Defense dominates Daniel spring game
CENTRAL — With his team returning the bulk of a defense that recorded shutouts in more than half of its games a season ago, it seems a bit of a surprise that Daniel head coach Randy Robinson has a less-than-firm grasp on his defensive depth chart exiting spring practice.
After the defenses combined for five interceptions and held the offenses to just a single field goal in a 3-0 White victory over the Blue team in the Lions’ annual spring game Friday night at Singleton Field, Robinson said it was not solely the effort of his team’s returning playmakers that did the job.
“There’s a possibility that guys who started last year could be watching (from the bench) this year,” Robinson said of his defense. “We’ve got some young guys who played JV defense last year who have lived in the weight room, and they’re trying to take somebody’s job. They may take it.”
Perhaps the primary goal of the spring for the Lions was finding a replacement for quarterback Corbin Singleton, who moved out of the school district after his father got a coaching job in Greenville County. Fighting for the top signal-caller duties are Jared Dillingham, Andy McCall and Daulton Pilgrim.
“It’s unfortunate we lost a starter to circumstances beyond our control, but I’ve got three guys in there competing, and one of them’s going to emerge and be the guy,” Robinson said.
McCall led the only scoring drive for the White team, completing three of four passes on the possession, while Dillingham and Pilgrim each had keepers for long gains for the Blue team. Dillingham completed the longest pass of the game, a 24-yarder to Deleetric Greenlee in the fourth quarter. Despite the highlights, each of the prospective quarterbacks also tossed at least one interception.
“Every one of them brings something different,” Robinson said. “If we could mold all that together into one, I’d have my guy. It’s going to take all summer, and I’ve told them that decision won’t be made until August.”
Another positive this spring for Robinson has been the almost-daily presence of college recruiters on campus.
“I can honestly say this spring has had the most college traffic I have ever seen come through this school,” he said. “A lot of college recruiters are very interested in our guys, and that’s a big compliment to Daniel football.”
The spring game capped what Robinson called a productive spring, despite a one-day lapse earlier this week.
“Until we had a letdown at Tuesday’s practice, I was really pleased,” he said. “Our kids have had a lot of intensity and emotion and wanted to get better.”