Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008

Reborn Irmo builds another playoff run

After a rough 0-2 start, the rebuilding Yellow Jackets enter the second round of the playoffs

From the outset, it appeared Irmo High’s football team was in for a rebuilding season. With a young offensive line and their star running back injured, the Yellow Jackets lost their first two games.

But starting with a win at Summerville in Week 3, Irmo has rebounded.

The Yellow Jackets won the Region 5-4A title and entered the Division 1 playoffs on a five-game winnning streak. Irmo (8-3) plays host to Rock Hill in the second round Friday.

“Starting off 0-2 really helped us because we learned to face adversity,” senior quarterback Brian Hill said. “We know now that just because you’re down, you’re not out.”

The Yellow Jackets had things working against them early in the season: They lacked experience, especially on defense, and leading rusher Mustafa Greene was injured during the Summerville game.

“I think a little bit of doubt crept into our minds at first,” Hill said.

But coach Bob Hanna and his staff would not let doubt play a role in how the rest of the season would play out.

“I think we knew we had a good group of kids,” said Hanna, who was confident the kids would come through.

And they did. “Kids have stepped up in areas that we needed them to step up in,” Hanna said.

The development of young players such as center Hunter Gray and left tackle Shaquille Counts helped the Yellow Jackets put it all together.

Gray and Hunter are among six sophomores who have seen substantial playing time.

“We put them in there and there were some growing pains early,” Hanna said. “That’s what you expect at first, but since then, they have grown into good football players.”

Though the coaches never explicitly stated it, Gray said he and his teammates on the line knew they were the vital cog in getting Irmo’s gears turning.

Early on, the Yellow Jackets were struggling on offense; they did not score more than two touchdowns in their first four games.

“The coaches were pushing us harder as the season went on, and the more we listened to them, everything just sort of fell into place for us,” Gray said.

When Greene went out with a shoulder injury, sophomore Dawan Scott stepped up.

Scott, who is smaller and less physical than Greene, averaged 3.3 yards per carry in four games as Irmo improved to 2-2.“He was a total surprise,” Hanna said. “We saw some good things in practice early, but there’s a big difference in practice and a game.”

Meanwhile, Hill was finding ways to connect with Irmo’s receivers, including seniors Nathan Dorton and Rashad Mallette.

“Brian has thrown the ball extremely well, and he’s smart and his legs have helped us too with his ability to scramble,” Hanna said. “People have got to defend the whole field against us now.”

Those efforts, plus the kicking of Eduardo Lopez, the leadership of three seniors on the defensive line and the return of Greene, have brought the Yellow Jackets to a familiar place — battling for a state title in November.

“We’re in a situation that we are comfortable with. We’ve been here before,” Hanna said.

Reach Nelson at (803) 771-8419.