Versatile, volatile Bulldogs offense to collide with War Eagles' defense

Dec. 2—What's a defensive coordinator to do when third-ranked Silver Bluff is on the opposite side of the football field?

Sell out to stop a rushing attack led by sophomore sensation Traevon Dunbar? That's only going to give poised and polished junior quarterback Maleik Williams, also a serious threat to run, a mismatch somewhere for his deep and talented corps of receivers.

OK, so that's out. How about playing straight up to keep those receivers, like speedy Arthur Walker and rangy Nick Brown, from getting behind the defense? In that case, the odds are just as high that Dunbar or Williams end up back there instead.

And that's to make no mention yet of a veteran, surly group of offensive linemen who relish the opportunity to flatten defenders both at the line of scrimmage and well beyond it.

It's a riddle no one has solved yet this season, and No. 2 Gray Collegiate will be the last to take a crack at it at 7 p.m. Friday in the Class AA state championship game.

The War Eagles' offense and 3,000-yard senior running back KZ Adams get most of the attention, but they wouldn't be here without a strong defense to match. Gray Collegiate has shut out five of its opponents this season and is allowing 12.5 points per game, giving more than enough cushion to that explosive offensive attack.

"They don't really have a weakness," said Silver Bluff head coach De'Angelo Bryant. "I think their guys are very physical up front. I think they're fast up front. I think they have really good movement overall, even in the secondary. Let's no forget, both Adams and (Tory Kelly) play in the secondary. I think they have really good movement skills. They do some really good things on defense. They fly to the ball, and they may hit some stuff too. It will be a challenge for our offense to see how well we can actually move the football."

Senior linebacker Zach Glenn leads the War Eagles (13-1) in tackles with 157, followed by junior linebacker Jordan Robinson with 127 and senior linebacker/safety Kelly with 123. Senior linebacker Savien Jones has a team-high eight sacks, and senior defensive tackle Jakiaus Hilton is right behind him with seven. Junior defensive back Devin Johnson, also the team's top receiver, leads the secondary with five interceptions.

It's a versatile and talent-rich defense with strength at every position.

Just like Silver Bluff's (11-0) offense.

Dunbar continues to play at a level well beyond his years, and he comes into Friday night needing 167 rushing yards to hit 2,000 for the season. He's rushed for 1,833 yards and 28 touchdowns on just 195 carries (9.4 yards per run), and another receiving touchdown leaves him just one score shy of tying the program's single-season touchdown record. The sophomore already has 47 total touchdowns in 17 games played, and it's seemed through two seasons the only thing keeping him out of the end zone is when one of his teammates beats him there.

One of those is Williams, who could quite possibly already be the best quarterback in program history. He's 104 of 152 (68.4%) for 1,745 yards and 16 touchdowns against only four interceptions, and he's added 653 yards and 11 more scores on 69 carries (9.5 yards per rush). He's broken Silver Bluff's single season records — all previously held by his head coach — for passing yards, completion percentage, passing efficiency and fewest interceptions, and he's one touchdown pass shy of tying that record.

Bryant said before the season that this group of skill position players are their best since the Bulldogs' state finalists in 2013, and they've proven that this season.

Walker leads the team in receiving yardage (650) and touchdowns (seven) on 33 catches, and the 5-foot-6 junior can jet past defenders after a screen pass just as quickly as he can get behind them for the deep ball. The 6-2 senior Brown (43 catches, 533 yards, six touchdowns) can go up above defenders for the catch, take a pop pass around the corner, turn a quick slant into a long gain or outrun everyone for a long bomb. The two of them have taken over the records for receptions and combined receptions in a season, and those marks were previously held by some pretty big names — NFL alumni Corey Chavous and Troy Williamson.

With so many options and not one of them filling a "feature" role, the Bulldogs' receivers have to make the most of every touch they get — and they have to be ready on every snap, because Williams will put the ball in the right spot far more often than not. Consider 6-3 senior H back Darius Dixon, who's a key member of their blocking package up front and has also scored seven touchdowns on just 20 touches. He scored both times he touched the ball — both in the fourth quarter, no less — in Silver Bluff's 42-35 Lower State championship win over Barnwell.

"That's the great part about it," Bryant said. "All of them are willing to make plays, and they're very unselfish about the way that they do make plays. It's great having a guy like Maleik at quarterback who's very unselfish and can distribute the ball in many different ways and do a lot of different things.

"I'm just very proud that we have a plethora of guys that don't mind making plays. Sometimes you'll find a team that only has one or two guys that want to make those plays. We're very fortunate that we have a lot of guys that are capable of making those plays, too."

The Bulldogs can get the ball into the end zone in a variety of ways, and the defense that will line up across from them Friday night has a lot of different ways to get the stops they need.

In a game that will have both teams feeling like they're looking into a mirror, whoever blinks first may end up settling for second place.