What We Saw: Sumter 42, Ridge View 19

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SUMTER |</strong>&nbsp;The past few seasons, Sumter has been a team across the state with a topflight defense and a more methodical approach on the offensive side of things.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Given the way things have shaken out early in the 2023 season, those thoughts might waver. The defensive effort is the same. Offensively, things might be a lot better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sumter unleashed a bevy of skill players in a dominating 42-19 victory over Ridge View Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gamecocks scored on their first offensive play with a bit of trickery but after that it was more smash-mouth football with a few passes thrown in for good measure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong>&nbsp;opened the scoring with a 62-yard halfback pass to&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997395' first='Dazaun' last='Jackson']</strong>&nbsp;on the first play from scrimmage to set the tone. The Gamecocks scored on five of the next six possessions to take away any doubt of the outcome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peeples (pictured) added touchdown runs of 1 and 4 yards,&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012696' first='Kameron' last='Fortune']</strong>&nbsp;scored from 27 yards, and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997237' first='Pate' last='Merchant']&nbsp;</strong>threw a 29-yard TD to&nbsp;<strong>Jamie Tedder</strong>&nbsp;and ran one in from a yard out. Fortune led the way on the ground with 122 yards on 16 carries with Peeples adding 77 yards on 16 touches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Merchant ended the night 6-of-9 for 90 yards. Sumter didn't have any turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have good skill players and Pate being a senior,” Sumter coach Mark Barnes said. “We didn't throw it tonight as much as we planned to throw it but we didn't visualize we'd have as much success as we did running the ball. Both tailbacks were really good. We're a little more explosive than maybe we've been.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gamecocks defense might be lacking the big-time names they've had in the past, but they slowed the talented Blazers offense.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1146267' first='Jauron' last='Bennett']</strong>&nbsp;recorded an interception and the Sumter defense also forced two other turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison'], who has a Cincinnati offer among others, set the tone early. But he had plenty of help from the likes of&nbsp;<strong>Kedatriss Anderson</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Jaheim Rose</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997137' first='Bryson' last='Cuffie']</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Tymaries Thompson-Durant</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Jordan Lowery</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The limited Ridge View to 50 yards rushing and 42 of those yards came on the final two drives.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our standard here is defense. We're going to win here with defense,” Barnes said. “We gave them some yards but didn't break. I told our players after the game I don't think we could have played much better. We were a complete football team tonight.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RIDGE VIEW NOTABLES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blazers played two quarterbacks – starter&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997121' first='Breylon' last='Boyd']</strong>&nbsp;got the bulk of the reps – and ended up with 284 yards passing. Boyd finished 15-of-29 for 206 yards and a touchdown of 31 yards to&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473013' first='Carter' last='Coleman']</strong>. Coleman, a sophomore wide receiver, was the leading target with seven catches for 104 yards. Boyd also added a rushing touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']</strong>&nbsp;threw for 78 yards and a late TD as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively,&nbsp;<strong>Mycah Cumming</strong>s and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='728148' first='David' last='Matthews']</strong>&nbsp;made plays all over the field. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->