2022 Preview: Ashley Ridge Swamp Foxes
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When Shane Fidler accepted the Ashley Ridge football job in the spring of 2020, he expected a slow build for a program that had four winning seasons in its first 12 of existence.
Heading into year three, the Swamp Foxes are showing obvious signs of development.
After going 2-6 in the pandemic-shortened first season and then .500 last fall, this is the best Ashley Ridge has looked since well before he took over.
“I can’t speak for before I got there, but this is a great team,” Fidler said. “I think it’s the most complete overall as a team that we’ve looked.”
Mixing both plenty of experience and some youth with higher ceilings, Ashley Ridge has some high-end pieces together that should help it progress in a difficult Region VII-5A and into the postseason.
Defensively, the Swamp Foxes return three of the biggest reasons this squad held opponents to fewer than 17 points per game and forced 13 turnovers (nine fumbles, four interceptions).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
Senior linebackers [player_tooltip player_id="263162" first="Christian" last="Garland"], [player_tooltip player_id="91158" first="TJ" last="Wilson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="194335" first="Alex" last="Ledford"] are all back. And each has his own impressive resume en route to forming one of the best units in the Lowcountry.
Garland (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) led the Swamp Foxes last season in both solo tackles (37) and overall stops (77.5), along with five tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Wilson (6-foot, 215 pounds) finished with 56.5 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble.
Ledford (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) had a team-high six sacks (more than half of the team total), as well as 44 total tackles and three fumble recoveries.
Tack on junior <strong>Brady Gentry</strong> (5-foot-7, 170), who had 21.5 total tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss, and it’s clear Ashley Ridge’s core is smack dab in the middle of that defense.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
Fidler will be asking more from former contributors <strong>Carmine Martinez</strong>, <strong>Brandon Ludlum</strong> and <strong>Zach Scialampo</strong> on the line, as well as defensive backs <strong>Jimmy Ancrum</strong> and <strong>Derrick Gailliard</strong>.
And as long as we’re talking about potential, it’s clear the Summerville program has found a new niche.
Size on the offensive line.
A pair of youngsters in sophomore right tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="346190" first="Bryce" last="Lawhon"]</strong> (6-foot-7, 320 pounds) and freshman center <strong>Cody Peterson</strong> (6-foot-5, 315) join left guard <strong>Isiah Richardson</strong> (6-foot-5, 290) pounds), right guard <strong>Jacob McDaniels</strong> (5-foot-10, 220) and left tackle <strong>Kevin Cobbs</strong> (6-foot-2, 220 pounds). Fidler said he hired a second offensive line coach to help work with all that size, and it could pay immediate dividends for the skill guys.
Returning quarterback <strong>Xavier Proctor-Floyd</strong> threw for 1,032 yards and seven touchdowns a season ago while rushing for another 189 yards and five scores. Joining Proctor-Floyd in the backfield will be <strong>Desmond Langevin</strong> and <strong>Quentin Birk</strong>, who’ll be splitting up the duties mostly held down by Cordell Gaston a year ago.
Receivers <strong>Chris Simmons</strong> (14 receptions, 224 yards, three touchdowns), <strong>Derrick Salley</strong> (nine, 102, one) and <strong>DJ Drayton</strong> (15, 169, one) will all be back, and varsity newcomer <strong>Jordan Elmontus</strong> is expected to be in the mix, too.
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