What We Saw: Sumter 49, Ridge View 6

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BLYTHEWOOD |</strong> Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson']</strong> has made an immediate impact in the Sumter football culture in his first season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His dual threat ability ingrained into the Gamecocks' grinding offense has them rolling to an undefeated record.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richardson put those talents on display in Friday's 49-6 win over Ridge View. He rushed for two scores and threw a 44-yard touchdown pass in stride to<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1819514' first='Jamirh' last='Bey']</strong> in the second half to help the Gamecocks finish the season 10-0 and Region V-5A champions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We've put him in an offense where his athletic ability helps us,” Sumter head coach Mark Barnes said. “We can throw the football. We just don't throw it a lot but when we do throw it, he throws it well.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richardson wasted little time making an impact for the Gamecocks. He turned 2 read options into touchdown runs of 59 and 34 yards in the 1st quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richardson's ability to fake out the Blazer defenders running RPO opened opportunities for his backfield mates. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012696' first='Kameron' last='Fortune']</strong> scored the first of his two touchdowns in which he stayed upright, spun out of an attempted ankle tackle and raced 50 yards for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fortune added a 35-yard scoring run in which he reversed field and burst down the home sidelines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong> (pictured) entered the scoring act in the third quarter. The school's all-time leading rusher scored on a 3-yard score set up by runs of 15 and 25 yards by Richardson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sumter turned to its bench and got a 34-yard touchdown run from<strong> Cleveland Pinkney </strong>in the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our quarterback can play, both tailbacks can play and both create explosive plays for us,” Barnes said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Sumter's offense scored 40 or more points for the ninth time this season, its defense limited a Ridge View offense which welcomed back All-State wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a quiet return for the University of South Carolina commit. He caught two receptions which both led to first downs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sumter's quickness upfront from defensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison']</strong>, <strong>Michael McCray</strong>, <strong>Ra'Shaun Dickey</strong> and <strong>Cameron Bradley</strong> limited long runs by Ridge View's backfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridge View was also playing with a first-time starter in <strong>Nevan Gaither</strong>, who was replacing injured starter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebackers <strong>Nashaun Brown</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359132' first='Jeremiah' last='Burson']</strong> and defensive back Tymaries Thompson-DuRant also created havoc both around the line of scrimmage and in the secondary. Defensive back <strong>Da'von Bowman </strong>also had an interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We played really good defense tonight which we haven't done this year,” Barnes said. “It was a good night to do that.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaither did throw a 23-yard touchdown to Khristian Jackson as he made an over the shoulder catch while heavily covered in the endzone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sumter is expected to have a first-round bye in the Class 5A Division II Lower State playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->