Ready for a shootout?

This morning at Hillcrest, Orangeburg-Wilkinson will play host to the “Garden City Shootout,” a 7-on-7 passing tournament featuring 15 teams. Comprising the field will be O-W, Calhoun County, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Bethune-Bowman, Allendale-Fairfax, Keenan, Spring Valley, Ridge View, Colleton County, Woodland, Battery Creek, Darlington, Williston-Elko, Edisto and Wilson. Action is set to get underway at 9 a.m. and wrap up at 4 p.m. Each team is guaranteed six games with the top four teams moving into a playoff to decide a tournament champion.

“I think it’s great,” O-W head coach Tommy Brown said. “It’s the first time we are doing this, and we were able to get that many teams so we are pretty blessed.”

Admission is free and fans are encouraged to show up and watch the action which will feature several of the region and state’s top prep prospects. Among the players who figure to take part in the tournament are H-K-T receivers D’twane Fulmer, a S.C. State commit, and Schawn Jamison, quarterback Montaurus Gleaton, a former Elite 11 selection; Woodland rising junior quarterback Robert Smith, a two-time All-Area first team quarterback selection, and tailback Nagui Wright; Allendale-Fairfax’s dynamic duo of quarterback Bashaud Breeland, a Clemson commit, and highly-recruited tailback Jerrel Priester; Edisto All-Area first-team linebacker Malik Brown and Calhoun County linebacker Brandon Golson, recently committed to South Carolina, and wide receiver Shamier Jeffery, the brother of Gamecock recruit Alshon Jeffery.

Looking at the field, Brown said there’s no doubt his Bruins will be afforded the opportunity to get better.

“We are young, and this is going to be a good opportunity for us to grow,” he said. “We are bringing in some schools that have had success in football. The competition is good.

“We are working on our team passing defense and our technique as far as defense is concerned,” Brown added. “It gives our defensive backs a chance to get a lot of work as far as covering a pass. Then, you get to work with the quarterback with nobody rushing. There’s no pressure, and he just has to throw the ball. As far as that is concerned, it’s an excellent chance to work against the defense. All this takes place, and you get the team concept, running routes, getting the backs into the routes and all that comes together. Bottom line, for a kid that works out all summer, this takes away from the boredom of it. Now you get to go against another team and a kid can, at least, measure himself.”

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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