Irmo’s Dopson Throws 4 TDs in 35-0 Shutout of Lexington

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IRMO | [player_tooltip player_id='1822804' first='Donovan' last='Murph'] </strong>was welcomed back with open arms at Irmo for Homecoming night at W.C. Hawkins Stadium.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The University of South Carolina freshman wide receiver had to enjoy watching the successors at his former position help the Yellow Jackets shut out Lexington 35-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He witnessed junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller']</strong> making catches and runs for two touchdowns reminiscent of his time with the Yellow Jackets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Just putting in the work on Monday, just coming out to practice and ready to work every day,” he said. “Grinding. Grinding.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Younger brother <strong>Corey Miller</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467834' first='Jay' last='Eady']</strong> also got into the scoring act. Putting the ball for them to score four touchdowns was another replacement of a seemingly irreplaceable All-State talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='860400' first='Drevon' last='Dopson']</strong> guided Irmo on scoring drives with runs and passes which brought his predecessor <strong>AJ Brand</strong> to mind.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He had a Brand-like run for Irmo on the first scoring series. He managed to avoid a sack, headed up field in slipping past another defender and picked up a first down with a 19-yard run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Facing a 4th and 9 at the Lexington 20, Dopson fired a pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller'] at the five-yard line. After making the catch, he spun off two tacklers and raced into the end zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're just doing everything we learn in practice and just flipping it over and doing it in a game,” Miller said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irmo put another weapon on display in running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755890' first='Amire' last='White']</strong> - as the sophomore was a force carrying the football by pushing forward defenders on sweeps and runs up the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“This whole week of practice, we had a different vibe turned up,” White said. “We were ready for tonight.” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“He's hitting his stride,” Irmo head coach Aaron Brand said. “Amire's been a little banged up this year as most running backs are in this league. But he's starting to hit his stride now. He's getting a little healthier, starting to play better and he really's got good vision going on right now.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bruising 40-yard run set up Eaddy's 23-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. White finished with more than 100 rushing yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White got his scoring opportunity thanks to the defense. Defensive back <strong>Cornelius Currence </strong>recovered a fumble by Lexington quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1848408' first='Easton' last='Crocker']</strong> at the 15-yard line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a fourth down conversion, White leaped at the goal line for a touchdown to make it 21-0 before the half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second half saw the Yellow Jackets' defensive line assert itself. From <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734510' first='Major' last='Taylor']</strong> to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172366' first='Tyrone' last='Jennings']</strong> to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant']</strong>, who was headed to Florida State Saturday for a visit, Irmo's frontline held Lexington to 55 rushing yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our D-line just dominated all night,” Brand said. “And they said they were going to do it during the course of the week. We thought we could push them back a little bit and [player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1172366' first='Tyrone' last='Jennings'], probably Tyrone's best game tonight…<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734510' first='Major' last='Taylor']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756223' first='Nate' last='Carson']</strong>, even <strong>Makari Allen-Hendrix</strong>. Those guys really took control of the game early and withstood the whole rest of the game.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the Wildcats longest play from scrimmage was a reception for a first down by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820748' first='Wesley' last='Gorsage']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lexington defense forced a turnover on downs to end an 8 ½ minute drive to open the third quarter. Nose tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820743' first='Victor' last='Smith']</strong> used his 6-foot 2, 310-pound frame to make tackles inside the trenches and linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817398' first='Caleb' last='Schrodt']</strong> was active upfront and in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the fourth quarter, Dopson completed touchdowns to both Miller brothers. He first threw a quick slant in the endzone to Corey Miller between two Lexington defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 2:27 left, Miller caught the screen pass and outran the defense for a 6-yard score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->