The Batesburg-Leesville football team is on the brink of a historic season.
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The Batesburg-Leesville football team is on the brink of a historic season.
The Panthers moved to 8-0 after beating the Pelion Panthers 48-0 last Friday night and are two games away from an undefeated regular season. It was the fifth shutout this year for Batesburg-Leesville. That ties the team with Dutch Fork for most shutout wins in the county this year.
“Got to keep getting better every week,” Batesburg-Leesville head coach Greg Lawson said. “That's the main goal. Get better every week and be better than you were the week before.”
Batesburg-Leesville relies heavily on its veteran leaders. Players like starting quarterback Tanner Watkins and receiver Jamerius Clark play multiple positions for the team on different sides of the ball.
Watkins has been crucial to the team’s success. He is a three-year starter and has elevated his play this year.
“Our quarterback’s our kicker, our quarterback’s our punter,” Lawson said. “In order for us to be successful and play at the highest level, you got to put your best kids on those teams.”
The team as a whole has also taken a leap this year after going 12-17 in the previous three seasons combined. Those who were a part of the previous years came into this season hungry and motivated for success.
“Discipline and the work they put in, in the offseason it's been a good thing,” Lawson said.
The game against Pelion was never in doubt. Batesburg-Leesville went up 21-0 in the first quarter and never looked back.
Watkins rushed for two touchdowns and threw for one more. He finished the contest with over 200 total yards of offense.
Running back Amadre Wooden ran for over 150 yards and had two touchdowns. Clark had three catches for over 100 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown catch.
The Batesburg-Leesville defense made it nearly impossible for Pelion to get anything going offensively. Pelion fumbled the ball twice in its own territory and only made it into enemy territory twice all game.
“It's always beneficial to get out in front. You want to try to get out in front and control the game, control the tempo,” Lawson said. “We got a tough road ahead in the next two weeks, and then going into the playoffs.”
Pelion dropped to 1-8 with the loss and 0-4 in region games. It has been a rough season for the team, but it will have a chance to end on a high note this week in its season finale against a 0-7 American Leadership Academy team.
The next two Batesburg-Leesville games will determine if the team can accomplish its goal of winning the region championship and earning a top seed in the playoffs. The Panthers have not won their region since 2014 and will have to go on the road twice to end this season.
This week’s game against Saluda will be the toughest test the team has faced all season. Saluda is ranked No. 2 in all of 2A right behind Batesburg-Leesville. The Tigers are 7-0 this year and fresh off of a 10-point win over reigning region champs Strom Thurmond.
Should the Panthers win this week, the team will then travel to Strom Thurmond where a win would clinch them the region championship and an undefeated regular season.
“Got to win them both,” Lawson said.
Gray Collegiate: 49, Brookland-Cayce: 7 (Tuesday)
Midland Valley: 49, Airport: 7 (Tuesday)
South Aiken: 35, Gilbert: 28 (Tuesday)
North Augusta: 56, Brookland-Cayce: 28 (Saturday)
Gray Collegiate: 55, Aiken: 0 (Saturday)
Gilbert: 31, Airport: 18 (Saturday)
Swansea: 21, Fox Creek: 7
Ninety-Six: 56, American Leadership: 0
Northside Christian: 34, Florence Christian: 7
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