Bulldogs ready for return from title loss
Aug. 14—There are two different ways the players within Silver Bluff's football program have processed their loss in last year's Class AA state championship game.
The returning players are fueled by the sting of that 49-14 defeat that snapped a 15-game winning streak. For the younger players, the bright lights at Benedict College gave them something to look forward to and was a reminder of the tradition at Silver Bluff.
They've had since December to dwell on it, and now the time has finally come to get back on the field and work toward more than just getting back to that same stage.
"The goal and the way the atmosphere is here at Silver Bluff, our goal is to make it to the state championship and then close the deal in the state championship," head coach De'Angelo Bryant said. "We also understand we have a lot of obstacles we have to go through in order for us to get there."
Guiding the Bulldogs through those obstacles will be Maleik Williams, the team's four-year starting quarterback.
"He's definitely a guy that I think, in my opinion, was kind of an overlooked catalyst last season," Bryant said. "Over 2,500 yards of total offense and was really big down the stretch for us, toward really the end of the region all the way through the state championship game. He's going to play both sides of the ball for us this year, so I'm very excited to have that caliber of a person being able to show these young guys the way it's supposed to be done."
There are lots of losses to overcome from a team with so many talented seniors — and some key transfers, like star running back Traevon Dunbar to Midland Valley — but the cupboard isn't bare at Silver Bluff.
Bryant will lean on Ricardo Jones, a three-year starter at safety, to be the quarterback of the defense who knows exactly where his 10 teammates are supposed to be on every snap. Edge/linebacker Jordan Boyd, "the baby" a year ago on a defense with eight seniors, bulked up over the offseason and is ready for a starring role.
The offensive and defensive lines lost a lot of productivity, so it'll be up to returners like Christian Echols on offense and David Davis on defense to lead.
Malik Mozone had a breakout campaign as a freshman and showed he had a nose for the football at his safety position, and this year he's moving to inside linebacker and will also split some carries at running back.
Marcus Washington has waited patiently for two years and is ready for some big-time carries in addition to helping out anywhere on defense. DesJuan McCorkle saw snaps as a reserve defensive back last year and will play wide receiver this year, and Hiszari and Nologist Gantt will bring loads of athletic ability to rhe receiver and defensive back positions.
There are still plenty of quality pieces at Silver Bluff, but now for the obstacles — a non-region schedule full of mostly higher-classification opponents plus rival Barnwell leads up to the Bulldogs' new home in Region 3-AA, which includes Batesburg-Leesville, Fox Creek, Pelion, Saluda and Strom Thurmond.
"What, the SEC West?," Bryant asked with a laugh. "I would argue with anybody to say that this is by far one of the toughest regions. When I reflect on this region, what I see when I see these teams and these names of these teams, I see tradition. I see pride. I see winning. This region's going to be tough from top to bottom."
