A Special Publication of
Devin Kilgore • Cane Bay High School
Caleb Kinlaw • Goose Creek High School
Jacob Park • Stratford High School
Cane Bay High School • Goose Creek High School • Stratford High School Hanahan High School • Northwood Academy
2 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 3
4 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW Cover Designs by: Linda Anderson Cover photOs by: Dan Brown, Rob Gantt, Roger Lee, Doug Rogers & Shane Roper
A Special Publication of
A Special Publication of
ÂŽ
Sean White
School
!
High School
8 Fort Dorchester High School • • • • • • • • 12 Goose Creek High School • • • • • • • • • • 15 Stratford High School • • • • • • • • • • • • • 20 Summerville High School • • • • • • • • • • 24 Berkeley High School • • • • • • • • • • • • • 29 Cane Bay High School • • • • • • • • • • • • 32 Hanahan High School • • • • • • • • • • • • • 36 Timberland High School • • • • • • • • • • • 38 Cross High School • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 41 Pinewood Preparatory School • • • • • • • • 43 Northwood Academy • • • • • • • • • • • • • 46 St. John’s Christian Academy • • • • • • • • 47 Ashley Ridge High School
Caleb Kinlaw ! High School
Devontae Shepherd
! High School
2013 Football Preview is a special publication of the Berkeley Independent, Summeville Journal Scene and the Gazette. Additional photography provided by McGregor Dennis Photography.
Ellen Priest President & Publisher
Sports Writers Dan Brown, Rob Gantt & Roger Lee
Judy Watts Executive Editor
Advertising Staff Nick Daniels, Ann Mack, Ashley McGee, Jasmine Moultrie, Sarah Wiggins & Maurice Frazier
Frank Johnson Editor Chris Zoeller Regional Advertising Director
Administrative Assistants Betsy Craven-Bailey & Venus Washington
Cheryl Cargill Business Manager
Graphic Designer Linda Anderson A Special Publication of
where community matters.
••••••••••
104 E. Doty Ave. - Summerville 29483 - 843.873.9424 | 323-B Main St. - Moncks Corner 29461 - 843.761.6397
We
High School
Football!
Your community newspapers are proud to
COVER your local teams! A Special Publication of
A Special Publication of
ÂŽ
Sean White
School
where community matters. !
High School
Caleb Kinlaw ! High School
Devontae Shepherd
! High School
Look for Murphy Law’s Player of the Week & Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery’s Xtreme Football Fan this 2013 High School Football Season!
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 5
6 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Are you ready? BY ROB GANTT AND ROGER LEE All preseason checkpoints have been passed for Lowcountry football teams, concluding with last week’s annual Sertoma Classic at The Citadel. So, ready or not, high school football season has officially arrived, and the 2013 experience figures to be a tremendous one for local fans. On the surface, there appears to be a number of area squads capable of making runs at region titles and state glory. In Berkeley County alone, football enthusiasts include Goose Creek, Stratford, Hanahan and Cross as legitimate contenders for crowns in their respective classifications. The Gators have won 40 of their last 42 games and are counting on an impressive offense powered by running back Caleb Kinlaw to continue that success. Stratford has the No. 1 player in the state in quarterback Jacob Park. Fittingly, Kinlaw and Park will also be rivals in college as Kinlaw is headed for Georgia Tech and Park for Georgia. The Hawks bring back their entire defense, which is as stingy as ever. They crushed
Wando 24-0 in Sertoma last Thursday night. Oh, and Cross is looking to defending the Class A title it won last fall behind one of the most talented backfields in the state at any level with Devontae Shepherd and all-state twins Dionte and Diamante Evans. Thoughts of late defensive coordinator Antonio Simmons will be with the Trojans too. And Berkeley and Timberland have winning traditions that can’t be overlooked – ever. So, count the Stags and Wolves as forces to be reckoned with. For Timberland, Bernard Harmon and Shamel Williams are touchdown threats on the ground and through the air and Josh Simmons and Branden Williams anchor a big-play Berkeley defense. Both Cane Bay and Northwood Academy’s coaches say they have more true athletes than had last year. They are aiming high too. Over in Dorchester County, Summerville goes to battle with the winningest coach in the universe. The Green Wave’s John McKissick won his 600th game last fall as his squad captured the Region 8-AAAA title in 2012. Rival Fort Dorchester currently has more players in
the National Football League than any program around so talent is there. The Green Wave returns several starters on each side of the ball and has multiple Division1 college prospects. The team’s QB is no longer a rookie after passing for more than 1,300 yards last season. The Wave is looking to build on the momentum it gained at the end of last season. The Patriots have experience up front and a few major college prospects of their own but their season will hinge on how new skill players develop and perform. The Swamp Foxes lost three players from their offensive backfield who had been the foundation of the success the team had the last three years. In many ways, they will look like a new team but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Ashley Ridge has major talent at key positions and its coaches are hoping better chemistry will be the difference for their team this year. Pinewood Prep enters the season with a new head coach and a roster that is very different from last year’s. SCISA fans can only wait to see what impact the Panthers’ new team dynamic will have.
