What We Saw: Silver Bluff Defense Pummels Socastee
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MYRTLE BEACH | A year ago, Socastee watched its hopes for a strong season evaporate in the second game of the year when Silver Bluff’s Jordan Boyd Jordan Boyd 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL Silver Bluff | 2024 State…
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Continue ReadingMYRTLE BEACH | A year ago, Socastee watched its hopes for a strong season evaporate in the second game of the year when Silver Bluff’s Jordan Boyd Jordan Boyd 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL Silver Bluff | 2024 State SC went on a tear during which he sacked quarterback Rocco Wojcik Rocco Wojcik 5'11" | 165 lbs | QB Socastee | 2024 State SC – knocking the then-junior out for the year and throwing the Braves’ offense for a loop.
Socastee didn’t win another game the rest of the way.
In the rematch, Ben Hampton’s team was determined to not let Boyd have another strong showing, and it didn’t matter. Repeatedly double-teaming the Georgia Tech commitment only meant all-state defensive tackle Jaydon Eason Jaydon Eason 6'0" | 275 lbs | DL Silver Bluff | 2024 State SC and Miami of Ohio commitment and linebacker Jayden Fuller Jayden Fuller 5'11" | 225 lbs | LB Silver Bluff | 2024 State SC to do some serious damage en route to a 46-0 Silver Bluff victory.
“Right away, we figured out [Wojcik and Quadir Scott Quadir Scott 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Socastee | 2024 State SC ] were a little frantic focusing on Jordan,” said Fuller, who transferred in from Aiken over the summer. “Focusing on Jordan allows me and Jaydon to open up, and the entire defense as a whole could open up to play in room and play our best.”
That was true from the very beginning of the game.
After Boyd recovered a fumble that led to Silver Bluff first points just 2 minutes into the game, Fuller intercepted a Wojcik pass on the Braves’ second position and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. After the Fuller return, Eason got in on the action, sacking Wojcik on Socastee’s third possession. The first half sort of went like that, with Fuller and Eason going back and forth on who was going to make the high-impact plays.
Eason, a Class 4A All-State honoree last season at North Augusta prior to his transfer, had that sack, three quarterback pressures and two tackles for loss before halftime. By that same point, Fuller had a tackle for loss and five stops to go along with his interception return.
Eason added another sack and two more tackles for loss in a mostly slow-moving second half.
After the opening two quarters, though, Eason and Fuller had done more than enough damage.
“We knew that [Boyd] dominated last year, so I went out there and did my job,” Eason said. “…We were just dominant. You can see that scoreboard: 46-0. We want to keep that rolling.”
OTHER SILVER BLUFF NOTABLES
Daniel Jones RB/ST – The Bulldogs’ utility man is going to be used for double duty plenty this year. He made his spot on special teams count when he recovered a fumble on a Socastee kickoff return and took it back 18 yards as time expired in the first quarter. Then, after a relatively quiet first 9 minutes of the second quarter, he punched in a 21-yard touchdown run to make it 34-0 before halftime. His 23-yard touchdown run with 8 minutes left in the game marked the only points of the second half.
Darren Jackson DL – As if Silver Bluff needed anyone else along the line to have a good night, Jackson was yet another complement to the front seven. He recovered a fumble and recorded four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
Zykee Williams RB – The Bulldogs’ third-string tailback was sent in to help run out the clock in the waning minutes of the game and Silver Bluff backed up to its own 4 yard line. Williams drained the final 3 minutes with his five carries, but he also closed it out with a bang. After rushing for 4, 2, 5 and 12 yards, he ripped off a 73-yard touchdown run and crossed the goal line as the final horn sounded.