When Steve Taneyhill arrived at
Chesterfield in 2005, the Golden Rams had won six games the previous four years and one in the last two. Now, the Golden Rams are riding a 25-game win streak, have won three straight state titles and have won 26 straight games at home.
The Golden Rams knocked off rival
Cheraw for the fourth straight year on Friday — the first time that's happened in school history.
Taneyhill, the former University of South Carolina quarterback, told people that he wanted to build the top program in the state, no matter the classification.
"To do that you have to be winners," Taneyhill said. "Winning every day and every play."
The win streak is the longest in the state, dating back to Sept. 27, 2008.
"This streak, really both streaks, is another thing you can throw in there to show the players that this is working," he said.
Here are some more tidbits concerning South Carolina football:
2. A first-year program with no seniors might not be expected to be undefeated a couple of weeks into the season. At
Whale Branch (Beaufort) in Beaufort County, though, it was expected. To start the year, the Warriors have rattled off three straight wins.
"I'm not going to accept the first-year mentality of winning two games and it being a successful season," coach Rob D'Amato said. "We want to go to the playoffs and beyond."
While some of the more than 50 players on the roster have never played before, D'Amato did get a couple of transfers who started last season at Battery Creek High School, including quarterback Stedmon James and running back Josh Fields.
3. The Centurions from
Broome (Spartanburg) have opened the season with two road wins for the first time since 1994 and for only the second time in school history. It's also only the sixth time in school history that a team has started 2-0.
It helps that there are some kids in the program who have been starting since their freshman and sophomore years and that the Centurions have shown a running game to go with their passing attack. They opened the season with a 21-13 win at
York and last week beat
Union County (Union) 20-13.
"It's two big wins," said fourth-year coach Todd Staley. "We hadn't beaten either since I've been here."
4. It's amazing when there's one 99-yard touchdown play, much less when there are on one night. On Friday, on different sides of the state, this occurred.
During the first quarter of the
Wade Hampton (Greenville) vs.
Chapman (Inman) game, Generals quarterback Capers Williamson hooked up with Hakeem Flowers for a 99-yard reception. Wade Hampton won 49-20.
In the lower part of the state,
Carvers Bay (Hemingway) tailback
Tevin Richard broke off a 99-yard run to help the Bears 26-14 win over
Waccamaw (Pawley's Island).
"He took an off-tackle play and they kind of ran outside and he turned it up, broke a couple tackles — a corner and free safety — and took it to the house," Carvers Bay coach Nate Thompson told the Myrtle Beach Sun News. "I thought they were going to bring him down, too. He's a strong kid ... strong-willed."
5. Summerville offensive coordinator Joseph Call used to have to find creative ways to get now-Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green the ball. It's a bit easier with his current offensive weapon, mainly because De’Angelo Henderson is a tailback.
Henderson accumulated 289 all-purpose yards (160 rushing and 118 receiving) in a 17-14 win over
Berkeley (Moncks Corner) and ran for 259 yards and five scores in a 50-26 win over
Conway.
"DeAngelo is the same way (as Green), but it's easier to get him the ball," Call said. "We can just run the toss sweep and he can make people miss."
STARS FROM LAST WEEK:Calhoun County (St. Matthews) quarterback
Shamier Jeffery threw for 255 yards and five touchdowns in the 49-0 win over
Wagener-Salley (Wagener). He was 15 of 20 on the night ... With his team's top rusher hurt,
Greer quarterback Reese Hannon took over and led the Yellow Jackets to a 26-16 win over
Berea (Greenville). Hannon rushed for 119 yards and a score and threw for 224 yards (15 of 22 passing) and two touchdowns ...
Central (Pageland) is typically a running team, but quarterback
Jowan Henderson was efficient on Friday, going 6-for-8 for 221 yards. Three of his completions were touchdowns ... Summerville tailback De'angelo Henderson put together another big night, accumulating 289 all-purpose yards in a 17-14 win over Berkeley. He ran for 160 yards and caught five passes for 118 yards and a 30-yard touchdown reception.
ON DECK THIS WEEK:Summerville at
Goose Creek: Two top 10 programs squaring off in the Lowcountry. The Green Wave has dominated the series, winning 13 of the last 15 meetings and four straight.
Greenwood at
Dorman (Roebuck): When premier 4A upper state programs are mentioned, these two teams are in the conversation. The Eagles and Cavaliers come into the game with undefeated marks, but both have been challenged. Greenwood has won two games by 12 points, while Dorman has won its games by a total of 16 points.
Chester at Central: It's a battle of recent runners-up. The Chester Cyclones played for and lost in the 3A state title games in '07 and '08, while the Central Eagles have lost the last two 2A title games. Both programs should be fighting for their respective upper state titles.
Jason Gilmer is an award-winning writer who has covered football in South Carolina for more than a decade. He does a statewide high school football blog on GoUpstate.com. You can reach him at palmettofootballtalkblog@gmail.com.
