Seahawks Begin Title Defense With First-Round Playoff Romp
By Terry Massey
With a dinged-up running game, the Myrtle Beach Seahawks have relied on the arm of star quarterback Everett Golson to get back to the playoffs this season. Maybe a bit too much. But that wasn't a problem in Friday night's playoff opener against Lake Marion at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium, where the Seahawks successfully started their state title defense with a 56-12 victory.
With starting running back Daiquone Ford back in the lineup and replacement Morgan Byrd still showing he can carry the load, the Seahawks had perhaps their most balanced offensive attack of the season.
Ford and Byrd combined for five touchdowns and more than 100 yards while Golson threw for three touchdowns and more than 150 yards to put Myrtle Beach on track to get back to the Class AAA state championship game.
"It was great to get (Ford) back in there and Byrd can do so many things for us - running back, quarterback and wide receiver," said Myrtle Beach coach Mickey Wilson. "We need to have more balance in our offense, and having both those guys back there helps a lot."
Ford led the Seahawks in rushing with 74 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, but Byrd had the most success finding the end zone. He scored four touchdowns on the night - three rushing and one receiving - despite compiling just 44 yards of total offense.
Moving in at quarterback from Myrtle Beach's "Wild Hawk'" offense, Byrd dived in from 1 yard out to put the Seahawks on the scoreboard first, then he caught an 8-yard scoring pass from Golson to put them up 14-0 at the end of the first period.
After Golson connected with Dallas Goodman for a touchdown in the second period, Byrd did it with his legs again on a 5-yard scoring run that put Myrtle Beach ahead 28-0 at the half.
Golson played just one series in the second half before getting an early break, throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass to Donte Sumpter. Byrd took his place and ran in his fourth score on a 6-yard option keeper to make it 42-0 after three periods of play.
Ford, who hadn't scored since the Seahawks' season opener against Carolina Forest, finally found his way to the end zone on a 9-yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter.
The Gators finally snapped the shutout when quarterback Chris Jenkins hit wide receiver Mike Williams on a 41-yard score. Lake Marion's Tyree Watts then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and ran it in for a touchdown to make it 49-12.
But the Seahawks put it away on reserve quarterback Mitch Campbell's 34-yard TD pass to Jaquon Wilson, capping the final score at 56-12. He completed 6 of 7 passes on the night while Golson went 12-for-17 for 157 yards and three touchdowns - well below the lofty numbers he has posted so far this season, but a pleasant relief for a quarterback who has had to pick up the slack without a supporting cast of running backs. Now he has two to help carry the load.
"We have been riding Everett pretty hard but we're going to need more balance the deeper we get in the playoffs," Wilson said. "Those two give us an excellent 1-2 punch"
The Seahawks return home next Friday to play Midland Valley.
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