackles including 12 TFL. Zach Rogers was named all-region after making 45 tackles, including 7 TFL and two picks.
Other all-region selections included Jordan Strong, OL Ethan Shipman, Kantez Davis, Jacorreun Howze, De’Adrian Robinson, RB Damien Fee, OL Ethan Shipman, along with Clemson baseball pledge Dion Brown, a WR who also played in the North-South all-star game at Myrtle Beach.
Fee led the team in rushing with 902 net yards on 88 rushes and 14 TD’s. The top three receivers were Dion Brown (34-760-7 TD’s), De’Adrian Robinson (28-713-11 TD’s) and Jacorreun Howze (32-606-4 TD’s)
Behind Howze on the tackle index were Evans, Davis, J Cousar (53), Jordan Strong (50), Rogers, DE Montre Fletcher (51), and junior MLB Elisha Baker (43 and 10 sacks).
Junior OL Makiel Crane will return next season also.
“We had 8 senior starters and we are going to miss all of them,” said Coach Boulware. “We will start eight lifting and conditioning after the holidays and I will have all of the under classmen with me in my weight lifting class. We have to keep building and keep growing.”
With realignment coming next year, all the Class A charter schools are expected to move up to either AA or AAA. Lewisville is likely to begin the 2024 season among the top teams in Class A once again. Abbeville, a top AA team, might be coming down to Class A. If they do, Abbeville and Lewisville could be the teams to beat in Class A next season.
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