WHAT WE SAW: Lower Richland 31, Orangeburg-Wilkinson 0
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If a team is ever hitting its stride at the right time, Lower Richland just might be it. The Diamonds were considered by many to be a contender in Region 5-3A before the season began but got off to a…
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Continue ReadingIf a team is ever hitting its stride at the right time, Lower Richland just might be it. The Diamonds were considered by many to be a contender in Region 5-3A before the season began but got off to a slow start before rebounding with consecutive wins, including a workman-like 31-0 win over Orangeburg-Wilkinson Friday night, leading into the season finale next week.
Lamarion Pearson ran for 126 yards and touchdown runs of 13 and 57 yards. Jamel Patterson intercepted two passes, including one off a tipped ball that he returned 55 yards for the score. Nate Branch Nate Branch 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Lower Richland | 2023 State SC , an East Carolina commitment, returned from a two-game absence to catch three passes for 51 yards. He also moved from defensive back to more of a rush end to help the Diamonds defense.
“Like I told them after the game, they could have folded this thing up three or four weeks ago,” LR coach Marlin Taylor said. “They continue to fight every week. They show up to practice every day. They’re ready to work. They thank the coaches no matter how hard we get on them. We talked about change in the pregame speech this afternoon. We’re getting there at the right time of the year.”
The biggest turnaround has been on the defensive side of the ball. Lower Richland allowed 40 points or more in a five-game losing streak earlier in the season but saw things begin to turn around in a 14-7 setback to Brookland-Cayce. Since then, they’ve allowed 13 points in two games. Orangeburg-Wilkinson was without starting QB Anthony Mack Anthony Mack 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 2023 State SC so LR keyed on the run and only allowed 103 yards of total offense.
Deamonti Garrett Deamonti Garrett 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Lower Richland | 2023 State SC , Patterson and Joshua Sims have been a huge part of that. Lower Richland had seven new starters on defense to start the season and those players are rounding into seasoned veterans now.
“Talk about a complete 360,” Taylor said of his defense. “We’ve probably been giving up 40 points a game all year so to come out and get a shutout is a confidence builder.
Another thing the Diamond Hornets have begun to do is lean on a massive offensive line that starts with 6’8”, 320 junior tackle Dakarai Sumter. Other guys upfront include Shemar Glover Shemar Glover 6'0" | 300 lbs | OL Lower Richland | 2024 State SC , Cameron Newton, Keyondre Richardson, and Kam Scott.
“Those guys are the heartbeat of this team,” Taylor said. “They allow us to do things we do offensively. They understand coming in, we want to run the ball. That’s just who we are.”
MJ Smith and Jamell Myers capped the scoring for Lower Richland (3-6, 2-1)