When the Shrine Bowl rosters were announced Thursday D.W. Daniel’s Shaq Lawson was surprised but not totally shocked his name was left off.
After all, he witnessed former teammate DeShawn Williams, now at Clemson, get snubbed last season.
Lawson, a senior defensive end committed to Clemson, handled the situation the best way he knew how. He dominated in the Lions’ key 24-3 region victory over defending Western 3A champ Belton-Honea Path.
With the Lions needing a win over West-Oak or Pickens to regain the hardware it surrendered to the Bears last season, the Shrine Bowl was the furthest thing from Lawson’s mind.
“It doesn’t faze me. My team’s goal is to win the state championship,” said Lawson, whose team still hasn’t given up a touchdown in six games. “I don’t care it’s just a little all-star game.”
Daniel (7-1, 3-0 region) jumped up to No. 5 in the Class 3A S.C. Prep Media poll released Tuesday.
And Lawson will be playing in a pretty big all-star game in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl Dec. 31 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
With three sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown in what was more than likely the biggest Class 3A game in the state last week, Lawson raised a few questions about the Shrine Bowl selection team’s criteria as the senior has been a menace to opposing quarterbacks all season.
Again, that’s not Lawson’s concern.
Running the double-wing offense, Pendleton is known for spreading the ball out to its many wingbacks.
However, once the Bulldogs got the power-running game going in a 62-28 victory over previously undefeated Liberty they didn’t stop.
Junior Cam Blackburn received 27 carries and didn’t disappoint, rushing for 305 yards and four touchdowns in the victory that put the Bulldogs (5-3, 3-0 region) in the driver’s seat in the Skyline 2A.
Pendleton coach Paul Sutherland’s confidence in Blackburn, who has three games over 200 yards, grows each week due to his consistency.
“The same Cam that runs for 300 yards Friday night is the same Cam that showed up for practice on Monday,” Sutherland said. “He’s just a very consistent individual. He doesn’t have highs and lows.”
The same can’t be said for the Bulldogs’ offensive line. After Clay Barnette, one of two seniors on the line, went down in Week 3 against Blue Ridge the unit wasn’t whole again until region play.
Sutherland said since Barnette’s return the line has truly come together and the results speak for themselves.
“Everybody knows we’re going to run the football and they’ve really taken on that identity,” Sutherland said.
Two Anderson County girls golfers finished in the top 10 at the Class 3A Upper State qualifier Monday at Boscobel Golf Club.
Crescent’s Dallas Odom fired a 75 and Belton-Honea Path’s Morgan Webb carded an 80. Chandler Crompton of Daniel also cracked the top 10 with an 80.
Odom qualfied as an individual for the state tournament to be held Oct. 24-25 at Quail Creek Golf Club in Conway.
In the team competition, Pickens scored a 329 for a 4-stroke victory over Daniel and South Pointe.
Pendleton (377), Wade Hampton (379), Nation Ford (384), Ware Shoals (396) and Travelers Rest (396) also qualified for the state tournament.
Daniel clinched its third straight Western 3A volleyball crown with a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-20, 25-23) of rival Pickens Monday in Central.
The Lions (20-7, 10-region) will open the first round of the state playoffs Oct. 25 at home against the fourth place team from the Peach Blossom 3A.
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