Lexington football eyes return to state title game

Hunter Blackmon was on the sidelines last season as his Lexington teammates made a run to the Class 4A Division II title game.

Blackmon suffered a season-ending foot injury against North Augusta on Oct. 12 and missed the rest of the season. But the senior guard was back on the field Friday as teams held their first practices around the state, and he’s ready to help the Wildcats make a return trip to the title game.

“It was tough sitting on the sidelines, but it also was exciting to watch my team make it and play as well as we did,” Blackmon said. “The journey to get back was hard, the rehab sucks, but I am ready to put it all behind me, start the season again and get rolling.”

With Blackmon back in the mix up front, one of the the Wildcats’ strengths will be along the lines. Lexington returns four starters along the offensive line and three on defense.

“Look at any good team. If the offensive line is good, the team is going to be good. That is the biggest part of the team. You can’t do anything without the offensive line,” Blackmon said.

“If you want some veteran players at any position, you want them up front. As a football coach, if you want a team to be veteran group and be your rock,” Lexington coach Josh Stepp said. “That is the group you want. We are fortunate to have those guys back. We are going to lean heavily on those guys up front.”

Stepp’s in his fourth season at Lexington, and the Wildcats have won 30 games the past three years. Lexington’s trip to the championship game last year was its first since 2000.

“We got a taste of what a championship run feels like last year. This group is hungry to get back and finish the job,” Stepp said. “Our slogan all offseason long is ‘Finish.’”

While the offensive line has plenty of familiar faces, there are several new ones at the skill positions. Chase Crouch (6-foot-2) steps into the starting role at quarterback. The junior played behind Brandon Blake and Donny Baker last season and appeared in five games.

Crouch said he learned a lot playing behind Blake and Bake, and spent the offseason getting stronger and processing the information.

“The speed of the game is going to go up so much. I have been trying to get stronger and faster,” Crouch said. “Brandon and Donny were both good role models and led the team exceptionally well. I will try to take the best from each of them and put it in my game.”

Stepp, a former quarterback, has been pleased with Crouch’s development and the way he has conducted himself during the spring.

“He is a great leader and what you want to have at the position. You’ve got to have a kid that has a little swagger and moxie to him. He has got that,” Stepp said. “He is a big kid, very athletic. He had two great examples last season to learn from and has done a great job in the offseason. I think he is going to be tremendous player for us.”

Crouch’s two top targets will be Oscar Ferguson and Dai’Quan Wells. Ferguson caught 44 passes for 467 yards last year, and Wells had 27 catches for 302 yards. Wells also led the team with seven interceptions.

The biggest question for the Wildcats is running back. Stepp said in the spring it would be probably be a committee to replace 2,000-yard back Slade Carroll, and didn’t change from that after Friday’s practice.

Stepp said four or five guys might get carries from a group that includes Donte Davis, Cooper Smith, Eric Ricker and Wells.

This story was originally published July 29, 2016 at 6:34 PM with the headline "Lexington football eyes return to state title game."