CENTRAL — After ending a five-game skid that dates back to the end of the 2014 season and is the longest since 1976, the Daniel Lions (1-3, 1-0) will be looking to make it two in a row when the Palmetto Mustangs (4-1, 0-1) come to town.

Following the 0-3 start to the season, Randy Robinson and his Lions posted their first win since 2014 with a 42-0 win over West-Oak, but Palmetto will be a more accurate litmus test as to where Daniel stands as a team.

Palmetto’s only loss came to Belton-Honea Path, a yearly participant in the South Carolina AAA playoffs.

But don’t be misguided as the three losses on Daniel’s record were to Easley under new head coach John Windham who appears to have resurrected the Green Wave program, Emerald, which knocked offensive powerhouse Wren from the state playoffs in 2014, and Westside, a AAAA foe with a tradition for winning.

The Mustangs have shown a propensity to score points, averaging 34 per game, which has been fortunate for Palmetto as the defense has been somewhat suspect, giving up 115 points to opponents thus far, or 29 points per game.

Daniel, conversely, has shown a strong defensive performance through the first four games of the year, allowing only 77 total points, holding opponents to 19 points offensively.

It’s the offense of Daniel that has to respond after only scoring just over 21 per game. Palmetto’s defense might be primed when they arrive in Central for a Daniel breakout on the offensive side of the ball and the Lions would certainly welcome a change in their scoring trend following the first four games of 2015.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Daniel High School.

By D. C. Moody

dmoody@civitasmedia.com

Reach D. C. Moody at 864-855-0355.