Playmakers Come Up Big for OW in 35-14 Victory

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COLUMBIA |</strong> Orangeburg-Wilkinson relied on its stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday night at Keenan, the Bruins' top players shined in a 35-14 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1474133' first='Brenden' last='Peoples'] </strong>(pictured, No. 6) threw touchdowns to three different receivers in the first half. In the fourth quarter, sophomore fullback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1220232' first='Christopher' last='Glover']</strong> (pictured, middle) barreled over the Raiders' defense with two long touchdown runs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We've got playmakers over the field to make it easy for everybody to eat,” said senior wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267282' first='Daylin' last='Haltiwanger']</strong> (pictured, No. 7), who had one of the touchdown catches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team's overall athleticism was on display from the opening kickoff. A 50-yard return to the Keenan 41 provided a short field for Peoples.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a 32-yard completion to freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817960' first='Amari' last='Butler']</strong>, the lefthander threw the first of three touchdown passes. Facing a first and goal at the 13-yard line, Peoples rolled to his right and connected with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734490' first='Jaylen' last='Dash']</strong> for the game's first touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three straight false start penalties on the next series put O-W in a first-and-35 hole. An undaunted Peoples rolled out and hit in stride <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820124' first='Desi' last='Miller']</strong> for a 53-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keenan sophomore quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818235' first='Jamauri' last='Johnson']</strong> made his second career start. The lanky 6-3, 160-pound sophomore showed poise in answering with a 53-yard touchdown pass of his own. With OW on a blitz, he quickly released the football and found an open <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664508' first='Jordan' last='Wilson']</strong> for the reception and score. It was the first points allowed this season by the Bruins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“He's an extremely hard-worker and just looking forward to him continue to grow into the position because he's going to have to grow into a leader,” Keenan head coach Jarrett Neely said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defenses on both sides settled in to slow down the pace. Glover made a pair of crushing hits at linebacker and cornerback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822638' first='Travis' last='Dixon']</strong> had a tackle for loss and pass breakup to force turnovers on downs for the Raiders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arkansas commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1126113' first='Jordan' last='Avinger']</strong> had an interception and Neely said O-W's defense made it difficult for his playmakers to get open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1673957' first='Conrad' last='Hampton']</strong> was among the most active defensive players for the Raiders. He showed his ability to cover the field in racing from one side to another to make stops. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive end<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1734638' first='Tyreik' last='Davenport-Smith']</strong> collected two sacks on Peoples. Senior lineman <strong>Quashaun Hampton</strong> was a presence on both sides of the football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the first half ended, Keenan had no answer for Haltiwanger.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot 4, 225-pound senior snagged a Peoples' pass for an 11-yard gain. He then made a leaping reception down the sidelines en route to a 59-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I just tell him to throw it up; I'm here,” Haltiwanger said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Said Peoples: “I have to put it in the right place to catch it, but he is my number one target.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haltiwanger also had a 23-yard reception before halftime after Avinger's interception. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keenan's defensive line came up with a big play to open the fourth quarter. Junior defensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818234' first='Ethan' last='Jackson'] </strong>intercepted a Peoples' pass at the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This set up a touchdown run by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon'] </strong>to close the gap to 21-14 with 9:33 left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O-W turned its offense over to Glover to close out the victory. On the next series, he rumbled for three straight first downs and scored from 30 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His final carry of the game was highlight-reel worthy. As Glover was getting forced towards the Keenan sidelines on a carry, he managed to stay in bounds and reverse field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a legion of Bruin blockers leading the way, he turned upfield and towards the endzone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I was really thinking not to go out of bounds and keep the clock running,” Glover said. “They let go of me and it worked.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->