The Green Wave, Patriots and Panthers carry winning streaks into their games tonight.
Summerville has won four straight, with their last loss being to Irmo Sept. 12. The Wave defense is proving to be a force and the team has demonstrated it can move the ball both on the ground and in the air.
On average, the Wave D has only given up13.3 points per game while the Summerville offense averages 26 points. The numbers for the last four games are even more impressive, with the Wave D pitching two shutouts and allowing only 8.5 points per game while the team averaged 27.5 points per game.
DB Michael Varner has two interceptions and two fumble recoveries this year and leads the defense with 35 solo tackles. Ronnie Kirven has 11 sacks on the year and 25 solo tackles. He has also broken up three passes and forced a fumble. QB Donnie McElveen needs only 125 passing yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
However, this week the Wave travels to face Wando, which should be more of a challenge than James Island was last week. After being shutout 0-26 by Rock Hill and 0-16 by Conway in its first two games, Wando has kept all its other contests close. The Warriors (3-4) also have losses to Berkeley (21-23) and Beaufort (12-13), but have wins over West Ashley (28-14), James Island (10-9) and Colleton County (24-20).
“Wando is a good football team,” Summerville coach John McKissick said. “They almost beat Beaufort last week and Beaufort is undefeated. We are hoping we will get a little bit better because we still have a ways to go, but right now we are getting the job done.”
Wando likely would have beaten Beaufort last Friday had it not been for two blocked field goals. Running back Lee Oree, who had more than 1,000 rushing yards last year, had 96 rushing yards and both Wando TDs in the game.
The Warriors are young on offense, but have some quality linemen. The Wando defense has five starters back from last season and they are spread out over the field. They include linebacker D.J. Davis, who lead the team in tackles last season, and safety Jonathon Singleton, who is very experienced.
Fort D
The Patriots (4-3, 1-2) ride a three-game winning streak into tonight’s Region 8-AAAA contest in North Charleston. The Fort has averaged 26.3 points per game while allowing only 19.9 this season. In the last three games, with QB Galen Bennett fully healthy, the Patriots have averaged 36 points while allowing only 18.
In the last four games, Bennett threw for approximately 500 yards and rushed for 400. Running back Michael Sellers has 652 rushing yards on the season. Fort linebacker Adrian Stewart has 81 tackles on the year and lines up opposite of Geno Porter, who has 70. Antonio Guy anchors the Patriot defensive line and has six tackles for a loss this year.
The Fort should be as healthy as it has been since the season started, but in West Ashley it faces a team that is due.
West Ashley (2-5, 0-3) came within inches of upsetting undefeated Beaufort when it moved the ball just shy of the goal line in the closing minutes, but couldn’t punch it in and fell 28-23. The next week, the Wildcats came out in the third quarter against Summerville and used its powerful running game and an interception to take a four-point lead before eventually losing 21-31. The team lost to Goose Creek 15-12 last Friday when a potential game-tying field goal was blocked on the final play.
The Wildcats have effective rushers in quarterback K.J. Cohen, Marquel Graham and Rodney Scott. Leading the way for them are two monsters on the offensive line, three-year starter Cedric Chisolm (6-6,285) and sophomore Brandon Shell (6-7, 295).
Cohen can also move the ball through the air. He was 9-for-18 passing for147 yards last week, but threw two interceptions.
The Wildcats have a pair of three-year starters on the defensive line, Donovan Pinckney (6-2, 295) and Eduardo Curry (6-4, 295). Another defensive returner is DB Trey Livingston, who led the team in tackles last season.
Pinewood
The Panthers (4-3, 1-1), who also have a three-game winning streak, host Porter-Gaud (3-4, 0-1). Pinewood defeated the Cyclones’ football team for the first time last year by a 14-7 margin. Porter-Gaud will be out to show that was a fluke, while the Panthers goal will be to prove it isn’t.
The Panthers have averaged 30.6 points per game this season while allowing 15.3. The team has really performed well during the last three weeks, when it outscored its opponents 93-7.
QB Bruce Haynes threw for 461 yards during the streak and is only 66 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark on the season. He is also the Panthers’ leading rusher with 502 yards on the ground. Moses Richardson isn’t far behind with 463. LaQuan Gilliard has 515 receiving yards.
Nick Zuvia leads the Panther defense with 40 tackles and 33 assists. Fellow linebacker Daniel Poaps has 30 tackles and 28 assists. Lineman Justin Bishop has blocked four passes, made three sacks and is credited with six hurry ups.
The Cyclones returned 11 starters this season, five on offense and six on defense. Quarterback John Dodd threw for more than 1,200 yards last season, so the Pinewood secondary should have an active night. On the other side of the ball, defensive back Austin Burris brings leadership and experience.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.