Tigers Open Friday
- Details
- Category: Archives
- Published on Wednesday, 16 August 2017 14:51
- Written by Ralph Shealy
- Hits: 7534
Tigers Will Do Things Differently
The Saluda Tigers had record breaking seasons the last two years, but many of the record breaking performers have graduated.
Despite losing players who scored 435 of Saluda’S school record 563 points, and some defensive stalwarts, Coach Stewart Young said his 2018 Tigers enter the season with the same goals: play well in the pre-region games, win the region, and get a high seed in the state play-offs.
Gone from the Tiger offense are Malik Brooks, who set the school rushing record with 4749 yards, and Tyrell Abney, who accounted for over 1300 yards rushing, passing and receiving. Because of this, the Tigers will change their offensive philosophy from 70 percent run, 30 percent pass to 50-50.
Sophomore quarterback Noah Bell returns. As a true freshman he threw for 978 yards and eight touchdowns, despite not starting until nearly midway in the season. Backing him up with the true freshman Madison William, who will also play some receiver.
With Brooks gone, the Tigers will featuring “running back by committee.” Speedy Kendarius Graham, who rushed for 378 yards and four touchdowns last year, is expected to start, but Tanner Maroney, Kentavious Burton and Ashton Parkman will see action.
“Instead of a player with 30 carries a game, we’ll probably see one with 15, one with ten, etc.,” Young said.
Starting at wide receiver will be Raquan Hartley, O’Syruis Springs, who has had a great camp, and Jay Baker. Hartley is the top returner with 14 catches for five touchdowns last year.
Caleb McDaniel will start at tight end.
The Tigers will have some experience in the offensive line.
Will Turner will start at center, Miciah Wallace and Trey McGraw at the guards, Michael Cockrell and Hunter Herlong at the tackles. Wallace is the only starter without game experience.
Young said the Tiger defense will be strong in the front and back, and inexperienced in the middle.
All-Star candidate Kalijiha Brown, who has committed to Wake Forrest, will anchor the defensive line. Other starters in the three man front are Sam Padgett and Parkman. When the Tigers go to a four-man front, sophomore Matthew Herlong will come in.
Bubba Robinson is a returner at inside linebacker. Also seeing action will be Jeremiah Stevens and Jylir Coleman.
Demond Johnson has experience at outside linebacker. Hartley will be the only Tiger to start both ways, and Burton will also play.
The secondary returns starters Daquain Brunson, CJ Bosket and Cade Gentry.
Francisco Yepez will handle the kicking duties.
The Tigers will open at Strom Thurmond Friday. Advance tickets can be purchased at the school office.
Young wants Saluda fans to know Aiken County will implement a new policy when Saluda travels to RSM in two weeks. Bags will be searched, and a wand will be used at search for weapons, so plan to arrive early.
(Photos courtesy of Marquis Hopkins with MH.photography)
EMS Back To School Bash
Saluda County EMS is proud to announce the success of both our First Annual Public Safety Back to School Bash as well as Stuff an Ambulance Campaign. Both events were held on Saturday, August 5 at Saluda Elementary School. Our organization would like to extend a ‘thank you’ to all of the groups, businesses, and organizations that took part in our event, as we would like to acknowledge the vital role each of you took in the success of that day.
First and foremost, we would like to thank Saluda Primary and Saluda Elementary schools both for partnering with us and for providing a venue for the event. Moreover, we would like to thank each of the following for their donations and/or participations in the first annual Public Safety Back to School Bash. Thank you to: all of Saluda County public safety including Saluda Police Department, Saluda County Sheriff’s Office, and Saluda Fire Department, Saluda Library, the National Guard, both the Boy Scouts as well as the Girl Scouts, DNR, Saluda Baptist Church, Radius Church, Lieutenant Steve Clare with Batesburg Police Department, LifeNet, Saluda Primary School’s PTO, Low Country Billing, Daniel Patterson, Bi-Lo, Hite’s BBQ, Allison Horne and Miriam Adams, Phillip Hopkins with Over Looked Enterprise, Angie Rita, Wayne Starnes and Len Bryan, Saluda High School’s HOSA organization, both the Junior Varsity and Varsity cheerleaders, Powell’s Sanitation, Spacewalk out of Batesburg, event DJ Benjie Steele, Brittin Bryan, and finally to Shy Lindsay.
In addition, Saluda County EMS wishes to acknowledge the huge success our First Annual Stuff an Ambulance Campaign experienced, as we were overwhelmed with the amount of school supply donations we received. With that, we thank each of the following for their donations: Corey Cotterman and wife, Beulah Baptist Church, Chuck Adams and wife, Regina Turner, Thomas Sims and wife, Brian Hall, Greg Padgett and wife, Sardis Church, Saluda Fire Department, Gwen Shealy, Over Looked Enterprise, Cyndi and Lou Rita, Claire Reeves, Garrett and Briley Gilliland, Chris Medlin and wife, and last but not least to Sandra Padget. We would furthermore like to recognize several donors who asked to remain anonymous. Your generosity, in addition to all others’, has not gone unnoticed.
If anyone who was not recognized in this week’s paper wishes to be recognized for their donations or participation in relation to the Back to School Bash or in support of the Stuff an Ambulance Campaign, we ask that you contact Ashley Rita, Saluda County EMS PR and PIER Team Representative, at a.rita@saluda county.sc.gov. We extend an apology to any donor or participant who was not recognized, as we received an overwhelming number of donations and support over an extended period of time. We assure any additional donors and participants will receive recognition in next week’s paper. Again, thank you all for your generosity and support! Our organization is honored to serve the community we do.