Knowlin does it all as Waccamaw knocks off Hannah-Pamplico

When Waccamaw needed a big play Friday night against Hannah-Pamplico, R.J. Knowlin was there to come through in all phases of the game.

A 5-foot-10, 175-pound sophomore, Knowlin pulled the Warriors through from his outside linebacker and wingback positions and even on special teams.

Knowlin returned a punt he blocked for a touchdown, ran for a touchdown and had a long interception return to set up another score as the Warriors outlasted Hannah-Pamplico 28-13.

Waccamaw coach Tyronne Davis praised Knowlin for his effort but was left looking for improvement from his rushing attack before facing off with county rival Carvers Bay on Friday.

“R.J. probably played his best game. He played an exceptional game,” Davis said. “I don’t feel like we played well tonight. I don’t know what happened (with) blocking problems up front. Our biggest fear coming into this game was how to stop their offense. I was proud of what our defense did, (but) offensively we’ve just got to go back to the drawing board and work some things out.”

Knowlin quickly put the Warriors (1-1) in charge, blocking a punt, scooping it up and running 18 yards for a touchdown on the fourth play of the game.

On Hannah-Pamplico’s next possession, Knowlin was at it again, stepping in front of quarterback Nick Owens’ pass and returning it 65 yards down the sideline to the 5-yard-line. Two plays later, Warriors quarterback Kelton Grant scampered into the end zone on an 8-yard keeper to give Waccamaw a 14-0 lead with 4:20 left in the first quarter.

The Warriors were in position to take a commanding lead with the ball inside the Raiders’ 10-yard line midway through the second quarter. But Hannah-Pamplico’s Easton Tanner scooped up a Waccamaw fumble and returned it 93 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 14-6 with 7:11 left in the half.

Knowlin was there to get the Warriors back on the right track, capping Waccamaw’s best drive a of the night, an eight-play, 71-yard march, with a bullish 5-yard touchdown run. Knowlin broke a pair of tackles to reach the end zone, giving the Warriors a 21-6 advantage with 2:26 left in the half.

With 5:28 left in the game, quarterback Jack Floyd came off the bench to hit Tylik Edwards with a 29-yard scoring strike to give Waccamaw a 28-6 lead.

The Raiders added a 62-yard catch-and-run from Owens to Jakar Beach with 1:08 left in the game to pull within 28-13.

Hannah Pamplico (0-2) attempted an onside kick after the touchdown, but Knowlin was there to recover the ball before the Warrios ran out the clock.

This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 11:44 PM with the headline "Knowlin does it all as Waccamaw knocks off Hannah-Pamplico."