Dorchester County Showdown Jamboree Gives Fans A Glimpse Of What’s To Come

By Roger Lee

 Special to the HSSR

Summerville - The final scrimmage of the 2024 Dorchester County Showdown high school football jamboree featured more offense than all the others.

Host team Ashely Ridge rolled to a 35-19 victory over Beaufort in the night cap matchup of the jamboree, which also included two-quarter length competitions between eight other teams, leading into the opening of the regular season next week.

Due to the impacts of the tropical storm that rolled across the Southeast the week before, “The Showdown” was their first opportunity to compete. Others, such as Ashley Ridge, were able to fit in one full-length scrimmage, prior to the Showdown.

“During that scrimmage and tonight we learned we need to be more disciplined defensively and offensively we are not going as fast as I would like,” Ashley Ridge coach Jeff Tate said. “Over-all I’m pleased, but we are nowhere close to being what I hope we will end up being at the end of the season. I know we put points on the board, but I expect us to put points on the board.”

The Swamp Foxes moved the ball through the air and on the ground on their first possession. Key plays included a 15-yard pass from quarterback Trevor Kalisz to Jagger Spivey and a 50-yard run by Jayden Acosta, who capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Kalisz later had his own 5-yard TD run and defensive lineman Malachi Mitchell recovered a Beaufort fumble in the end zone for a 21-0 Ashley Ridge lead late in the opening quarter.

Beaufort quarterback Samari Bonds got the Eagles on the board with a 2-yard TD run. Later in the second quarter, Ashley Ridge receiver Bam Deweese caught a pass and broke free for a 78-yard TD. The Eagles responded with a 98-yard kickoff return by Isaac Smalls for a 28-12 score.

Ashley Ridge running back Cameron Garner powered his way to a 40-yard TD run halfway through the final quarter, but the Eagles weren’t done. Bonds connected with Amare Patterson for a TD pass with 2:30 remaining.

The Swamp Foxes kept the Eagles off the scoreboard the rest of the scrimmage.

Summerville v. Irmo

One of the other more entertaining scrimmages was between Summerville and Irmo, which volunteered to replace Aiken when that team pulled out of the jamboree. Irmo quarterback Aaron Brand, a Virginia Tech pledge, threw a 36-yard TD pass on the Yellow Jackets final possession to earn his team a 17-14 win.

Summerville took a 7-3 lead on a 5-yard TD pass from Jaden Cummings to tight end Keshon Washington. Then Brand hit Donovan Murph with a 7-yard TD pass for another Irmo lead.

Cummings threw a 40-yard TD pass to sophomore receiver Jaiden Kelly-Murray for a 14-10 Green Wave lead after Bennett Kelly’s second successful PAT. However, the Summerville defense couldn’t stop the Yellow Jackets’ offense one more time.

“We just ran out of time,” Summerville coach Ian Rafferty said. “It was a good competition. Irmo has a good football team and we have a good football team. Offensively we put together some drives but then on that one got stopped on fourth down. I’m pleased with our defense even though they gave up a lot of yards. We made a stand to force them to a field goal early on. We need to get a little better, but we still have a good team.”

Dorchester Academy v. Branchville

The first scrimmage featured a pair of Class A teams not accustomed to playing in front of a crowd the size the Showdown draws. Branchville edged out Dorchester Academy 12-6.

“I’m encouraged by this,” Branchville coach Wayne Dukes said. “I knew we wouldn’t tackle well because this was our first opportunity to scrimmage plus, we were playing in a 5A stadium in front of a lot of fans so I thought we might come out and be a little tentative. We settled in during the second quarter and showed more who we are as a team. We really have aspirations of finishing at the top of our conference this year.”

Ashton Preast broke free for 27-yard TD run to give Branchville the lead. Dorchester Academy QB John Quattlebaum scored on a 1-yard run to tie the game. Then Branchville QB Seth Shaw threw to Daniel Jennings for a 4-yard TD pass to cap the scoring.

Fort Dorchester v. Oceanside Collegiate

Fort Dorchester defeated Oceanside Collegiate 14-0 in their scrimmage.

“Well now we definitely know who our playmakers are,” Fort Dorchester coach Shaun Lorenzano said. “Our stable of running backs is going to be good. There was a running clock so we couldn’t get all of them in tonight. I’m pleased offensively because I see us coming together. Our defense was solid and disciplined. Those guys play hard for defensive coordinator Bobby Floyd.”

Fort QB Kevin Johnson connected with running back Ryan Campbell for a 53-yard TD catch to open the scoring. Zach Woods then added his first of two successful PATs on the night. Later in the matchup, Campbell broke free for an 89-yard TD run for the 14-0 margin.

Woodland v. Bluffton

Bluffton defeated Woodland 14-6 in their scrimmage.

“We were a little sloppy at the beginning, but then we got into a rhythm toward the end and did pretty good,” Bluffton coach Hayden Gregory said. “I think we showed we can be a really good football team if we just do our jobs. We scored two touchdowns and our defense shut them out all night so I feel good about where we are. Woodland has such a good program. They are good year in and year out and their kids are really physical so I’m glad we were able to handle them.”

Woodland got on the board first when Donovan Miles recovered a Bluffton fumble in the end zone for 6 points. The Bobcats answered with a 49-yard TD pass from QB Aedan McCarthy to receiver Nate Ulmer. Ethan Cartmel hit the PAT for a 7-6 lead. Bluffton cushioned its lead with a 5-yard TD pass from McCarthy to receiver Carnell Warren and another PAT.