Hemingway and Lamar square off today at Donald R. Poole Stadium in one of the marquee playoff matchups in the Pee Dee.
But anyone expecting a typical Class A running showcase will be in for a surprise.
Of all the Class A lower state teams left in the playoffs, Lamar and Hemingway have perhaps the most proficient passing games.
Lamar quarterback Tyler Boyd has thrown for 1,366 yards and 15 touchdowns. Hemingway’s Denzel Wedgeworth has passed for 1,462 yards and 17 TDs.
Both QBs have rushed for more than 450 yards and have scored nine times, giving opposing coaches all kinds of headaches.
“A lot of similarities,” Lamar coach Charlie Poole said. “Both are sound teams with mobile quarterbacks who can throw. Should be a classic battle.”
It also will provide each team with a unique challenge.
“They’re tough to defend, because they’re balanced,” Hemingway coach Ken Cribb said. “If you load up the box, they’re going to throw it, and if you drop everyone back into coverage, they’re going to run it.”
With two similar styles of offense, lining up the defense has been somewhat easier in practice, Poole said.
“You know what the other offense is capable of,” Poole said.
“You know what to expect, you know what type of running plays and what type of passing plays you’re likely to see. It’s advantageous in that respect.”
And the similarities between the teams don’t end with the quarterbacks.
The Tigers’ top receiver, Tashon Fredricks, and Lamar’s Kenneth Zimmon each have more than 700 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns.
Boyd, Jonathan Dargan and Keon Lucas all have gained more than 500 yards rushing for the Silver Foxes. Wedgeworth, Kwashay Bell and Antonio Mitchum lead the Tigers with more than 600 yards apiece.
“You can’t really key on one player,” Poole said. “You have to play fundamentally sound and not give up the big play.”
Neither team is one-dimensional, either. Hemingway and Lamar boast defenses that allow an average of less than 13 points per game.
“It’s a big game between two pretty good teams, I think, that have a lot in common,” Cribb said. “It’s going to come down to who turns the ball over the least and who is able to execute better.”
QB COMPARISON
A statistical look at Lamar’s Tyler Boyd and Hemingway’s Denzel Wedgeworth:
TB Stat DW
86 Completions 70
146 Attempts 126
1,366 Yards 1,462
15 Touchdowns 17
3 Interceptions 2
491 Rushing yards 791
9 Rushing TDs 9
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