Hemingway seeks second win over Carvers Bay

Last season, the Hemingway Tigers defeated Carvers Bay in the regular season only to drop a 10-2 heartbreaker to the Bears in the second round of the Class A Division I football playoffs.

On Sept. 26 — in a contest that was suspended at halftime by heavy rain, then finished the next day — Hemingway knocked off the Bears in its Region 8-A opener, 7-6.

The Tigers hope history doesn’t repeat itself in the Morning News Game of the Week when they welcome Carvers Bay once again in the second round of the playoffs on Friday.
Hemingway (10-1) has won 10 straight games after dropping its season opener to Kingstree. The Tigers opened the postseason with a 14-0 victory over rival Johnsonville last Friday.

Carvers Bay also enters the contest with a 10-1 record after squeezing out a 20-18 victory over St. John’s in the first round.

“Whenever Hemingway and Carvers Bay play each other, it’s always a barnburner,” Tigers coach Ken Cribb said. “Whoever makes the right plays or gets a break or two will win.”

“Not only is it a rivalry, but you’ve got two pretty good teams playing,” Bears coach Nate Thompson said. “(The Tigers) have the athletes and the coaches to get it done.

“When you play them, you better come ready to play.”

LaMichael Pushia has been Hemingway’s offensive catalyst during the streak, rushing for 1,207 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Quarterback Justin Pressley has thrown for 1,004 yards and six TDs to go along with three interceptions. The junior’s favorite targets are Quintin Brown and Jabril Solomon, who have combined for 681 yards receiving and five scores.

“Justin Pressley has grown up this season, and I’m really proud of his development,” Cribb said. “Our offensive line has played well this year also.

“We stress to be balanced on offense and take what the defense gives us.”

Hemingway, however, has been most impressive on defense this season, allowing just six offensive touchdowns and holding opponents to just 83 yards per game.

Senior defensive end Isaiah Pressley has dominated quarterbacks during the campaign, racking up a team-leading 12 sacks. Linebacker Marquis Wright has been all over the field, leading his unit with 129 tackles.

When quarterbacks have been able to throw the football, a trio of Tigers lie in wait for the ball. Pushia has picked off three passes and returned one for a score.

Brown and Donovan Bell also have three interceptions and have each run two of them back for TDs.

Said Cribb. “They’ve been outstanding. We take great pride in our defense, and the kids have been great this year.”

Hemingway will need its defense to shut down Carvers Bay’s powerful rushing attack. Led by Central Florida committment Davious Chestnut’s 1,050 yards, the Bears have rushed for nearly 3,000 yards on the season.

When Carvers Bay does throw the ball, junior Desmond Grate has answered the bell, throwing for 371 yards.

“It’s a funny thing about these kids,” Thompson said. “They always get better as the season goes on.”

Defensively, the Bears must continue to get production from a unit that has racked up 23 sacks in a region that doesn’t throw the ball very much. Tyquel Gause leads the team with five sacks.

Nose tackle Brad Young has dropped the passer four times. The junior has also forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass.

Chestnut leads Carvers Bay with four picks, returning one for a score.

“Defensively we’ve done well,” Thompson said. “(Defensive coordinator Quenton) McCollum has done a great job getting them prepared at all times this season.”

When the smoke clears, the result might be the same as the first three meetings. The combined score of those contests was 25-21 in favor of Hemingway, and Cribb expects another low-scoring affair on Friday.

“I think good defense always beats good offense, and both teams have good defenses,” he said. “We know each other so well from summer camps and playing each other in the regular season, it’s hard to get points off each other.”