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Kenny Fey

Daniel High School's Thomas Oswald (53) gives the line calls as quarterback Justin Walker (5) awaits the snap during the Daniel Day Jamboree last month at Singleton Field in Central. The Lions will go on the road this Friday to face non-region foe T.L. Hanna at 7:30 p.m.

CENTRAL — When the smoke finally cleared at Daniel High School last Friday night, the Lions were 14-7 winners over Easley. The Green Wave hung around in a game that Daniel dominated statistically.

But it never should have been that close.

The vaunted Lion offense put up 384 total yards, but had a hard time finishing drives beyond their first two series. Those possessions resulted in their only two touchdowns.

“We missed assignments over and over again. We had four possessions inside the 35,” Daniel head coach Randy Robinson said. “We had a breakdown somewhere.”

Those four possessions ended with Daniel turning the ball over on downs three times and throwing an interception in the red zone.

This Friday, the Lions look to right the ship, but they know they’re in for a test when they travel to Class AAAA T.L. Hanna, who is coming off a convincing 21-7 victory over Westside last week in their season opener.

“Our defensive guys aren’t sleeping very good right now,” Robinson said. “Hanna’s got two great receivers and they rotate running backs. All of them can play. Also, the quarterback is very elusive. We know what kind of athlete he is.”

The two great receivers Robinson referenced are Quinton Payton and Martavis Bryant. Payton, an N.C. State commitment scored last week against Westside on passes of 8 and 44 yards. Bryant, who followed first-year head coach Kenya Fouch from Calhoun Falls to Hanna, recently committed to Clemson.

With the Easley game fresh in his mind, Robinson amped up the pressure and intensity in practice.

“Practice was by far the most intense day we’ve had this year,” Robinson said after practice earlier this week.

Although the Daniel defense was solid against Easley, surrendering only seven points and 172 yards, they will have to play even better if they hope to contain the Hanna offense that features Payton, Bryant, quarterback Dajun Martin, and a quartet of running backs who split time.

“We’ve got to keep the quarterback in the pocket. He’s an athlete. He scrambles and makes plays,” Robinson said. “They’ve got two guys on the outside who we know are great players. You don’t get Division I offers unless you can play. It’s going to be a challenge in the secondary.”

When all is said and done on Friday night, Robinson and his Daniel team hope to have washed away the bad taste left from the Easley game. A victory over Hanna will put the Lions at 2-0 and have them moving in the right direction towards their long term goal of a state championship.