Boyd sequel begins against Cheraw

With J.R. Boyd back in charge of the program, thoughts of returning to the state championship are probably on the minds of every Lamar football fan.
They’ll get an early chance to see how realistic those expectations are.

The Silver Foxes begin the second Boyd era Friday when they host the two-time defending Class 2A state champion Cheraw Braves in the Morning News Game of the Week.

“It’s definitely going to be one of our toughest games this season,” Boyd said. “Johnny (White) and his staff do a great job up in Cheraw and we’re going to have to play well.”

Cheraw edged Lamar 13-12 last season after the Silver Foxes missed a 33-yard field goal with 1:23 remaining.

Boyd watched from the sideline as Cheraw’s Travis Small gashed Lamar for 198 yards on 23 carries.

“I think the main thing with Travis is you have to contain him and not let him break the big one,” Boyd said. “We did a pretty good with him last year, but he did break one on us.

“Big thing is to try and contain him and stay in the game by controlling the ball.”

Slowing down Small and the Cheraw offense will be a big test for the Silver Fox defense, Boyd said.

“We haven’t tackled or played particularly well on defense so far, and that’s disappointing,” Boyd said. “We have to get the kids to learn about playing with the same focus and intensity on every play, and that’s going to be key against Cheraw.”

Friday’s game also be the first time coach White will see how far along his Braves have come.
Cheraw returns seven starters on offense and six on defense from last season’s 13-2 squad.

“We’ve looked pretty good in practices and scrimmages so far, but there’s still some areas where we need to improve,” White said. “We feel like we can be a good team, and this week we’ll hopefully show some improvements.”

While you never know quite what to expect from a team the first week of the season, White said he is expecting to see a typical Lamar squad line up against them on Friday.

“Coach Boyd’s record speaks for itself,” White said. “Lamar has always been a really solid and sound football team. The defense is always tough and very aggressive. We don’t expect anything different.”

Other games

Marion at Carvers Bay

Carvers Bay was among the best in Pee Dee on both offense and defense last season, averaging 35 points a game while allowing just six.
But a lot of that team is gone now, with 18 starters missing from last year’s Class A Division I lower state champions.

Carvers Bay lost an All-Pee Dee back in Johnathon Holmes, and two All-Pee Dee defenders in Carlos Britton and Dyrell Porchea.
A new group of Bears will have the task of slowing down a versatile young Marion team. The Swamp Foxes are coming off a 6-6 campaign and a trip to the second round of the playoffs.

Running backs Brian Gilliard and Justin Gause hope to spark a Marion offense that averaged a little more than 17 points a game last year.

Hartsville at Camden

The Red Foxes had one the most prolific offenses in the state last season, scoring 35 points a game with a well-balanced running and passing attack.

Hartsville’s big three of quarterback Wil Newsome, wideout Jordan Lyles and running back Bennett Saunders have all graduated, though. Combined, the trio accounted for more than 3,000 yards of offense.

The Red Foxes do return a solid offensive line and a more than capable running back in Dre Scott. Hartsville coach Jeff Calabrese said they will have a more aggressive style of defense and a grind-it-out offense.

Camden returns after a disappointing 3-8 campaign that saw the Bulldogs allow an average of nearly 30 points a game and score just 17.

A.C. Flora at Dillon

The Wildcats return just three or four starters on each side of the ball from a 10-2 squad of a year ago.

All-purpose athlete Damien Sowells leaves a void at quarterback, wideout and punt returner, and two of his favorite receivers in Dwan Byas and Quinn McCollum are gone as well.

The defense, which allowed a minute average of nine points a game, gets back All-Pee Dee linebacker L’Twane Thompson.

The Wildcats also have a solid running back in Roderick Jackson.

A.C. Flora went 5-6 and made a playoff appearance in Class 3A last season. The Falcons scored an average of 13 points a game while allowing 19.