JOHNSTON - There was not much time for the Rebels to enjoy their impressive blowout victory over Class 1A powerhouse Williston-Elko on Friday night.  

Although Thurmond racked up nearly 500 yards of offense and scored more points on Williston than any team since the Blue Devils lost 45-14 to Barnwell in 2004, Thurmond’s coaching staff had to go straight to work after the win, preparing for this week’s High School Football Border Bash.   

“My coaching staff and I work seven days a week during football season during a normal week and with a Thursday night game, we have to be able to squeeze four days of practice into three days.  That requires a few hybrid type practices of mixing normal Monday practice with some of Tuesday practice and then on Tuesday we have to incorporate some Wednesday’s stuff and so forth,” said Rebels coach Lee Sawyer.

With a shortened week, due to a Thursday night game and a fierce opponent on the horizon in Lucy C Laney, there was no time to bask in the glory of victory for the Rebels.

“The first few times we played Laney, neither team knew much about the other.  They didn’t know what we brought to the table and we didn’t know exactly what they brought to the table.  But now we know they are very good year in and year out after playing them several times.  Their overall speed is incredible.  Everyone on the team can run; they may have a few interior linemen that can’t run too fast (said jokingly), but other than that the entire team is ridiculously fast.  It’s much different from what we see week in week out.  

Over the years this has been a tight game no matter which team has won. We have to do things right because they have so many players with the ability to take it the distance, on speed alone, if we make a mistake. Leo (Myers, Laney quarterback) can throw the fool out of the football and he has four lightening fast receivers that have the ability to stretch the field. He is big and can also scramble really well.  Our defense has got to put pressure on him. The runningback they have (George Myers) is really good and we had trouble stopping him last season once he got it going. The Laney game is always a good test and helps prepare us for the remainder of our schedule.” -  Lee Sawyer’s thoughts on facing Lucy C Laney Thursday night.    

This game will be televised on WJBF 6.2 digital cable as their game of the week.  Kickoff is approximately 7:05pm.

The Rebels will begin a tough road stretch in which they will not play at home again until Silver Bluff comes to Johnston on September 23rd.  

March towards 400:  Strom Thurmond accrued its 396th win in school history last week against Williston. Come out and support the Rebels as they march towards the prestigious 400th win during this momentous season.

Key’s to Victory:

“Our ability to contain Leo Myers will be huge in this game; we can’t let him break contain, step into gaps and get five and six yards on a scramble nor let him get loose and throw it down the field.  Keep our offensive drives sustained by getting first downs.  Withstand their emotions knowing it’s their first game, it’s on television and it’s their home opener.  We must stay focused and keep it close going into halftime.”---Lee Sawyer  

By the Numbers:
Offensively:  ST 45 ppg  L 29 ppg (2010)
Defensively: ST 8 ppg  L 15 ppg (2010)

Last Game:
Thurmond 45  Williston 8
 Laney (first game of season)
Previous Meeting:
ST 20 L 7
Players to Watch:

Laney

Leo Myers (QB) 3 year starter that threw for over 2000 yards and 22 touchdowns a season ago.  Also plays linebacker. Glenn Rodriquez (ATH). George Myers (RB). Fred Nelson (OL) 3 year starter

Strom Thurmond

Raleigh Yeldell (QB) 7-12-134 yards passing, 4-83 yards 1 touchdown rushing
Hykeem Brooks (DB) 1 interception
Darrius Hammond (RB/KR). 11-130 yards 3 touchdowns rushing, avg 21 yards per return, 247 all purpose yards last week vs Williston.
Cullen Rhoden (LB/P) average 40 yards per punt
Marquez Mathis (WR) 3-92 yards receiving
Jauveer Hammond (DB/QB) 4-42 yards rushing
Malcom Watkins (RB) 10-88 yards 2 touchdowns rushing
Jeremy Johnson (LB) 14 tackles
Matchup:  Blue Steel 3-5-3 vs Wildcats Spread-and-speed offense. Yeldell vs Myers; two dual-threat quarterbacks, each three-year starters.