Lower Richland football hopes to build on last year’s momentum
It might be too early to proclaim that Lower Richland football is back. Based on the success of last season, it can be said it’s trending in the right direction.
The Diamond Hornets snapped a 19-game winless streak early in the season and then won two playoff games for the first time since the early 1990s. They lost to Hartsville in the third round of the Class 4A playoffs, but that didn’t diminish the turnaround in the program.
Rodney Barr earned The State’s Midlands Coach of the Year honors for winning seven games in 2017 to match the win total from the previous four seasons combined.
“I think the biggest thing is making the kids understand going into games is going to be different,” Barr said. “It’s not going to be expected we’re a team to get an automatic W against. The bull’s-eye is on us a little bit. The biggest thing is trying to be consistent. The goal wasn’t to have one good season. It’s to build a program.”
The turnaround included an improbable second-round win against Myrtle Beach. Lower Richland trailed by 17 at the half and by nine with less than two minutes remaining. But two touchdowns in the final 1:39 included a 45-yard Hail Mary on the final play to secure the 34-31 victory.
“By the end of the game, we thought we had lost,” wide receiver Jamal Henderson said. “I was shocked. It amazes me every time I think about it. But we always talk about ‘keep chopping.’ That’s what we did, and good things happened.”
Lower Richland will have to find a way to overcome the loss of 18 seniors. Tevaughn Higgins was a mainstay at quarterback for three seasons before graduating. Malich Jacobs was a North-South selection last season along with Higgins.
Barr has needed to look to younger, more inexperienced players to fill important roles.
“When you talk about building a program, it’s about being able to reload instead rebuilding every year,” he said.
Junior Jamison Ganzy will look to fill the void at quarterback. He gained valuable experience last season when Higgins suffered a midseason injury.
The Diamond Hornets look to be strong up front offensively. Brandon Simons, Aaron Hartley, Robert Ingram and Jaylen Mickle lead the way. Keyshawn Capers returns after rushing for more than 1,000 yards last season. Henderson and Trenton Higgins provide depth at wide receiver.
Defensively, defensive back Raymond Murdaugh and defensive lineman Lee Davis lead the way.
The Diamond Hornets will look to continue the winning ways as they welcome new region members Crestwood and Lakewood.
“We still have the same mentality of winning,” Henderson said. “We have some younger guys that will play this year, and we’re just trying to keep their head right. Keep chopping, and we’ll be OK.”
2018 schedule
Aug 17: at Swansea
Aug 24: at Carolina Forest
Aug 31: Westwood
Sept 7: Wilson
Sept 14: at Airport
Sept 28: at Dreher
Oct 5: Crestwood
Oct 12: at Lakewood
Oct 19: A.C. Flora
Oct 26: Orangeburg-Wilkinson
This story was originally published August 15, 2018 at 5:25 PM.