A.J. Brand passes for three touchdowns as Irmo rolls

Junior quarterback now has 30 touchdown passes this season

“He’s playing as good as there is right now.”

That was Irmo head coach Aaron Brand’s “modest” assessment of his quarterback and son A.J. Brand.

Entering Friday’s Region 4, Class 4A match-up with Ridge View, the junior had close to 2,000 combined yards to go with 27 touchdowns and no interceptions, in 2023.

Brand added to his numbers with four touchdowns in Irmo’s 38-6 win over the host Blazers. He threw three touchdown passes and rushed for one score as he extended his streak of turnover-free games dating back to last season.

“It’s no other time where you can get better,” Brand said. “I’m playing fine right now. I’m not exactly where I want to be. I want to be a lot more accurate. A lot more precise, kind of be in the offense a little bit more. Right now, it’s not a bad point this point of the season. So I’m definitely not, not satisfied with it.”

The Brands are more than satisfied with the team’s supporting cast. Transfer wide receiver Donovan Murph caught two touchdown passes, both of which he managed to catch while near the corner of the end zone.

“It’s definitely great having Donovan,” Brand said. “He knows how to use his body. He catches it with his hands. He knows how to make separation. So, he’s definitely a big part of something that will help our defensive corps.”

Irmo’s offense was not the only thing ‘stinging” the Blazers. The defense collected three turnovers, including a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown by Marquel Lewis.

It was the second interception thrown by Ridge View starter Breylon Boyd. Like Brand, he entered the game having not thrown an interception all season.

Tre Howard replaced Boyd in the second half and threw an interception in the end zone. He was also to recipient of a crushing hit on a sack by edge defender Jaiden Bryant.

Irmo quarterback AJ Brand and edge rusher Jaiden Bryant following their team's big South Carolina Region 4, Class 4A win over Ridge View on 10/6/2023 / Photo by Thomas Grant Jr

“We work all week, day in and day out, just trying to get better every day,” Bryant said. “We grind every day. We just try to work on our craft when nobody is looking, and we just show up.”

The Blazers were able to put together a scoring drive in the final minute. A targeting call helped set up a four-yard touchdown run by Siah Mack with 38.9 seconds left to prevent the shutout.

“Tre’s got a bright future ahead of him,” Ridge View head coach Derek Howard said. “He’s worked really hard to earn some opportunities that he’s getting and his opportunity to play against a really good football team, he’s going to take some of those experiences and it’s only going to make him better.

“He’s a hard worker, he’s extremely smart and the kids love playing for him.”

-- Thomas Grant Jr. | talonzo1621@gmail.com | @SBLiveSC