Dillon’s #7 Ahmari Huggins-Bruce carries for a first down. (Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD.
Dillon’s 11–12-year-old football team fell 14-0 to the Mt. Pleasant Warriors in the Lower State championship on Saturday, December 6, in Dillon.
Dillon advanced to the lower state championship by defeating Florence 28-14 for the District Championship on Monday, December 1.
In Monday’s game, Dillon scored first on a long run from William Harley in the first quarter and added two-points on the conversion. In the second, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce scored on a 78-yard touchdown pass and a successful conversion gave Dillon a 16-0 lead at the half.
Florence scored early in the third, but Dillon’s Huggins-Bruce struck again on a touchdown run for a 22-8 lead. Dillon added their final touchdown on a 42-yard run from Ra’Quan Moore for a 28-8 lead at the end of the third. Florence’s final touchdown came in the fourth quarter.
On Saturday, it was Mt. Pleasant who struck first for an 8-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second, Mt. Pleasant capped a series of small gains with a 23-yard touchdown from Jaden Singleton. Singleton attempted a conversion run, but was shut down by Dillon’s Richard Williamson, Jr.
Daizion Alford took the kickoff but was hit by Mt. Pleasant’s Malachi Oree and fumbled with Huggins-Bruce making the recovery. Huggins-Bruce was stopped in the backfield for a loss, and Harley’s pass was intercepted on the fourth down just before halftime.
Dillon’s #2 Jonathon Lester tries to break a tackle on a run.
In the fourth, Dillon’s Lester was dropped for a seven-yard loss, but he and John’Quest
Cabbagestalk pushed for a first down on the 13-yard line. But with 3:31 left in the game, Dillon was stopped on the fourth down, and Mt. Pleasant took possession with Edward Gubinski carrying for small gains before the Warriors took a knee to run out the clock.
Dillon finishes the season as District Champions and Lower State Runner-up, while Mt. Pleasant will advance to play for the state title.
Dillon’s starting offense included John Cabbagestalk, Jonathon Lester, William Harley, Ja’Paul Green, Ra’Quan Moore, Roy Covington, TyJour Huggins, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Avery Hewitt, Jeffrey Grooms, and Heath Brown.
Dillon’s starting defense included John Cabbagestalk, Johnathon Lester, William Harley, Ra’Quan Moore, TyJour Huggins, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Richard Williamson, Adonis Kiawah, Wan’ya Ford, Brandon Bethea, and Ladarian Johnson.
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD. Click the images below to view at full size!
LOWER STATE RUNNER-UP: DILLON’S 11–12 ALL STARS – Front Row (left to right): #10 Ra’Quan DeShawn Moore, #77 Bobby Caromyko Rivers, Jr., #72 Da’Monteque Ta’Heim Boatwright, #12 John Quest Marque Cabbagestalk, #3 William La’Sarion Harley, #1 Daiquan Laron Blakely, #2 Jonathon Ja’Teil Lester, #7 Ahmari Toraino Huggins-Bruce, #22 Jamari La’Kee Baker, #15 Jamario NaQuon Taylor, #33 Brandon TyQuan Bethea, and #4 Kydrick Rodquan Ji’Quez Brown. Second Row (left to right): #71 Robert Heath Brown, #75 TyJour Antwain Huggins, #74 Ja’Paul Kawari Green, #73 James Avery Hewitt, #40 Roy Edward Covington, #20 Daizion Deonte Alford, #55 Adonis Zynaris Kiawah, #70 Jeffery Wayne Grooms, Jr., #45 Ladarian Benard Johnson, #52 Richard Thomas Williamson, Jr., #31 Wan’ya Omar Ford, #41 Dezmond Amir Gooden, and #53 Jalen Nyziah Chatman. Coaches: Reggie Thompson, John Brown, Eugene McLellan, and Johnny Lester. Trainer: Prince Harrison.
LOWER STATE CHAMPIONS: MT. PLEASANT’S 11–12 WARRIORS – #77 Harvey James Proctor, #4 Emerson Thomas Garris, #10 Wilson Joseph Bumgerner, #50 James Lee Hendrix, #1 James Daniel Brinson, #27 William Brooks Maxwell, #45 Ryan Michael Loud; #25 Jaden Jamal Singleton; #21 John William Jordan; #63 John Carr Wysong; #71 Hampton Lee Walker; #78 Ronald Benjamin Shephard; #54 William Campbell Armitage; #79 Ian Michael Shaw; #7 Raymond Rivera; #72 Stephen Holston Slack; #8 Sullivan Ashby Clair; #38 David Josphey Boylston; #36 Dillon Reed McCarthy; #33 Walker Adam Taylor; #44 Edward William Gubinski; #3 Sawyer Victor Gordon Thompson; #57 Jayce Hunter Fetchen; #28 Harrison Garrett Picksen; and #24 Malachi Harry Oree.
