Sumter claims the Crestwood Rivalry Game 35-14

Larry Gamble

Photo Editor, HSSR

Sumter – The this week’s non-conference game was also the cross town rivalry game as the 5A Sumter Gamecocks traveled to Dalzel to face the Crestwood Knights which realigned to 4A this season. Sumter coming into the 3-0 after an OT win against White Knoll in week one and cruising to the win against Myrtle Beach last week. Crestwood 2-1 with their only loss coming in a close game against Richland Northeast in week one.

Sumter would receive the opening kick off and John Peeples would carry the ball 9 times in the 11 play opening drive and score a TD on 3^rd and 1 from the Crestwood 1 yard line. The PAT by Alexander Krivejko made it 7-0. After the kickoff, Crestwood would go three and out with punt by Jorge Lora Henandez going 30 yards.

Sumter takes over at their 35 and in just three plays, Franklin Richardson hits WR Christopher Bentley for a 41 yard TD pass, the PAT is good and the Gamecocks lead 14-0. 

Crestwood starts their second drive of the first quarter and on third down, Traveze Benefield gets sacked by Ty’Maries Durant and they are forced to punt from their own 5 yard line. Receiving the punt, Omari Parker drops the ball, and Crestwood recovers on their own 33. Taking over at QB with better field position, sophomore Jaylen Martin brings in a run option focused offense utilizing Jeremie Richardson, LaDamian Belton, and Calvin Wofford effectively to move the ball.  On 3^rd and 12 from the Sumter 35, Martin pitches to Wofford who gets a key block and puts Crestwood on the board with the Hernandez PAT makes it 14-7 at 7:37 in the second quarter.

The second quarter would see back-to-back scoring by Sumter. After the Crestwood TD, Sumter would open their drive with a 69 yard run by Jacori Jackson to set up 1^st and goal from the 6 yard line. Peeples would take the ball for his second TD and Krivejko added the PAT. On the ensuing kickoff, it was a on-side kick which Sumter recovered at the Crestwood 40. Three plays later, Kameron Fortune takes the ball 20 yards for another Sumter TD followed by Krivejko completing the PAT. After another Crestwood three and out, Richardson would complete a pass to Bentley from the 40 for another TD. Time in half would run out with the Crestwood possession afterwards and the half ends with Sumter up 35-7.

The second half was not as productive for Sumter with their offense only being on the field for 17 snaps. Crestwood fought hard against the Sumter defense and managed to add one more TD by Wofford with 5:03 to go in the third. Neither team would score again and the game ends with the final score 35-14 Sumter.

After the game, Crestwood head coach Roosevelt Nelson said, “we have a very young team and they came out on fire and built on that for the second half.” When asked about Jaylen Martin taking over the offense that led to both Crestwood TDs, “Not bad for a freshman trying to go against a veteran defense. He did his thing and he will be better with experience.”  In closing Coach Nelson said “Sumter is a very good ball team, we had our struggles in the first half but we played a good solid half of football against a 5A team. Now, we just have to put that together for the whole game.”

Sumter improved to 4-0 and head coach Mark Barnes commented after the game when asked about the difference in the two halves. “It was a great win for us, they are a good football team and Coach Nelson does a great job coaching.”   “We played great in the first half but we have to play better defense. We just could get not our defense off the field and we had too many turn overs.” 

Next up, Sumter travels to Spring Valley and Crestwood travels to South Florence. These next games on Sept 20th will be the start of region play for both teams.