Rob Gantt/Gazette
Goose Creek running back Caleb Kinlaw, a Georgia Tech commitment, runs over a North Augusta defensive back during a scrimmage earlier this month.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 7
8 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Ashley Ridge Swamp Foxes
Dashaun Santiago
Woodrow Jones
Matt Linton
GO SWAMP FOXES!
Stephan Gilliam
ASHLEY RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Tyquan Tucker
Kadarius Anderson
DeAngelo Shaw
Maurice Martin
David Turner
Chandler Avene
Trequan Jenkins
Sean White
Michael Estabrook
Lee Holley
Donavan Thompson
Jamal King-Smalls
Kendall Felder
Brandon Brownz
Arphaxad Kemmerlin
Dominique Moore
Tyler Garland
Charles Fredrick
David Layton
Matt Leek
Date: Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 24 Nov. 1 Nov. 8
Opponent: Goose Creek Wando Ashley Stratford Cane Bay West Florence Colleton County Bluffton Beaufort Summerville Fort Dorchester All Games Start at 7:30PM
Location: Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Home
Good Luck to all Athletic Teams!
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 9
Ashley Ridge Swamp Foxes
CJ Cosby
Greg Waters
Lendric Thompson
Thomas Cooper
Abraham Kemmerlin
Marcus Ladson
Ashton Hughes
Jared Campagnone
Da'Shawn Herrine
Matt Gable
Kevin Washington
Damon Smalls
Tanner Price
Jonathan Pacheco
Chris Bryant
10 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Swamp Foxes putting pieces together up mostly inside and will spend some time in the backfield. “He is one of our better offensive players, someone other teams had better prepare for,” Walker said. Matt Linton and Charles Fredrick are other inside receivers likely to see a lot of action. Dashaun Santiago will line up outside to help the Foxes stretch the field. DeAngelo Shaw and Mitch Nixon are also expected to vie for playing time at the position. They are all juniors except Shaw, who is a senior. The second corner piece is returning senior Sean White. A three-year letterman, White will be used as a kick returner, receiver and running back, the position most affected by graduation. “Sean White is our big play guy,” Walker said. “We will use him in a number of different ways.” Junior Tyler Garland and sophomore C.J. Crosby are also expected to get a lot of touches from the running back position. “We have more physical runners this year instead of the slash and dash type we had in Romelo,” Walker said. “We aren’t expecting them to break off 70-yard runs, but we think they can do what we need them to do which is gain five or six yards and block.”
BY ROGER LEE The Journal Scene
As the season nears, the Ashley Ridge football team remains a work in progress, but things are coming together for the Swamp Foxes. Ashley Ridge lost several key starters to graduation, but the team does have a foundation on which to build. “We have some pieces to the puzzle, but we still have some spots to fill in,” Swamp Fox coach Kenny Walker said. “We have some concerns, but I’m cautiously optimistic.” Walker has found his four corner pieces and is steadily building inward in hopes of completing the puzzle. The first corner piece is the team’s receiving corps. “Offensively when you lose players like Romelo Doctor, Vernon Moree and Jacob Thompson, the concern is where are you going to get your yardage,” Walker said. “Our group of wide receivers this year is probably the best group we have ever had. They are very talented and we expect them to make a big splash.” The leader of the group is senior Donavan Thompson. A returning starter, he will line
“Kendall is the quarterback of our defense,” Walker said. “He knows all the calls and knows where everyone is supposed to be. Our defense needs players who can make adjustments on the fly and he is one of those players who can.” The fourth corner piece is senior defensive end Kadarius Anderson, who has been with the AR varsity since his freshman year. “He provides good leadership for us up front,” Walker said. Josh Spigner returns as a starting tackle and fellow senior Thomas Cooper also brings experience to the defensive line. He is slated to start at the other defensive end position. Senior Tyler Moore and junior Dylan Mariucci return to anchor the Foxes’ linebacker corps. Brown and Cosby will play both sides of the ball to help strengthen the linebacker position. The Foxes lost their kicker to graduation, so this season Ashton Hughes and Matt Gable will handle the kicking and punting. Brad McLaughlin, Tanner Price and Peterson are the team’s long snappers. “We have spent a lot of time on special teams trying to make them more solid,” Walker said. “I think it will pay off.”
