BAMBERG, S.C. - Kevin Crosby knew it was bound to happen.

Looking up and down his roster, the first-year Bamberg-Ehrhardt head coach saw eight starting players gone from last year’s defense and about as many gone off the offense. He saw 32 players who were either freshmen or sophomores. Somewhere along the way there was bound to be a slip.

Of course, he didn’t really expect the tumble. But, the tumble came sure enough, beginning with a 36-9 loss to the Calhoun County Saints.

“A lot of people didn’t realize what I was trying to tell them ... we were young,” Crosby said. “But, we grew up. You are talking about a bunch of 10th-graders, and we came in undefeated against Calhoun County with the talent they have on their team and they exploited a lot of the young guys we had that had never been in that type of situation.”

The Red Raiders rebounded the following week with a win over Bethune-Bowman, but then came losses to Allendale-Fairfax and Estill.

“Against Allendale-Fairfax, Demetrius (Williams) went down with a broken arm and that took a little out of us offensively,” Crosby said. “Estill ... we go down there in the rain, and they get there and stick us in the mouth because they were well-coached compared to what they were used to.”

Post-Estill week was evaluation week in Raiderville. Crosby said he and his staff went back to the drawing board. Nothing changed schematically, but the Red Raiders changed some things personnel-wise. Every position would be evaluated, every day, every week.

“No position is solid,” Crosby said. “And, once those kids got that mentality and understood that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish ... we finished strong against Denmark. Now, this is a new season, and we are doing a great job.”

That “great job” began with a win over Lewisville on the road, and then Saturday, the Red Raiders shocked Calhoun County, winning the rematch 40-34. Tonight, the Red Raiders go on the road to face Chesterfield, star quarterback Akeem Johnson and head coach Steve Tanneyhill.

The Chestefield-Bamberg matchup with title implications is starting to become a common thing in 1-A -- check wrestling and baseball if you don’t believe -- and last year it was the Rams that got the better of the Red Raiders in the football playoffs before moving on to defeat Carver’s Bay for the 1A title.

Crosby insists last year means little, but he promises his team will be ready.

“Chesterfield is a version of Calhoun County,” Crosby said. “They spread you out all over the place and they run the ball. They have some of the same plays. It was a good thing we got to see CC because it gets us in the mind frame to play Chesterfield. I don’t think they have the same caliber quarterback as (David) Sims, but (Sims) is a special kid because of his strength and size. Still, (Johnson) does some of the same things that (Sims) does.”

So, how do the Red Raiders (9-3) defeat the Rams (11-1)?

“We have to control the line of scrimmage,” Crosby said. “Defensively, we can’t give up the big play. Offensively, we have to put a hat on a hat and our backs have to find a hole and run. That’s what we have been doing all season, and it’s not going to change.”

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553.

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