Dreher football relying on another Washington to lead running attack
Dreher coach Treigh Sullivan didn’t have to look far to find a replacement for running back Jay Washington.
Washington was the Blue Devils’ top rusher the past three seasons and had 1,789 yards and 20 touchdowns a year ago. It will his brother, Da Da Washington, carrying the load for Dreher’s running game this season.
Da Da Washington rushed for 575 yards and seven scores last year. He also figures to contribute in Dreher’s passing game.
“We are a run-first team and we are going to keep doing it,” Dreher coach Treigh Sullivan said. “Obviously the experience with Day Day has. He played a lot last year when Jay was on defense or tired. He is a good player. I like that (running back) group. I really do. We’ve got three or four guys who could go.”
Other guys behind Washington for carries are Jermel Sims and 270-pound freshman Micaiah Settles.
Dreher returns 16 starters from last year, including quarterback Ryan Campbell, linebacker Justin Dingle and Kyrell Michael most of Dreher’s offensive line. The Blue Devils went 7-4, which tied Lower Richland for the Class 5-4A title but lost in the first round of the playoffs to Lugoff-Elgin.
Dreher has won at least five games in each of Sullivan’s first five seasons but hasn’t had the playoff success he hoped for during that time.
“We have been competitive with the six- or seven-win mark,” Sullivan said. “We need to take another step and win a playoff game. It will take building depth and some luck with some injuries. But I like this group. They are hungry.”
About Dreher
Coach: Treigh Sullivan (6th year)
Last year’s record: 7-4
Number of starters returning: 16
Key returning players: OL XavierWade, OL Jaylon Pearson, RB Day Day Washington, TE Louis Par, WR Tre’vonDreher, QB Ryan Campbell, QB/LB James Beck, LB Justin Dingle, S Kyrell Michael, OL Seth Wilson, LB Jermel Sims, DE Jordan Huston, DB Rashard Brown
Newcomers to watch: Micaiah Settles, Hillard Garner, Mactavious Hilton, Blake Craig
2018 schedule
Aug. 17: at Airport
Aug. 24: at Lexington
Aug. 31: at Gray Collegiate
Sept. 7: vs. Eau Claire
Sept. 14: at Gilbert
Sept. 28: vs. Lower Richland
Oct. 5: at Orangeburg-Wilkinson
Oct. 12: at Crestwood
Oct. 19: vs. Lakewood
Oct. 26: at A.C. Flora
This story was originally published August 15, 2018 at 5:18 PM.