Last Updated on 12/1/2008

Published on 8/28/2008

By R.G. Greene

rgreene@gtowntimes.com

Before taking over the football team at Georgetown High earlier this year, Tyronne Davis spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Carvers Bay. Serving as defensive coordinator, Davis helped the Bears reach the Class A Division I finals in successive seasons - Carvers Bay won the state title in 2006 and finished as state runner-up last year.

Having enjoyed such success together, Davis - whose team opens the season tonight at Carvers Bay at 7 p.m. - and Bears coach Nate Thompson have developed plenty of respect for each other.

"Coach Davis is an excellent coach, and he works very well with the kids," Thompson said. "He did an outstanding job for us, and he'll do the same at Georgetown."

Said Davis, "Coach Thompson is a great coach, and he's a great person. I really enjoyed being a part of his staff at Carvers Bay. I learned a lot, and I'll always remember the time I spent there."

Carvers Bay (1-0) opened the season last week with an 18-6 win over Marion. Though they were breaking in 16 new starters, the Bears followed a familiar script, rushing for 190 yards and holding the Swamp Foxes to just 67 total yards.

Since taking over at Georgetown, one of Davis' priorities has been to improve the team in the trenches, especially on the offensive line.

Carvers Bay's five-man defensive front promises to offer a tough challenge. Though there are four new starters up front, the combination of size, strength and quickness remains similar to what it was a year ago.

Blending the power of players like tackle Kwame Geathers (6-foot-6, 320) and noseguard Tevin Greene (6-0, 335) with the speed of defensive ends like Jeremy Turner (6-foot-2, 180) - who had two sacks last week - the Bears made it a long night for Marion.

"(Carvers Bay's) defensive line was as good as anyone's in the state last year," Davis said. "Though they have some new players starting, they don't appear to have lost a step. I was very impressed with the way they played (against Marion)."

The soggy conditions last week helped take the big-play element away from the Bears' offense, but they demonstrated an ability to grind out the tough yards, with the combination of Clayton Geathers and Davious Chestnut combining for 155 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Special teams - an area of concern for Thompson coming into the contest - produced a game-changing moment with Karim Gamble recovering a Marion fumble on a punt and setting up a second half score.

"Being a Week Zero game, we had a shorter time to prepare than I would have liked," Thompson said. "It made it tough, but we managed to get through it. I was pretty happy with the way we played, but we still have some work in front of us."

Georgetown's offense averaged less than 12 points per game last year and, defensively, the Bulldogs surrendered more than 30 points per contest.

After a 1-9 finish, Davis has altered the schemes, installing a power-running attack for the offense and 5-2 alignment for the defense.

Davis has stressed the fundamentals, believing that building the team will be a step-by-step process.

"Our kids have worked very hard," Davis said. "We've spent a lot of time (on the basics), trying to improve our blocking and tackling and trying to be more physical. We've made progress. We're motivated and excited to start the season."

ST. JAMES (0-0) at WACCAMAW (0-0), 7:30 p.m.: The rivalry on the Waccamaw Neck has produced a couple of hotly contested games the last two years, with St. James winning 24-23 in '06 and 33-30 last year.

"There has been quiet a bit of interest in the game the last two years," Waccamaw coach Burney Bourne said. "We knew there would be when we started (the series). Many of the kids and their parents know each other and, with the schools being so close to each other, it makes for a natural rivalry."

Waccamaw finished 5-6 last year, making the Class AA playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

St. James has the speed to test a Waccamaw defense that allowed more than 25 points per game last year, but the Warriors are capable of putting points on the board themselves.

Despite losing playmakers like receiver Thomas Ligon and running back/receiver Eric Sparkman, plenty of firepower returns to an offense that averaged nearly 20 points per game in '07.

Senior Akeem Point returns to anchor the ground attack and the combination of junior quarterback Terron Britton and junior receiver John Gibbs provide the Warriors with big-play potential in the passing game - Gibbs will also get snaps at running back.

In its history, Waccamaw has not always had those kinds of playmakers, but Bourne says it's the little things that will likely make the difference in the Warriors' season.

"Playing winning football means limiting your turnovers, mistakes and penalties," Bourne said. "If we want to be successful, that's what we have to do, in (Friday's game) and throughout the year.

"If you talk coaches, they'll tell you there is always some apprehension about the first game. You have to get out under the lights and see how your team is going to react. We've had close games with St. James the last two years and I think we'll see a similar game (on Friday)."

ANDREWS (0-0) at LAMAR (0-1), 7:30 p.m.: Though Lamar lost last week 42-0 to Cheraw, it's difficult to gauge what type of team the Silver Foxes truly are. After all, Cheraw - winner of two straight Class AA titles - will humble many teams before the season is over.

J.R. Boyd was an assistant coach at Lamar last season, but has taken over the coaching reigns this season. It's a familiar role for Boyd, who led the Silver Foxes to three straight Class A titles from '02-04.

"Lamar is a program that is used to winning," Andrews coach Steve Hart said. "It's a tough place to play. This should a great test for us."

Andrews will operate out of the spread offense this season, replacing the wing-t attack it had used during Hart's first three seasons at the school.

Junior quarterback Reggie Posey will run the show with senior Thomas Lance being a threat at both receiver and running back.

"We've gotten a little better each week," Hart said. "(The spread) has been a good fit for the players we have. It's allowed us to make better use of our team speed."

Lamar has good size on its offensive line - which returns every starter from last year - and also returns senior running back Johnathan Dargan, who rushed for more than 900 yards in '07.

"They do a good job with their (schemes)," Hart said. "They've got good size up front on both sides of the ball and their skill players have a lot of speed."