What We Saw: Irmo 42, River Bluff 0
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IRMO | The final score sometimes does not tell the complete story. With five touchdowns, Irmo quarterback AJ Brand AJ Brand 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Irmo | 2025 State SC (No. 1 above) was dominant in the 42-0…
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Continue ReadingIRMO | The final score sometimes does not tell the complete story.
With five touchdowns, Irmo quarterback AJ Brand AJ Brand 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Irmo | 2025 State SC (No. 1 above) was dominant in the 42-0 win over River Bluff. He completed 11-of-14 passes for 154 yards and four touchdowns – two each to receivers Donovan Murph Donovan Murph 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Irmo | 2026 State SC and Caleb Alexander Caleb Alexander 6'0" | 180 lbs | TE Irmo | 2024 State SC – and rushed for 52 yards and a score.
Brand also stood out on special teams as a punter. While presenting a dual threat to run and pass when he lined up to punt, he was also very efficient in averaging 39 yards on four attempts.
This included a 52-yard punt which backed the Gators up to their own 2-yard line. River Bluff quarterback Parker Murray Parker Murray 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB River Bluff | 2025 State SC threw an interception to linebacker Jylil Favor Jylil Favor 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Irmo | 2024 State SC on the drive, which Irmo turned into an Anton Jones 6-yard touchdown run.
For all of Brand’s efforts, Irmo’s point total did not show the offensive impact of running back Jaden Allen-Hendrix Jaden Allen-Hendrix 6'2" | 230 lbs | RB Irmo | 2024 State SC – who accounted for 204 rushing yards on 26 carries.
While he did not reach the end zone (a 26-yard touchdown was erased by a penalty), the challenge of bringing down the hard-charging, physically imposing 6-foot 2, 225-pound senior running at high speed was overwhelming for River Bluff.
“He’s a load,” Gators’ head coach Blair Hardin said. “We knew that (Brand) and (Allen-Hendrix) are really good players. They’re big up front and they made plays and we didn’t.”
Said Allen-Hendrix: “When I started making big runs, it started opening up AJ’s running game and see how Murph and Caleb made big plays for us and scored.”
On numerous occassions, the Gators needed multiple players to bring down Allen-Hendrix. This helped open up the passing game for Brand, who showed an ability to throw accurate passes across his body while running out of the pocket.
“Every time he gets the ball, I know something decent is going to happen,” Brand said. “He’s like a big brother to me and he just helps out the whole team a lot.”
Allen-Hendrix and Brand also had an imposing offensive line, specifically on the left side with Bryant Ham Bryant Ham 6'2" | 275 lbs | OL Irmo | 2024 State SC and Elijah Williams Elijah Williams 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Irmo | 2024 State SC blocking in front of them. Penalties were a problem for this group as it was whistled for seven holding penalties; Ryan Love Ryan Love 6'2" | 275 lbs | OL Irmo | 2025 State SC was also ejected in the fourth quarter for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Irmo defense also had a strong showing with four turnovers. A fumble recovery by Darius Goodsen ended River Bluff’s promising first possession as it moved the football deep into Irmo territory.
Running back Trace Nettles, who finished with a team-high 102 yards, and Toriun Leaphart provided initial success on draw plays. The drive stalled, however, after Murray overthrew Stephen Collier Stephen Collier 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR River Bluff | 2025 State SC in the endzone and the ensuing turnover.
It was River Bluff’s only scoring opportunity of the game. Murray was picked off three times in finishing with a season-low 23 passing yards and Collier was held without a catch.
“Offensively, it was an extremely poor performance,” Hardin said. “We didn’t finish the first down. A lot of three and outs. A lot of turnovers and (Irmo) came up with some big plays and we got our butt kicked. Very simple.”
“The attention to detail on the defensive side of the football was outstanding,” Irmo head coach Aaron Brand said.