Gamecocks signee Damarcus Leach powers team to SC football state championship
Demarcus Leach did a little bit of everything in his final high school game Thursday night.
The Abbeville senior and South Carolina signee ran for two touchdowns, threw a TD pass and snagged an interception in helping the Panthers to a 58-20 win over Cross to win the Class A championship at SC State’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
It was Abbeville’s 13th state championship, second most in state history.
“Playing for Abbeville was one of my dreams growing up,” Leach said. “To be able to come, win a state championship my senior year to end it off and win one when I was a sophomore. It is a great feeling. No better feeling.”
Leach finished with 199 yards of offense, including a 74-yard pass to Jaden Baylor to put the Panthers up 51-12 in the third quarter.
Leach also showed off his speed, carving up the Cross defense on a 40-yard touchdown run. He was big on defense as well, making a leaping interception of the Trojans’ Tylers Harris near the goal line and returning it 81 yards to set up another Abbeville score.
“I just did everything I knew we had to do,” Leach said. “Coaches drew up the game plan and I trust them. So, I just went and did it pretty good.”
Thursday’s championship performance was typical of Leach’s career at Abbeville — doing whatever needed to be done. Last year, he got moved to quarterback when there was a need at the position and still played his primary position at safety.
Leach didn’t come off the field much during the game except for one series on offense after his long interception return.
Abbeville coach Jamie Nickles let his senior two-way standout take one more snap at quarterback late in the fourth so he could get a big reception from the Abbeville crowd and teammates.
Nickles remembered watching Leach play in middle school and knew he had a chance to be special and talked about the growth he has seen from the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder over the last two seasons.
“Oh my goodness, we don’t have that much time,” Nickles when asked about the impact Leach has had on the program. “He has meant so much to our program, so much to me personally and so much to our coaching staff. He is a sponge. He works out hard in the weight room. I wish nothing but the best for him.”
With his high school career almost complete, Leach is ready to be part of the Gamecocks’ program. Leach committed to South Carolina in April despite offers from schools such as Michigan and Duke and signed with the Gamecocks last week. He will play in the NC-SC Shrine Bowl all-star game next week and enroll at USC in January.
“It feels good to end that chapter of my life like that. It is bittersweet but I did my part, we did our part while I was here,” Leach said. “Now, it is time to move on.
“I am looking forward to going down there and being a factor, being developed as a player and giving South Carolina everything I got, every single day.”
State championships
- Class A: Abbeville 58, Cross 20
- Class 2A: Clinton 35, Barnwell 6
Read about the following games at thestate.com/sports
- Class 3A: Oceanside Collegiate vs. Belton-Honea Path
- Class 4A: South Florence vs. Westside
- Class 5A Division I: Dutch Fork vs. Summerville
- Class 5A Division II: Irmo vs. Northwestern
This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 8:00 AM.
