Class A State Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the Class A state championship game kicks off at 4 pm Friday afternoon at Orangeburg's Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, you might want to keep a close eye on the receivers of Bamberg-Ehrhardt against the defensive backs of Lamar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charles [player_tooltip player_id='1823853' first='Anthony' last='Williams']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819949' first='Jason' last='Youmans']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036756' first='Jordan' last='Bovain']</strong> have combined for 2,864 yards and 32 touchdowns on 116 receptions. That's nearly 25 yards per catch. Those three are one of the reasons QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='Mcmillan']</strong> has thrown for 3,820 yards and 45 touchdowns with just five interceptions. But the Red Raiders will see a ball-hawking defense in the Silver Foxes. They have 18 interceptions on the season with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422623' first='DQ' last='Green']</strong> leading the way with five and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822295' first='Jaylen' last='Morris']</strong> right behind him with four. Lamar has also forced 13 fumbles. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816096' first='Mont' last='Williams']</strong> (pictured above) applies the pressure with 12 of the 37 sacks by the Silver Foxes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lamar comes into the contest on an 11-game winning streak, and the Red Raiders are undefeated at 14-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams have historically been challengers in Class A. Lamar won a state title in 2017 and played for it again in 2018. The six-year drought seems like a long time for the Silver Foxes. Bamberg-Ehrhardt was last in the title game in 2021 with the last championship happening in 1990.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's been a great experience so far,” Bamberg-Ehrhardt two-way player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822460' first='Jaden' last='Moody']</strong> said. “We're happy to be here but we know the job is not finished. We just need to follow the coaches because they give us a great game plan and if we execute it, we should get the result we're looking for.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817566' first='Nygel' last='Eaddy']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817362' first='TJ' last='Samuel']</strong> will help power the running game for Lamar behind an offensive line that includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822292' first='Messiah' last='Simes']</strong> <strong>Travionne Goodson</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822298' first='Roy' last='Vest']</strong> <strong>Tom Katko</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822289' first='Davaughn' last='Locust']</strong> across the front. If they can run the ball against a Red Raiders defensive line that includes Moody, <strong>Darren Carter</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg']</strong> and linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1196428' first='Jalen' last='McGraw'] Darian Sease</strong> <strong>Ahmad Busby</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1530765' first='Darius' last='Walker']</strong>, it will take pressure off the Silver Foxes defense against the Bamberg-Ehrhardt offense that is averaging over 51 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>LEGACY GAME</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lamar QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce']</strong> had the game of his life in the semifinal win over Lewisville. The senior accounted for six total touchdowns in the 48-27 victory. He ran for four TDs and threw touchdown passes to <strong>Kamill McCoy</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822293' first='Juju' last='Morris']</strong> to put the Silver Foxes in the state championship for the first time since 2018. He's thrown for over 1,600 yards this season and added 793 yards rushing with 39 total touchdowns. Lamar last won a state title in 2017 so if Pierce can put his stamp on the program with a state championship victory, he will forever be in Silver Foxes lore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I'm excited to be able to play for my community, my team and my town,” Pierce said. “We want to put on a show.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>MATCHUP WITHIN THE MATCHUP</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> There looks to be plenty of offensive firepower on both sides, so we expect kids to make plays when given the opportunity. That leaves us with what is going to happen in the trenches. There's talent there and it's going to be interesting to see how the Lamar defensive front tries to slow the Red Raiders offensive attack that has rushed for 4,084 yards on the season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819953' first='Pierre' last='Fuller']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822455' first='Michael' last='Manigault']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822459' first='Simeon' last='Bamberg']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822460' first='Jaden' last='Moody']</strong> might be undersized, but they make up for that with effort and execution. Lamar runs a 3-4 attack so that is going to put a lot of pressure on the front three. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818641' first='Robert' last='Cooper']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822289' first='Davaughn' last='Locust']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817369' first='Travis' last='Durant']</strong> are going to have to hold their own and allow the linebacker crew of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816096' first='Mont' last='Williams']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817566' first='Nygel' last='Eaddy']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422623' first='DQ' last='Green']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664583' first='Jaquez' last='Dargan']</strong> to make plays. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816740' first='Marcus' last='Cann']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1196428' first='Jalen' last='McGraw']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='Mcmillan']</strong> have rushed for 3,052 yards on 251 carries this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>UNDERCLASSMAN TO WATCH</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em> </em></strong>Bamberg-Ehrhardt two-way standout sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg'] </strong>is likely going to play a huge role in this one. He plays on the offensive front and paves the way from his guard spot. Then on defense, he has 45 tackles, four tackles for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery. He's a spark plug at 5-foot-8, 225 pounds and has a high motor that can play the majority of the game without a break. If he and his teammates control the line of scrimmage, the Red Raiders will be difficult to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-FACTOR</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nick Singleton</strong> has a knack for making the big play for Bamberg-Ehrhardt. Let's start on the offensive side of the ball where he isn't one of the main contributors to the Red Raiders but when he touches the ball, special things happen. He has four carries for 75 yards but three of those carries went for touchdowns. Defensively, he has logged only 18 tackles, but he is tied for the team lead with five interceptions to go along with a forced fumble. If Singleton is involved to a great degree, that usually means good things for Bamberg-Ehrhardt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>TENTATIVE STARTING LINEUPS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Lamar Offense</em></strong></td><td><em><strong>Bamberg-Ehrhardt Defense</strong></em></td><td><em><strong>Bamberg-Ehrhardt Offense</strong></em></td><td><em><strong>Lamar Defense</strong></em></td></tr><tr><td>QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce']</strong></td><td>DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822460' first='Jaden' last='Moody']</strong></td><td>QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='Mcmillan']</strong></td><td>DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818641' first='Robert' last='Cooper']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817566' first='Nygel' last='Eaddy']</strong></td><td>DL <strong>Daren Carter</strong></td><td>RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1196428' first='Jalen' last='McGraw']</strong></td><td>DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822289' first='Davaughn' last='Locust']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>H-Back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422623' first='DQ' last='Green']</strong></td><td>DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg']</strong></td><td>RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816740' first='Marcus' last='Cann']</strong></td><td>DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817369' first='Travis' last='Durant']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>WR <strong>Kamill McCoy</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1196428' first='Jalen' last='McGraw']</strong></td><td>WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819949' first='Jason' last='Youmans']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816096' first='Mont' last='Williams']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822293' first='Juju' last='Morris']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>Darian Sease </strong></td><td>WR <strong>Charles [player_tooltip player_id='1823853' first='Anthony' last='Williams']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422623' first='DQ' last='Green']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>TE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816096' first='Mont' last='Williams']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>Ahmad Busby</strong></td><td>WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036756' first='Jordan' last='Bovain']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664583' first='Jaquez' last='Dargan']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822292' first='Messiah' last='Simes']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1530765' first='Darius' last='Walker']</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819953' first='Pierre' last='Fuller']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817566' first='Nygel' last='Eaddy']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>Travionne Goodson</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822454' first='Rocky' last='Walker']</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822455' first='Michael' last='Manigault']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822295' first='Jaylen' last='Morris']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822298' first='Roy' last='Vest']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>Christopher Washington</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822459' first='Simeon' last='Bamberg']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>Kamill McCoy</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>Tom Katko</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='Mcmillan']</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822289' first='Davaughn' last='Locust']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819949' first='Jason' last='Youmans']</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822460' first='Jaden' last='Moody']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>Jeremiah Moses</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->