What We Saw: Lexington County Jamboree

LEXINGTON | Some call it a glorified dress rehearsal. Others just refer to it as a preseason jamboree or sports-a-rama. Whatever you call it, the lights are on, fans are in the stands and players are making plays while the pads are popping.   All that occurred Friday night at Wildcat Hollow as Lexington hosted eight teams in the annual Lexington County Sports-A-Rama with each four mini-game consisting of a half.   We saw some good and while it's just the beginning, things start for real next Friday night with Week Zero across the state. Here is a breakdown of each half of play.   GAME 1: FOX CREEK 28, PELION 0   Fox Creek had a lot of things to like in its half of play against Pelion. Four different players scored, and the Predators look like they have some playmakers that were missing during a 2-8 record in 2023.   Junior quarterback Nate Owens got things started on the opening drive with a 17-yard touchdown run. Sophomore running back Jayden Bledsoe added a 10-yard scamper on the next Fox Creek possession. Mike Grigg added a five-yard scoring run as the Predator scored on their opening three possessions and before the first quarter ended.   Noah Gaines put a bow on the blowout victory with a 40-yard pick six.   “We feel like we have some playmakers this season,” coach Lemuel Lackey said.   Two playmakers that didn't reach the end zone but looked good running jet sweeps and catching the ball from their wide receiver spots were senior Devonta Holmes and sophomore Mehki Quiller. Both should factor heavily in the offense this season.   Defensively, sophomore defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1816108' first='John' last='Truesdell'] showed good push and played excellent containment. Linebacker Evan Taylor also played well.   Despite being shutout, Pelion running back Michael Cottrell showed flashes.   GAME 2: NORTH AUGUSTA 14, RIVER BLUFF 3   [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Michael' last='Doe'] picked up where he left off last season. The junior rushed for over 1,200 yards last season when North Augusta finished with a 7-4 record that included a first-round playoff loss. He opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown plunge and looked elusive on breaking several other tackles in the half against the Gators.   Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1031336' first='Corey' last='Tillman'] played well, protecting the football and getting it to his playmakers in space. One of those playmakers ended up being LJ Tillman, who got free in the secondary several times, including on a 26-yard scoring strike from [player_tooltip player_id='1031336' first='Corey' last='Tillman'].   The biggest hit of the night came from Yellow Jacket safety [player_tooltip player_id='1592679' first='Zeddius' last='Tillman']. He lowered the boom on a River Bluff receiver on one play across the middle. He also had another hard-hitting tackle in a rather dominant defensive performance. [player_tooltip player_id='1214944' first='Davion' last='Mckinnis'] played well on the defensive front.   [player_tooltip player_id='1158026' first='Tripp' last='Bryant'] provided the only River Bluff points on a 20-yard field goal. H-back and safety [player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier'] only played a couple of series, but he showed why he's already committed to East Carolina. He plays big on both sides of the ball.   Defensive end Nathan Shuman batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage and made several stops on defense for the Gators. Tyler Galloway recorded an interception.   GAME 3: WHITE KNOLL 14, GILBERT 7   The defending Class 5A state runner-up Timberwolves showed once again that they will be a factor come playoff time.   It starts with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe'], do-everything brothers [player_tooltip player_id='1012621' first='Devin' last='Geronomi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1025815' first='Caleb' last='Geronomi'], and returning linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1083060' first='Connor' last='Burgess']. Sharpe doesn't look like he's missed a beat and could end up with gaudy numbers for another season. He's poised in the pocket, confident in his decision-making and willing to get the ball into his playmaker's hands. Sharpe opened the scoring with a 5-yard scamper.   [player_tooltip player_id='1012621' first='Devin' last='Geronomi'] and Burgess were flying around, making plays on defense just like they did for the majority of last season. [player_tooltip player_id='1025815' first='Caleb' last='Geronomi'] (pictured) had a 40-yard reception on the opening drive in which he ran over and through a couple of defenders. He was mainly a defensive standout last season but could put up huge numbers on offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036740' first='Tiyon' last='Fanning'] added a 14-yard scoring run for the Timberwolves. Sophomore nose guard [player_tooltip player_id='1172366' first='Tyrone' last='Jennings'] has the makings of being a dominant force in the middle.   Gilbert has a new coach in Ozzie Exume and they started slow with a new quarterback in Cooper James. The Indians will likely rely on the running back tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1012653' first='Jaylen' last='Jay']. Gilbert avoided the shutout when Luke Harvey caught a 24-yard TD pass from [player_tooltip player_id='1393774' first='Kaden' last='Kingery'].   [player_tooltip player_id='1054176' first='Grayson' last='Gunter'] and Cole Keisler played solid for the Indians from their linebacker positions.   GAME 4: LEXINGTON 21, AIRPORT 7   For about one quarter, it looked like Lexington linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='836316' first='Matthew' last='McAulay'] was playing at a different speed than anyone else on the field. He was in the backfield, blowing up sweep plays and basically helping the Wildcats hogtie into a series of negative yardage plays in that one quarter.   But he wasn't the only defender that had a big night. [player_tooltip player_id='1249786' first='Artem' last='Kalinkin'] and Isaiah Saxon controlled the line of scrimmage, allowing McAulay to roam free. Defensive end Nathan Escoe also showed great push, getting into the backfield several times.   Running back Torie Jones is only 5-foot-5, 130 pounds but he showed quickly that if he gets a crease or a step on the defense, he's likely to take it the distance. He raced 55 yards for the first score of the night for Lexington.   Nigel Lewis hauled in a 21-yard TD pass from first-year starting quarterback Brennan Connor for the second score. Bennett Watford, who also starts at safety, capped the scoring for Lexington with a 6-yard touchdown run.   Airport, who started 10 players that were sophomores or younger, was breaking in freshman quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1467834' first='Jay' last='Eady'] and he played much better once Lexington went to its second unit on defense and he wasn't under pressure as soon as he caught the snap. He played poised and guided the Eagles to a late score, a 2-yard run that he took himself. Running back Kendrick Pearson also had some chunk plays in the second quarter.   Defensively, safety Jeremiah Gilchrist made some plays along with linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1158030' first='Bryant' last='Cherry'] and cornerback Joel Guess.

LEXINGTON | Some call it a glorified dress rehearsal. Others just refer to it as a preseason jamboree or sports-a-rama. Whatever you call it, the lights are on, fans are in the stands and players are making plays while the pads are popping.