JOHNSTON — This time, there would be no chance for a second-half comeback.

With the memory of a third and fourth quarter meltdown and collapse on the road at Silver Bluff last season still fresh on their minds, a focused Strom Thurmond High School football team went out and flexed its second-ranked muscle Friday at home in a 52-7 rout of the visiting Bulldogs.

With the victory, the Rebels secured a pair of impressive pieces of history – win No. 400 in the school’s history and producing the largest number of points ever scored on a Silver Bluff football team.

Strom Thurmond head coach Lee Sawyer had plenty to say about the former achievement, and not much to say of the latter.

“I just told the guys that it’s such an honor and that it was for all the coaches and players who have come through here,” he said. “There has been some good football played here and I’m just humbled to be part of it. The first half was the first half, and we got a lot of momentum going. We have a lot of respect for their program, their coaches and their players. It was just one of those nights. We were just out to win the game.”

Early on the game appeared to be playing out like so many of the past meetings between the two schools – a defensive struggle. The Bulldogs were stymied on their first drive and the Rebels were held to a 28-yard field goal by placekicker Trent Miller on their initial possession.

But on the Bulldogs third possession, moments after senior running back Andre Washington had to be helped off the field following a massive hit by Strom Thurmond safety Demetrius Leysath, disaster struck Silver Bluff in the form of a momentum-shifting fumble.

Bulldog running back Shaquez Wright never fully secured the handoff from quarterback Cordrea Tankersley and the ball ended up in the hands of hard-charging Strom Thurmond linebacker Nick Clark, who carried the ball deep into Bulldog territory.

The Rebels didn’t wait long to cash in either, marching the rest of the way in six plays before quarterback Raleigh Yeldell scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper on the final play of the second quarter to put the rebels up 10-0.

The turnover was the spark the Rebels had been looking for.

“Yeah it really did (get us going),” Sawyer said. “I was a little worried after we bogged down there and had to settle for a field goal (on the Rebels’ first possession) because the field position changed on us, but the defense got the ball back for us and we got rolling.”

Rolling is a most appropriate choice of words for what the Rebels did offensively in the second quarter, as the Bulldogs’ turnover turned quickly into a tidal wave of points with four different Rebels reaching the end zone for five touchdowns.  

Strom Thurmond junior running back Darius Hammond got the run started on a 34-yard touchdown run, followed by a 7-yard run by Malcolm Watkins and a 61-yard pass play from Yeldell to receiver Marquez Mathis.

Another long catch and run from Mathis set up a 1-yard plunge by reserve running back James Mckie and Watkins scored again on a 28-yard run to finally end the scoring in the first half with 1:05 left in the second quarter and a 45-0 lead on the scoreboard.  

“We’ve talked about keeping our focus during this three-week stretch with South Aiken, Silver Bluff and then Columbia,” Sawyer said. “Through the first two weeks I think the guys have done a pretty good job of that.”

STROM THURMOND 52, SILVER BLUFF 7

PLAY OF THE GAME: Late in the first quarter, Silver Bluff’s Shaquez Wright fumbled and Strom Thurmond linebacker Nick Clark scooped up the ball and returned it deep into Bulldog territory, swinging the momentum in the ballgame for good.

STAR OF THE GAME: In a game in which plenty of Rebels had an opportunity to make a play, senior quarterback Raleigh Yeldell led the way, passing for 173 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 24 yards and another touchdown. Senior receiver Marquez Mathis caught two passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.

WHY STROM THURMOND WON: The Rebels cashed in immediately on the first Silver Bluff mistake with a quick touchdown drive and never looked back, scoring 35 points in the second quarter alone.

WHY SILVER BLUFF LOST: The Bulldogs were never able to sustain a lengthy offensive drive, and that was before senior running back Andre Washington went down with an injury, meaning the Silver Bluff defense was left too long on the field against an explosive Strom Thurmond offense.  

NEXT: Silver Bluff at Swansea, Friday, 7:30; Columbia at Strom Thurmond, Friday, 7:30.

STROM THURMOND 52, SILVER BLUFF 7

Silver Bluff 0 0 0 7 - 7
Strom Thurmond 10 35 0 0 - 52

First Quarter
ST- Trent Miller 28 Field Goal, 7:33
ST – Raleigh Yeldell 1 run (Miller kick), 0:00

Second Quarter
ST- Darius Hammond 34 run (Miller kick), 9:05
ST- Malcolm Watkins 7 run (Miller kick), 5:39
ST- Marquez Mathis 61 pass from Yeldell (Miller kick), 4:10
ST – James McKie 1 run (Miller kick), 2:06
ST – Watkins 28 run (Miller kick), 1:05

Fourth Quarter
SB – Shaquez Wright 38 run (Pedro Zambrano kick), 6:28
SA – Tyree Stidem 10 run (Miller kick), 2:06
 
     SB    ST       
First Downs    5    11       
Rushes-Yards    33-118    32-250       
Passing Yards    0    173       
Comp.-Att.-Int.    0-6-1    6-8-0       
Fumbles-Lost    1-1    0-0       
Punts-Yards    9-36.5    4-47.7       
Penalties-Yards    4-40    7-60    

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Strom Thurmond: Darius Hammond 5-74, Malcolm Watkins 7-64, Raleigh Yeldell 3-24, James McKie 3-23, Jauveer Hammond 6-8, Delonte Bates 4-38, Travonte Watkins 2-9, Tyree Stidem 2-20. Silver Bluff: Cordrea Tankersley 9-11, Andre Washington 5-20, Shaquez Wright 7-43, Rekem McCorkle 1-1, Reginald Greenwood, 10-35.

PASSING - Strom Thurmond: Raleigh Yeldell 6-8-0 173. Silver Bluff: Cordrea Tankersley 0-6-1 0.

RECEIVING - Strom Thurmond: Shaq Dobbs 3-30, Darius Hammond 1-31, Marquez Mathis 2-115, Javoris Gray 1-5.