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TO HONOR THE D.W. DANIEL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACHES ON THEIR IMPRESSIVE WIN OF THE 2020 CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND TO SALUTE THEM ON A FABULOUS UNDEFEATED SEASON.
Whereas, the air on your face and the ground under your feet feel different when you reach the top of the mountain. The D.W. Daniel Lions found that out on Saturday, December 5, 2020, when they defeated Camden 52-31 to claim the Class 3A State Football Championship. It was Daniel's first state championship in football in twenty-two years; and
Whereas, the scene of this well-earned triumph was Columbia's Spring Valley High School, used by the Lions to demonstrate clearly why Daniel rose to the head of the class in 3A. With its newly minted title win, Daniel finished the season 10-0; and
Whereas, Daniel received the opening kickoff and scored soon after. In less than a minute, junior quarterback Trent Pearman passed to senior Jackson Crosby for a 52-yard touchdown. Less than four minutes later, Pearman passed to sophomore Eli Merck for a 53-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0; and
Whereas, after a 68-yard touchdown run by Camden, Pearman and Crosby connected on a second touchdown pass, and Daniel led 21-7 entering the second quarter. Camden continued to test the Daniel defense throughout the first half. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to take the lead with 37 seconds left in the first half, but Daniel junior defensive back Boston Miller intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve a 27-14 halftime lead; and
Whereas, Camden took the opening third quarter drive for a touchdown in less than two minutes to cut the Daniel lead to 27-21. On the next Daniel drive, Camden forced a fumble and scored another touchdown three plays later to take a 28-27 lead with 7:09 left in the quarter. This was the only time the Bulldogs pushed past Daniel. The Lions, who had taken to heart what Coach Jeff Fruster had taught them about handling adversity and playing a complete four-quarter game, then fully showed the crowd what they were made of; and
Whereas, Daniel responded, scoring on the next possession behind a Pearman 16-yard touchdown pass to senior Josiah Benson to go back ahead 34-28. On the next kickoff, Daniel forced a Camden fumble and converted that into a 22-yard field goal by junior Shane Forrester to extend the lead to 37-28 as time expired in the third quarter; and
Whereas, Camden cut the Daniel lead to 37-31 with 8:53 left in the fourth quarter with a 29-yard field goal. With the lead and the ball, Fruster and his staff elected not to control the clock with the ball but to let it fly behind their quarterback. Pearman launched a 53-yard touchdown pass to Merck, and with a two-point conversion, Daniel extended the lead to 45-31 with 8:08 remaining. Daniel's defense got one more stop and gave it back to Pearman, who connected with Crosby on an 18-yard touchdown pass to put the game away for good, 52-31, with five minutes remaining; and
Whereas, the members of the D.W. Daniel football team have given their school and community reason to be proud of their accomplishments, and the House takes great pleasure in adding its collective voice to the encomiums flowing in to this outstanding group of young athletes. Go, Lions! Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, honor the D.W. Daniel High School football team and coaches on their impressive win of the 2020 Class AAA State Championship title and salute them on a fabulous undefeated season.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Shannon Sharkey and Coach Jeff Fruster of D.W. Daniel High School.
This web page was last updated on January 26, 2021 at 12:43 PM