Chesterfield takes long road back

Often the hardest things to live up to are other people’s expectations.

The Chesterfield Rams know this better than anyone.

After a state title appearance in 2006, the Rams came out of the gates strong with a 3-0 start, including a win against defending Class 2A champion Cheraw.

“We  beat Cheraw at their place in front of about 6,000 people, and when you win a game like that, you think you’re going to play that well for the rest of the year,” Chesterfield coach Steve Taneyhill said.

But the season began to turn the following week against lowly Buford.

Chesterfield lost and went on a 3-3 skid that left them in third place in their region and sent them on the road for the playoffs.

“I don’t think we played as well in some of those games as we did against Cheraw or Central,” Taneyhill said.

But after a loss to Great Falls, the players had a

closed meeting to address the situation.

“We all sat down and talked about the mistakes we were making and the confrontations we had,” Chesterfield running back Simpson Miller said. “We straightened everything out. After that, we started playing Ram football.”

Chesterfield has won four straight since then, knocking off the top three seeds in the upper state on the road.

On Friday, the Rams get a chance to cap their remarkable season and earn a little redemption when they face Carvers Bay in the Class A Division I state championship at S.C. State’s Oliver Dawson Stadium.

“I think the kids got it right,” Taneyhill said. “They changed their attitudes and some things they were doing wrong, and as a coaching staff, we changed our focus as well.”

The Rams, known predominantly for a high-octane passing attack, have relied more on their running game and defense during their playoff run.

“We’re here because of our defense,” Taneyhill said. “Our offense has been kind of up and down all year, but we really focused on our special teams and defense.

“We’re not quite as explosive as we were last year. Our quarterback and receivers are playing well, but they’re young.”

Rams quarterback Akeem Johnson has thrown for 1,536 yards and 18 touchdowns. Miller has rushed 241 times for 1,567 yards and 28 TDs.

“Last year, we had guys we could lean on,” Miller said. “This year, everyone’s expected to do their part, including me. Carvers Bay has a big defensive line, but we’re used to that. We just have to stick to our game plan and make sure we execute.”

The Rams might look to take advantage of a young Carvers Bay secondary, but they will have to find a way to contend with the Bears’ defensive line, Taneyhill said.

“They’re big, but they’re a lot faster than most people would believe,” Taneyhill said. “We’ve got to do a good job of mixing up the run and the pass; I think that’s how you counteract some of their speed.

“My offensive line did OK against one of the best pass rushers last week, so we’ll look for the same this Friday.”

The Rams’ defense has allowed 22 points in the last four games and will face another tough task in Carvers Bay.

“Most Class A teams don’t throw that much, so our defensive line and our linebackers have done a good job of stuffing the run all season,” Chesterfield defensive lineman Dustin Gooden said. “We have to make sure we gang tackle and not let Holmes break free for too many big runs.”

Stopping the big plays will be key, especially when it comes to the Bears’ quarterback, Arlington Scott, Taneyhill said.

“We’ve got pretty good speed on defense, so hopefully we can get to him before he breaks off any big runs,” he said. “As long as we contain the running game, don’t make any turnovers and make them work for the yards they get, I think we’ll be alright.”