Class 3A State Championship Preview
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Daniel (13-0) vs Camden (11-2) The Class 3A state championship is a rematch of the 2020 title game. Daniel is obviously hoping for a repeat of the 52-31 victory over Camden while the Bulldogs would like to forget that chilly…
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Continue ReadingDaniel (13-0) vs Camden (11-2)
The Class 3A state championship is a rematch of the 2020 title game. Daniel is obviously hoping for a repeat of the 52-31 victory over Camden while the Bulldogs would like to forget that chilly day in early December a season ago.
The one thing Camden likely remembers most is the performance of Daniel QB Trent Pearman Trent Pearman 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Daniel | 2022 State SC . In that victory, Pearman threw for 472 yards and six touchdowns and his top target, Eli Merck Eli Merck 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR DW Daniel | 2023 State SC caught 7 passes for 183 yards and 2 TDs.
Those two return for the Lions but the cast of players for Camden has changed greatly for the Friday, December 3, 2 pm tilt at Benedict’s Charles W. Johnson Stadium in Columbia.
Pearman has thrown for 3,497 yards and 41 touchdowns and rushed for 301 yards and eight more scores. Chris Edge is the leading rusher with 929 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Five players have 34 receptions or more on the season. Merck is the leader with 70 catches for 1,007 yards and 15 touchdowns. Jaylen Brown-Wallace Jaylen Brown-Wallace 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Daniel | 2023 State SC is next with 50 for 847 and nine touchdowns. Misun Kelly (43-604, 8 touchdowns) Clay Swinney (34-400, six touchdowns) and Edge (34-255, two scores) round out the talented receiving corp.
Daniel has not scored less than 35 points in any game this season and will come into the title game averaging 48.5 points in the playoffs.
Defensively, the Lions are allowing just over 11 points a game. LB Carson Chasteen has 109 tackles and 14 tackles for loss on the year. LB Griffin Batt Griffin Batt 6'2" | 220 lbs | DL DW Daniel | 2022 State SC is next with 101 overall tackles and 12 tackles for loss. DE Jahiem Lawson Jahiem Lawson 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL DW Daniel | 2022 State SC has 24 tackles for loss and 73 stops on the season. LB Logan Lasher Logan Lasher 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB DW Daniel | 2022 State SC has contributed 67 tackles and 15 tackles for loss.
Camden is back in the title game with a young, highly touted defense and an offense that has recovered from a rash of injuries.
Camden is led on offense by a couple of sophomores in QB Grayson White Grayson White 6'0" | 240 lbs | QB Camden | 2024 State SC and RB Averee Hickmon. They have helped Camden make its 16th championship game appearance as they are searching for title No. 8. The last time they won a state championship was in 2001.
White has thrown for 1,073 yards and rushed for 564 yards and accounted for 23 total touchdowns since moving from the defensive line to QB early in the year. Hickmon moved over from linebacker and is second on the team in rushing with 391 yards. Anthony Lyles Anthony Lyles 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Camden | 2022 State SC is the big-play target at WR with 58 catches for 746 yards.
The defense features college prospects at nearly every spot.
Defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod Xzavier McLeod 6'5" | 320 lbs | DL Camden | 2023 State SC has 56 tackles, five sacks, 21 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback hurries. DE Jonathan Chavis Jonathan Chavis 6'2" | 245 lbs | DL Camden | 2022 State SC is the team-leader with 7.5 sacks and has 63 tackles, 21 quarterback pressure and 17 tackles for loss. SS Dorian Ferguson has three interceptions and 77 tackles. LB Tevin Eley Tevin Eley 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Camden | 2022 State SC is the leader with 87 tackles.
Defensive backs Deamonte Halley and Jaylen Pate Jaylen Pate 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Camden | 2022 State SC along with linebackers David Copley David Copley 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Camden | 2023 State SC and Wilson Nash all have over 45 tackles on the season. In the last five games, the Bulldogs have allowed 31 points with three shutouts.