Prebyterian running back Darrell Bridges
photo by Presbyterian College Sports Infomation
Presbyterian College running back Darrell Bridges (10) looks for an opening
photo by Ricky Bassman
It was the fall of 2012 and the prep football version of Earth, Wind and Fire swept across the state of Georgia on the way to a state AAAA runner-up finish.
That talented senior backfield – Earth (Darrell Bridges now playing at Presbyterian College), Wind (Shawn McCoy, a UTC student- not playing football) and Fire (Vonn Bell, Ohio State All-American and will play his first NFL game Sunday with the New Orleans Saints) – led the Ridgeland Panthers to 13 straight wins that fall sandwiched around a 42-35 season-opening loss to Calhoun (eventual AA state runner-up) and a season-ending setback to in the state championship game against Sandy Creek, 45-10.
Bridges rushed for 2,430 yards and 39 touchdowns and earned all-state honors that fall after a junior season of 1,400 yards and eight times in the end zone.
Today, the Chattanooga native has continued his success as a top college running back for Presbyterian College (Clinton, S.C.) as he earned All-Big South Conference honors as a redshirt sophomore with six, 100 yard rushing games on the way to a school record 1,035 yards and second in the conference in rushing yards.
PC vs. No.6 UTC Saturday … Bridges and his Presbyterian College teammates (9-1) come to town Saturday to face 1-0 Chattanooga at Finley Stadium at 2 p.m. in a FCS non-conference game.
“I am real excited about playing at Finley Stadium against the Mocs Saturday as a lot of family members and friends will be there cheering for me which will be great,” said Bridges.
“It will be a challenge going up against UTC’s strong defense as we run the same offense as Shorter College does and the Mocs (a 66-0 winner) just played them last week so we will have to use some various blocking schemes to open some running lanes.”
The history major carrying a 3.1 grade point average injured himself on the first play of the first practice his freshman year (2013), redshirted that season and then went from third string running back to a starter over the next two years.
“I worked hard and learned the play book and beat out the two guys ahead of me my redshirt sophomore year (2015), “ stated Bridges who acknowledges the speed of the game from high school to college is a big adjustment as well as knowing all the checks and reads the offensive players need to know to be successful.
“College football is so much different than high school ball, but I have worked hard and have learned the system.”
Blue Hose fans and others cheering for Bridges hope for lots of open running lanes for the 6-1 200-pound running back as he and he Pale Hose look to reach the Mocs end zone multiple times Saturday as he seeks his eighth, 100-yard game as a collegian and show his part of the Earth, Wind and Fire offense from a few years ago.
Coaches Quotes
Presbyterian Head Coach Harold Nichols --
"Darrell has been an outstanding football player here at PC in his career and is coming off an All-Conference year last year. He is a complete player and does a really nice job of leading our football team both on and off the field. He is a complete running back and a tough kid that wants the ball in his hands in tough situations. He loves to compete and has been an outstanding member of our football program."
UTC head Coach Russ Huesman --
“Darrell is an excellent running back who runs low which makes it difficult for the first defender to get him on the ground. He is deceptively quick and will be one of the top backs we will face all season.”
ciontact B,B, Branton at william.branton@comcast.net