By Thomas Grant Jr.
From community summer football camps to having the Palmetto State’s top players work out before All-Star Bowl coaches, the spotlight has shined on Airport’s athletic facilities.
Lexington District Two and school officials have helped fulfill head coach Shane Fidler’s vision for the program. This involves not only showcasing the positives of the West Columbia High School both to the local and statewide community but also giving the student-athletes the best resources available to reach their highest potential.
For Friday’s home opener against Orangeburg-Wilkinson, fans in attendance will get to experience a livelier game experience. Not only has the school installed a state-of-the-art Jumbotron scoreboard, but have added special lights to display neon colors following a score.
“Lexington Two and Airport High School have made a commitment to our student's and student-athletes' success,” Fidler said. “Anytime we are able to help others and put our great facilities on display we are willing to do it. We are excited about the opportunity to play a great opponent on television.”
Fidler is referencing the Eagles’ Week Two home matchup against Orangeburg-Wilkinson. It’s the WACH 57 Soniic Friday Night Rivals Games of the Week and will air statewide on Spectrum Cable Channel 1250 and www.wach.com.
This is the third straight week the Columbia station has carried a Lexington County team. WACH 57 opened the season with Gilbert and Lexington and last week carried Northside Christian for the first time at Wilson Hall.
The Eagles (0-1) were idle last week following a 34-13 loss at May River. A fumble recovery for a touchdown by linebacker Montrelle Keys, a scoring run by quarterback Jay Eady and PAT accounted for Airport’s points.
“Our bye week has been about getting better at executing the fundamentals it takes to win - blocking, tackling and ball security,” Fidler said. “We thought all three were a problem against Lexington (at the preseason Sports-A-Rama and felt ball security was an issue against May River. So we have heavily emphasized these things along with trying to get healthy.”
Fidler knows his team will have to show improvement against a Bruins’ team that is 2-0 for the first time since 2017. They have outscored their first two opponents – Anderson and Hemingway – by a 124-0 margin.
“So far on film we see a team that is undefeated,” Fidler said. “They have handled their opponents with ease and we know that we are going to have to play a great game to win.”
Gators improve to 2-0
It was an all-Lexington County affair in The Swamp last Friday as River Bluff played host to Brookland-Cayce.
The Bearcats were playing their season opener. It was also the debut of highly touted Cardinal Newman transfer wide receiver Amarii King.
The Gators once again prevailed in dominant fashion at home 41-21 to improve to 2-0. Running back Hayden Myers rushed for 130 yards and he and backfield mate Jacob Pinkney each had two touchdowns.
Quarterback Parker Murray was a near-perfect 15-17 passing for 175 yards and threw a tipped, over-the-shoulder caught a 39-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Griffin.
Defensive tackle Nathan Shuman led River Bluff with 12 tackles and the defense collected five sacks. King led Brookland-Cayce on the ground with 121 rushing yards and Aden Price, Tyrone Jackson and Jvonn Edwards all scored touchdowns.
Crusaders, War Eagles
lose for the first time
Northside Christian fell 28-9 to Wilson Hall in a SCISA Region 3-2A matchup which was also the WACH 57 Sonic Friday Night Rivals Game of the Week.
The Crusaders jumped out to a 9-0 lead on a 40-yard touchdown pass by Jefferson McCallum to Jake Jeffrey and a 30-yard field goal by John Lizewski. The Barons answered with 28 unanswered points and held Northside Christian (2-1) to 102 total yards.
Over in Chattanooga, Tenn., Gray Collegiate fell to the Baylor School 42-7. The Red Raiders are coached by former University of South Carolina quarterback and former Hammond head coach Erik Kimrey.
Both the War Eagles and Crusaders are idle this Friday. They return to action Sept. 13 as Gray Collegiate travels to defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork and Northside Christian plays host to Andrew Jackson Academy.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (17) (1-0)
2. Gaffney (1) (1-0)
3. Northwestern (2) (2-0)
4. Summerville (2-0)
5. Irmo (2-0)
6. TL Hanna (1-0)
7. Sumter (2-0)
8. JL Mann (1-1)’
9. White Knoll (1-1)
10. Hillcrest (2-0)
Others receiving votes: Spartanburg, Boiling Springs, Lexington, River Bluff, Fort Dorchester, Blythewood, Chapin, James Island
Class 4A
1. Westside (1-0) (20)
2. Daniel (2-0)
3. South Pointe (1-1)
4. South Florence (1-1)
5. Camden (1-1)
6. Gray Collegiate (1-1)
7. Hartsville (0-0-1)
8. Richland Northeast (2-0)
9. May River (2-0)
10. Wren (2-0)
Others receiving votes: Seneca, Bluffton, North Augusta, Emerald, Gilbert, Lancaster, Midland Valley, Darlington, Crestwood, Brookland-Cayce, AC Flora
Class 3A
1. Belton-Honea Path (19) 2-0
2. Dillon (1) (2-0)
3. Pendleton (2-0)
4. Oceanside Collegiate (1-1)
5. Mountain View Prep (2-0)
6. Woodruff (2-0)
7. Marlboro County (2-0)
8. Loris (2-0)
9. Chapman (1-1)
10. Newberry (2-0)
Others receiving votes: Aynor, St. Joseph's, Broome, Christ Church, Walhalla, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, Keenan, Swansea, Hanahan
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All Games at 7:30 p.m.)
Orangeburg-Wilkinson at Airport
Brookland-Cayce at White Knoll
River Bluff at Nation Ford
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