Region 5A Jamboree

Friday August 8, 2008 was a night of firsts. 2008’s South Carolina High School football season kicked-off last night at Leon Maxwell Stadium the “Home of the Red Raiders” of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. The Region 5A Jamboree, which is played annually, consisted Allendale-Fairfax High School, Branchville High School, Calhoun County High School, Denmark-Olar High School, Estill High School and of course the host Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School.

In what was clearly the hardest fought match-up of the night Bamberg-Ehrhardt defeated Allendale-Fairfax Tigers 14-8. This was the first game for these two teams, who tied for the best record in Region 5A last season (4-1) and faced each other in the 2nd round of the State Play-offs last year. That game was won by the Red Raiders 36-7. Fans of the schools in Region 5A should be in for a great year of football especially with the addition of Calhoun County High School (moved from Region 4A due to the realignment of the regions) which won Region 4A last year.

Calhoun County (ranked first in the pre-season Class A polls) faced-off against Denmark-Olar High School last in what looked to be a clear rout before the game. Led by stand-out wide receiver/safety #2 Alshawn Jeffery and an offensive line that looks like that of a Big-16 team the Saints should be in for a tremendous season. However, last night the Vikings of Denmark-Olar showed why you have to play the game. While it appeared they were outmatched in size and speed they simply went out and disrupted the passing game of the Saints by getting into the backfield on seemingly every pass play. If there was not a sack then there was a hold by the Saints o-line. The first and only score of the game was a touchdown by linebacker #10 (name not known) of the Calhoun County Saints, when he picked up a fumble and after regaining his balance outran everybody for a 40 yard fumble return TD. The Saints won the game 7-0.

Another first last night was for Branchville High School. The Yellow Jackets competed in Varsity level football for the first time since 1991! While the outcome was surely not what they would have dreamed about (they lost the game 40-0 to Estill High School) players and coaches alike were undeterred in their excitement to once again be able to represent the Purple and Gold! Senior defensive lineman Jamal Williams was joined by fellow senior linebacker Deandre Robinson by saying their expectation for the season is to win a championship. Branchville’s Assistant Coach, Charles Brown, who starred as a middle linebacker for the Yellow Jackets in the 1980’s before becoming a 4-year letterman at SC State was more focused on the “change of atmosphere” that new head coach Dan Reynolds has brought to the program. “He has gotten the kids to come out and be motivated to do the work that is needed” Brown said. Branchville might not win a championship this year in terms of a region or state (they start 5 freshmen) but just by suiting and playing every week they will play the part of champions to the kids and adults alike in their hometown of Branchville. Good-luck Yellow Jackets we’ll be watching you this season!

An estimated 650 people were in attendance at the Region 5A Jamboree. Good luck in the coming season to all the teams that participated!