What We Saw: White Knoll 67, South Aiken 6

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LEXINGTON |</strong> It was one thing for White Knoll to compete on Homecoming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='911089' first='Jaiden' last='Kimble']</strong> (number 10 in picture) and his defensive teammates, the task of slowing down one of the Palmetto State's most prolific offensive players in South Aiken quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340388' first='Terrence' last='Smith'] </strong>was their main focus.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I'm going to be honest with you,” Kimble said. “Our film coach told us he was going to be the best athlete on the field, and I guess I took it personally. I guess our defense took it personally."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Led by Kimble's persistent pressure from the outside and defensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142518' first='Demenico' last='Banks']</strong> (number 22 in picture), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142785' first='Lincoln' last='Ilunga'] </strong>and <strong>Ja'Vion Glover</strong> dominating upfront, the Timberwolves held Smith to his lowest offensive total of the season in the 67-6 victory. Smith was limited to five-of-nine passes for 72 yards, negative 11 rushing yards and a 14-yard kick return for 75 all-purpose yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He did not play in the second half and South Aiken finished with 113 total yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"They beat us on all fronts. That's it," South Aiken head coach Chris Hamilton said. "There's nothing else to say. They totally dominated us. We got banged up. We're banged. We got worse banged up. That's it. They totally dominated us."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White Knoll's defense set the tone on South Aiken's first possession. Ilunga sacked Smith for an 18-yard loss and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272702' first='Jevon' last='Edwards']</strong> was tackled in the endzone for the first of two safeties by the Timberwolves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Aiken's next drive produced its only score. Smith converted a fourth and one with a four-yard pass to Ryan Lubeck. After another first-down conversion completion to Lubeck, Smith scrambled to his right and launched a 38-yard Crossfield to <strong>Malik Scurry</strong> at the White Knoll four-yard line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith scored two plays later from two yards, but defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012621' first='Devin' last='Geronomi']</strong> blocked the extra punt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meanwhile, White Knoll's offense was firing on all cylinders in its highest point total since 2017.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time, the points were spread out among the skilled position players. Running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036740' first='Tiyon' last='Fanning']</strong> had a career-best three touchdowns to go with 63 yards on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was one of four rushing touchdowns by the Timberwolves. <strong>DJ Dingle</strong> came off the bench and rushed for a team-high 109 yards and a touchdown in the second half, <strong>Sean Evans</strong> finished with 57 yards and a score and Kimble ran it in from six yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"He's a special young man," White Knoll coach Nick Pelham said about Kimble. "He's a special talent. Every college coach that comes through, there's been a lot of college coaches that are looking at him, they always ask what kind of kid he is and I just say you have to explain something one time to him. He kind of gives you a look tbat says ‘explain that again?' and I'll start to explain it again. And then once he hears something twice, he'll never forget it. I've never been around a young man like that. He's tough. He's obviously incredibly athletic, but I love his intelligence and I love his desire to be a great player."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White Knoll quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe']</strong> was an efficient 13-of-18 passing for 227 yards and two touchdowns to<strong> Hasan Lee</strong> (number 13 in picture) and <strong>Evan Henderson</strong> and rushed for a 13-yard score. All of his yardage and touchdowns all occurred the first half as White Knoll built a 53-6 advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Offensive line, guys," said Sharpe about his team's offensive success. "It starts with those big guys in the front."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pelham went further in his praise of the offensive line. Under the development of position coach Justin Crocker, the offensive line has grown in depth both on the varsity and junior varsity level and is a major reason for the program's turnaround. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He listed three-year starter <strong>Ty Bennett</strong>, two-year starting center <strong>Hayden Hohlwein</strong>, former defensive tackle <strong>Daniel Mitchell</strong>, <strong>Jeremiah Brown</strong> and <strong>Mason Gravlin</strong> and tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='467583' first='Tyson' last='Cox']</strong>, who had a 20-yard reception.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Two years ago, playing offensive line was a dirty word here and now people take pride in it," Pelham said. “Kids love it. Kids love how they're being coached. They love the toughness that we're trying to ask them to play with. I'm just really proud of them."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->