When May River lines up against Strom Thurmond on Friday in the Class 3A Lower State semifinals, it will see a similar team staring back.
The Sharks will look across the line at a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, an offense built around speed, and a defense that has dominated down the stretch. Awfully familiar.
“They’re really fast,” May River coach Rodney Summers said. “They like to use their speed.”
Indeed, the Rebels can run. They average over 200 yards per game on the ground with running back Stanley Hill (883 yards, 12 TDs) and quarterback Jequan Harris (759 yards, 8 TDs) leading the charge. But Harris can also sling it, as he’s passed for 1,667 yards with 18 TDs and only three interceptions, and he has a big-play receiver in Jay Baker, who has 62 grabs for 1,039 yards and 10 TDs.
That certainly will provide a test for a May River defense that has played well in the postseason. The unit was banged up at the end of the season after losing linebacker Ridge Dowe and cornerback Jayden Void to season-ending injuries, but Melik Frost has shifted from offense to defense to help fill Dowe’s spot, Michael Sunkins has stepped up at corner, and Rett Harrell has emerged at defensive end.
The Sharks think they have a good game plan to attack Strom Thurmond’s defense, because both use similar schemes, but Summers and his staff expect to see some wrinkles.
“We can’t go by what people are doing on film, because it seems like every week we get something different,” Summers said. “We just have to go in with a good gameplan for what they’re showing, and if something changes we’ll just have to make adjustments.”
The Sharks were able to get off to a quick start last week, racing to a 29-0 lead and holding on for a 36-22 victory at previously undefeated Aynor. May River’s own dual-threat quarterback, Ahmad Green, rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns and threw two long touchdown passes to Terry Fields in the Sharks’ most impressive win of the season.
May River has a chance to host the Lower State championship game next week — with a second straight road win over a top-10 opponent, the Sharks would advance and either travel to Gilbert or host Dillon with a trip to the state championship game on the line.
“Let’s hope we’re here next week talking again,” Summers said, “and hopefully we’re at home, not back on the road.”
PREDICTION: May River 24, Strom Thurmond 21