Team Capsule: Marlboro County Bulldogs

MARLBORO COUNTY
Bulldogs

Coach: Dean Boyd (12th season; 149-64 overall, 11 seasons)

2008 projected finish
Overall: 8-2
Region 6-3A: 5-0

Schedule
Date Opponent (2007) Pick
Aug. 29 at Cheraw (13-2) W
Sept. 5 at Scotland County, N.C. (10-3) L
Sept. 12 vs. Scott’s Branch (9-2) W
Sept. 19 at Conway (9-3) L
Sept. 26 vs. Dillon (10-2) W
Oct. 3 vs. Darlington (2-8) W
Oct. 10 vs. Crestwood (11-3) W
Oct. 17 at Lakewood (3-7) W
Oct. 24 vs. Wilson (12-3) W
Oct. 31 at Camden (3-8) W

2007 results
(9-3 overall, 5-0 Region 5-3A)
at Richmond County, N.C. L, 21-13
vs. Cheraw W, 26-10
vs. Scotland County, N.C. L, 19-14
at South Florence W, 46-19
vs. North Myrtle Beach W, 12-7
at Darlington W, 42-2
at Crestwood W, 42-14
vs. Lakewood W, 49-0
at Wilson W, 21-7
vs. Lake City W, 20-2
Playoffs
vs. North Myrtle Beach W, 42-14
vs. Strom Thurmond L, 17-14

Top returners
WR Kinsman Thomas; LB/TE Tariq Edwards; QB Elliot Alford; WR/LB Tyrell Edwards; RB Tyreek Townsend; WR/FS Jerell McLaughlin; OL/DL Thomas Teal; DL Clifton Benjamin; DE Lee Pegues

Key losses
LB Dela Johnson; LB Sam Grooms; OL Jaquan Ridges; WR Greg Quick

Projected starters
Offense
WR Kinsman Thomas (Sr., 6-2/205)
LT Lee Pegues (Jr., 6-2/248)
LG Thomas Teal (Jr., 6-3/340)
C Robert Dial (So., 6-0/255)
RG Jeffery Jacobs (Sr., 6-0/248)
RT Kilderick Gadson (So., 6-3/270)
TE Tariq Edwards (Sr., 6-4/225)
WR Tyrell Edwards (Sr., 6-4/219)
WR Tremaine Quick (Sr., 6-5/180)
QB Elliot Alford (Jr., 6-2/185)
RB Tyreek Townsend (Sr., 5-10/175)
K Adam Lightsinger (Jr., 5-10/165)
KR Jaquan Brantley (Jr., 5-10/175)
Defense
LE Lee Pegues (Jr., 6-2/248)
LT Thomas Teal (Jr., 6-3/340)
RT Clifton Benjamin (Jr., 5-11/285)
RE Tariq Edwards (Sr., 6-4/225)
LB Tyrell Edwards (Sr., 6-4/219)
LB Antonio Dease (Sr., 5-10/185)
LB Jeremy Simmons (Jr., 6-0/185)
LB Lateek Townsend (Sr., 6-3/200)
FS Jerell Mclaughlin (Sr., 5-10/170)
CB Lakeem Moore (Sr., 5-10/180)
CB Lavendrick Pegues (Sr., 5-9/165)
P Jaquan Brantley (Jr., 5-10/175)
PR Jaquan Brantley (Jr., 5-10/175)

Bottom line
The Bulldogs won their region last season and didn’t lose a game against a South Carolina school until the playoffs.
The development of quarterback Elliot Alford was a big key to Marlboro’s success, and his continued improvement will be this year as well.
Alford has assorted weaponds to throw to in Kinsman Thomas and the Edwards twins, and has a potent running back in Tyreek Townsend. His biggest concern will be a new offensive line that returns just one starter from last season.
On defense, the Bulldogs’ defense line and secondary are sound, but they are replacing two big linebackers who had the majority of their tackles last season.
Marlboro is poised for another run, but defending Class 3A state champion Wilson, lower state runner up Crestwood and Camden will all be in the hunt.
“We feel like we have a good nucleus, it just depends on how they come together as a team,” Boyd said. “Our major concerns are on the offensive line and linebacker because we don’t have those spots solidified just yet. But we have a lot of returning players on offense, and even though a few didn’t start last season, they had enough playing time to gain a lot of experience.
“We play a tough schedule, and we have a tough region. Hopefully we can have some kids step up and fill roles and make another good postseason run.”