What We Saw: Fort D’s Osborne leads offensive outburst in opener
[player_tooltip player_id="89345" first="Zolten" last="Osborne"] entered the 2021 season as one of the most highly regarded quarterbacks in the entire state.
The Fort Dorchester junior didn’t disappoint in his team’s season opener.
Osborne threw for 380 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-25 passing against Carolina Forest in the Patriots’ 58-26 victory. It was every bit the showing we expected out of the third-ranked quarterback and 13-best prospect in our Class of 2023 rankings.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder found much of his earlier rhythm with <strong>Davion Joyner</strong>, who at 6-foot-3 proved to be a difficult match-up for the Panthers. During one stretch in the first half, Osborne and Joyner linked up on four plays in a five-snap stretch. Joyner finished the game with six receptions for 109 yards, all in the first half.
After the break, Osborne went to work with <strong>Marion Mitchell</strong>. The two paired up for four receptions for 105 yards, all in the second half.
<strong>OTHER PLAYERS WHO STOOD OUT:</strong>
<strong>Carolina Forest</strong>
<strong>Scott Saylor</strong> couldn’t repeat his six-touchdown performance from last week, but this game also came against a dramatically better defense than West Brunswick. Saylor was relatively efficient, completing 18 of his 29 attempts. He ended the night with 180 yards and two touchdowns through the air and another 51 rushing.
Receiver <strong>Tmars McCallum</strong> is a true vertical threat, even when he catches the ball mere yards from the line. McCallum, one of the fast sprinters in the state in the 100-meter, added three more receptions to his season against the Patriots. They went for 57 yards.
<strong>Fort Dorchester</strong>
<strong>DJ Geddis</strong> got into the end zone as a full back during the first quarter, but his value to this team is clearly even better in his natural position. The 6-foot-1, 260-pound defensive lineman was consistently in the Panthers’ backfield, putting up three tackles for loss and a sack.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
While big receivers like Joyner, Mitchell and <strong>Demetris McKelvey</strong> will get most of the attention, Fort Dorchester proved why <strong>Tre Ryan</strong> will be so valuable in the slot. Ryan took a second quarter reception 41 yards deep into Carolina Forest territory. Then, in the third, he hauled in a reception on a busted play, made three nice cuts and found his way into the end zone for a 30-yard score.
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