Hines Furniture Athlete of the Week: Gaskins helps run Cavaliers into 1A title game

The Lee Academy Cavaliers are back in the SCISA 1A title game for the second year in a row. One of the main reasons is their dominant rushing attack.

For the last two weeks, Hampton Gaskins has slashed his way through opposing defenses as Lee surged through the playoffs. This week, his performance also earned the Cavalier running back recognition as the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Week.

"We've been working really hard this year, and it just makes me feel good for them to show their appreciation," Gaskins said of winning the vote. "Obviously I couldn't do it by myself. Most of the credit goes to my line. I really credit them."

Gaskins has been running behind a powerful offensive line all season. In the last two weeks, guard Eli Tomlinson and center Parker Wilkes were named the Sumter Touchdown Club Linemen of the Week.

"Our offensive line really does a great job of opening holes. I like to follow Eli Tomlinson and Tripp Strange on those power plays and those counters. They just open it up and make it easier to get yards," he said.

Last week, Lee beat St. John's Christian Academy 27-6, and Gaskins was one of the main reasons why. Gaskins rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, he added eight tackles, two of which went for a loss.

Cavalier head coach David Rankin lauded the physicality Gaskins brings to the game on both sides of the field.

"He just sticks his head down and runs that ball as hard as he can. He can cut, and he runs it hard," Rankin said. "If you're going to tackle him, you're going to have to take him down. You can't run up there and pump him. He won't go down. He's been a workhorse for us getting those five- or six-yard carries. In the first half, they're three or four, and in the second half they're eight or nine because he's worn them down."

Gaskins is one of Lee's more experienced players this year, which is a benefit as the Cavs prepare to face Thomas Heyward Academy in the 1A title game for the second year in a row.

Gaskins said he was blessed to be playing directly with some of Lee's more experienced leaders on both sides of the ball. He's gotten used to running behind the Cavs' three interior linemen, who are all returning starters, and defensively he lines up next to another returner in Hunter Arledge at linebacker.

"The success of our offensive line, a huge chunk of that comes with experience. The three in the middle all played last year and have a lot of experience there in the middle, and that makes a huge difference. And Hunter Arledge beside me on defense, he helps a lot with reads and everything. He makes a lot of important plays with me."

That experience in key spots is crucial because Lee has a lot of new faces this year. That showed early as the Cavaliers started 1-4. Since then, Lee hasn't lost a game as the younger players have gotten a better feel for varsity football.

"I think we've had the potential since the beginning of the season," Gaskins said. "We had a lot of young guys coming up that had never played before, and they've really filled in their roles. It's turned out great."

Now Gaskins and the Cavaliers have a chance to exact revenge on last year's championship loss. He thinks they have a great chance to do so.

"It's a great experience. It's really exciting because we haven't gone two years in a row since 2015 and 2016. It's kind of like an out-of-body experience. It's surreal," Gaskins said. "I think we've got a good shot at it this year. We work a little bit better as a team than last year, and I really don't think Thomas Heyward is as good as they were last year."