Previewing Johnsonville: SCHSL Class 1A State Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Johnsonville Flashes were a four-win team just a season ago. But in 2022, they've already tripled that total - and sit just one victory away from capping off a phenomenal fall with a state championship. After downing a terrific Cross team in the Lower State final, the unbeaten Flashes will face off with Christ Church on Friday night at Benedict College for the SCHSL Class 1A state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HOW THEY GOT HERE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Round 1: 57-14 W vs. Military Magnet&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997242' first='Malik' last='Shippy'] </strong>and the Flashes' offense were dialed in all night to cruise past the Eagles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Round 2: 14-7 W vs. Bamberg-Ehrhardt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Flashes grinded out a hard-fought win at home over a gritty Raiders team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Round 3: 14-0 W vs. Lamar</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnsonville's defense continued its stellar form with a shutout of the Silver Foxes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lower State Final: 20-6 W vs Cross</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ken Cribb's squad overcame several early injuries and a shaky start to down a surprise Cross Trojans team. Johnsonville forced a stellar five turnovers on defense, and <strong>Daquan Burroughs </strong>scored a rushing touchdown from 40 yards out in the second half as the Flashes scored 20 unanswered points to end the game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE MAINSTAYS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='997242' first='Malik' last='Shippy'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Johnsonville ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eA dual-threat veteran under center, u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003e[player_tooltip player_id='997242' first='Malik' last='Shippy']u003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e has been tremendous in Johnsonville's run to the state title bout. He's a quick runner and shifty on his feet while doing a great job of taking what the defense gives him. Shippy is efficient and smart with the football, carrying a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio of 14:4 while averaging 5.3 yards per carry on the ground. He'll need his leadership and talent to be on full display on Friday against the Cavaliers. u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Daquan Burroughs ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Johnsonville ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eA dangerous weapon out of the backfield, u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003eDaquan Burroughsu003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e has become the star of this Johnsonville offense in 2022. He's averaging nine yards a touch and has put up a whopping 1,781 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns this year. A quick and agile back with tremendous strength and balance to burst through tacklers, Burroughs will be expected to carry the load and be the focal point for the Flashes in Columbia.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1012649' first='Landyn' last='Cribb']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Johnsonville ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eJohnsonville's defense has been a force up front in the latter half of the season, and linebackeru003c/spanu003eu003cbu003e [player_tooltip player_id='1012649' first='Landyn' last='Cribb']u003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e is a big reason why. Cribb leads the team with 103 tackles on the year including an impressive 26 stops behind the line of scrimmage. His extraordinary burst off the snap and footwork allow him to wreak havoc in the backfield and shut down the run game. Cribbs' presence will be massive if Johnsonville wants to finish the job on Friday night. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Kavontre Singletary","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Johnsonville ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eA senior leader in the heart of Johnsonville's stout defense, u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003eKavontre Singletaryu003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e has delivered a sensational 2022 campaign. He reads plays well off the snap and is quick to the football with top-notch tackling skills. He's put up 101 stops on the year including nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and even a pair of interceptions. A high-motor defender who can shut down the run and shine as a coverage linebacker, Singletary will put his leadership on display as the Flashes go for the state title on Friday. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638a593e11629"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYER TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alontre Pressley ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Johnsonville ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cbu003eAlontre Pressleyu003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e has been a standout both ways for the Flashes, but he has most notably taken his game to the next level on defense. His elite coverage skills in the secondary helped him earn a team-high five interceptions while adding 14 catches for 234 yards and three touchdowns as a wide receiver. A quick and talented athlete with the hands and the hustle to outduel his matchup, Pressley could be a key difference-maker on either side of the ball and will have his say against u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003eWoods Windhamu003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e and an elite Christ Church offense. u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638a593e116ea"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SCHSL CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 1 Johnsonville vs. No. 2 Christ Church</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When: 7 p.m. Friday&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where: Benedict College, Columbia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tickets: $15, available through gofan.com. Parking an additional $10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->