Fort Dorchester receives good news on starting QB

The Fort Dorchester football team received some good news Tuesday afternoon when dual-threat quarterback Galen Bennett was cleared to play in this week's game at Irmo.

Bennett, a three-year starter, injured his shoulder on the Patriots' third series of the game against Greenville on Saturday night, and did not return. He completed his only pass attempt of the game for three yards, and carried six times for 31 yards.

He is the team's statistical and field leader. He accumulated 2,364 yards passing and 1,678 yards rushing the past two seasons.

"It's been a little rough. There's been some anxiety since he went down," Patriots coach Steve LaPrad said. "They say time heals all wounds, and I've gone from one of those big Band-Aids to a small one."

Fort Dorchester led 19-0 after three quarters, but Greenville scored three touchdowns in the final period to grab a 21-19 victory.

LaPrad blamed the loss on Bennett's absence from action.

"He's the glue that holds the team together," LaPrad said. "He knows what to do, what's going on. We had a 14-year-old (Devron Glenn) who has looked good in scrimmage, but it's a lot different when you're playing in a game. I really feel we're four or five touchdowns better than them with Galen in there."

Defensive back Laurez Matthews wasn't so fortunate. He also injured his shoulder in the first quarter but has not been cleared to play this week.

Saunders, Peek elected

Larry Saunders of Lexington and John Peek of Summerville were recently elected to serve as president and vice president of the South Carolina Football Official's Association.

Saunders and Peek will take office on Jan. 1 and will lead the state organization of 600 officials for the 2009 season. Saunders and Peek both have ties to the Lowcountry, having begun their officiating in the North Charleston recreation leagues.

Saunders is the director for District 5, which includes the Columbia area. He began his high school career as a member of District 8 of Charleston and then transferred to District 13 out of Beaufort before moving to Columbia.

Peek is the director for District 8 of Charleston, where he began his high school career in 1982. Peek briefly transferred to District 5 in Columbia before returning to District 8 in 1986.

Football info

The Post and Courier will honor the offensive and defensive players of the week on Tuesdays. Coaches are asked to call in nominations by noon on Mondays. The phone number is 937-5592. Nominations can also be e-mailed to pbowman@postandcourier.com.

The Post and Courier will run statistics on Friday's Game Day page. Statistics should be called in to 937-5592 by noon on Thursday. Stats can be e-mailed to pbowman@postandcourier.com or faxed to 937-5579.