Seahawks Dominate to Win Lower State Title
By Terry Massey
Friday night's rematch of the Lower State Championship Game wasn't as dramatic as last year, but it was equally satisfying for the Seahawks.
Myrtle Beach defeated Marlboro County 40-13 before a packed house at Doug Shaw Stadium to advance to Saturday's Class AAA state championship against Clinton in Columbia. The Seahawks will try to defend their title after dispatching the previously undefeated Bulldogs.
"This one is special because we had to overcome a lot to get back there," said Myrtle Beach quarterback Everett Golson, who rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead the Seahawks. "We had a new coach, a lot of injuries, a tough schedule and we overcame it."
Thousands filled the stands and aisles hours before the game in anticipation of the sequel to last year's 51-50 double-overtime shootout. A large portion of the fans made the one-hour drive from Marlboro County and the Bulldogs tried to make themselves at home before the game.
"I don't care who you are. You don't come into Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium and try to take over our field," said first-year Myrtle Beach coach Mickey Wilson, referring to the Bulldogs' taunting during pre-game warmups. "We're the defending state champions and we didn't like it."
The game looked like it might be a repeat of last year's classic for about one quarter after Marlboro County took the opening kickoff and drove 86 yards in nine plays to light up the scoreboard first. Malcolm Thomas scored from 3 yards out to give the Bulldogs an early 7-0 advantage.
The Seahawks went three-and-out on their first possession, but the defense came through when Devontae Simmons got back-to-back sacks and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Steven Cobb. Four plays later Golson ran it in from 4 yards out to tie the game up at 7-7.
After forcing Marlboro County to punt, the Seahawks mounted a long drive to steal the momentum and maintain it for the rest of the game. Golson broke a nice run to pick up a first down and then hit Dallas Goodman with a pass on 4th and 10 to keep the chains moving.
"I think we started to wear them down there (in the second quarter)," Wilson said. "They looked tired and our kids are in great condition."
Golson found Goodman again, this time in the end zone from 5 yards out, to take the lead for good at 14-7. After forcing the Bulldogs to punt late in the second period, the Seahawks drove to within field-goal range and Jordan Butler nailed a 26-yarder for a 17-7 edge at halftime.
"Our coaches did a great job preparing us," Golson said. "We watched a lot of film of them so they didn't do anything that surprised us. They were blitzing their linebackers from all different directions so we ran the ball to keep them honest. I don't think they were expecting us to be as balanced as we are."
That balance ended the game just six minutes into the third quarter, when the Seahawks scored three touchdowns to seal the victory. After marching all the way downfield for a 5-yard TD run by Golson, Myrtle Beach's Khari Watts picked off a pass and set up Morgan Byrd's 3-yard TD run. Byrd scored again on the next series to put the game away at 38-7, capping the Seahawks' 31-point explosion in a 10-minute span.
The blowout victory allowed Myrtle Beach to go for back-to-back state championships for the third time in school history (1980-81 and 1983-84). The Seahawks (13-1) will face Clinton (11-3) at Williams-Brice Stadium at 6 p.m. Saturday.
"I'm just so proud of our kids," Wilson said. "They worked their tails off this year and stayed focus on the goal. They earned the chance to repeat."
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