After serving as backups at the position last season, juniors David Turner and Chandler Avenel are competing for the starting quarterback role. Whoever gets the job will have some experienced linemen protecting them. “Our offensive line should be pretty decent,” Walker said. “We have all the guys back who started up front in last year’s playoff game at Gaffney and we were able to run the ball pretty well that game. We have several guys we feel comfortable with and we think we can move most of them around to different positions but after that we need to develop some depth.” Center Jonathan Byrd, guards Tyler Moss and Keith Clark and tackles Kenny Glover and Devin Parker return up front. Seniors Steven Truelove and Jacocb Bonar weren’t with the Foxes last season, but are experienced linemen. Helping them up front will be sophomore tight ends Brandon Brown and Justin Peterson. “They are pretty athletic so we feel they can pose a problem for teams,” Walker said. The third corner piece to the puzzle is senior free safety Kendall Felder, a three-year varsity letterman.
Tyler Moore
Dylan Mariucci
Brad McLaughlin
Tyler White
Maurice Philips
Matt Mohn
Tyler Moss
Brandon Smith
Ryan Fritz
Jarrett Bohn
Noah Carter
Jonathan Byrd
Josh Spigner
James Thomas
Keith Clark
Jacob Bonar
Kenny Glover
Jacob Clark
Jamal Walker
Devin Parker
Steven Truelove
Mohammed Mallah
Justin Peterson
Daniel Glenn
Jason Flippin
William Gladden
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 11
12 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Patriots stand GO PATRIOTS! to be strong up front The Journal Scene
The Patriots should be strong in the trenches this season, but they will open their campaign with some largely untested skill-position players. “We lost some guys in the secondary and on offense we lost all our skill guys,” Fort Dorchester coach Steve LaPrad said. “Our question mark going into the season is our skill positions.” The team has experience everywhere else. “We feel like our strength is our front seven on defense,” LaPrad said. “They are all juniors who played last year. Up front offensively we feel like we could possibly be as good as we have ever been. We have three linemen back who started every game last year plus another who played quite a bit.” The Patriots finished last season with a 56 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since LaPrad took over. However, several of the losses came in tight games so LaPrad is optimistic about the new season. “All the starters who were so young last season are a year older and a year wiser,”
he said. Myles White, Eurndraus Bryant and Eugene March all return to the defensive line. White and Bryant are both D-1 prospects. Bryant dropped 45 pounds over the summer so LaPrad is expecting him to be a true force. “Bryant will be a big key for us and we hope to play him on both sides of the ball,” LaPrad said. “When he is full speed and not tired, he is unblockable but he was too large last year so he ran out of gas at times. He and Kevyne Flores pretty much bottle up the middle for us.” Flores is one of four linebackers returning to the team with starting experience. He and fellow senior David Govan started there the past two seasons. Senior Ryan Chaya and junior Daniel Finley are also returning starters. Finley missed the last half of the season due to a leg injury. Juniors Wanyae Fludd and Trent Barnes, both transfer students, should add good depth to the defensive front. The only member of the Patriot secondary with much varsity experience is senior
FORT DORCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL Date: Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1 Nov. 8
Opponent: Carolina Forest Cane Bay Stratford (Elementary Night) Goose Creek Wando (Homecoming) West Ashley Summerville (Hall of Fame) Colleton County Bluffton (Senior Night) Beaufort Ashley Ridge
All Games Start at 7:30PM
Location: Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Away
SJH-1018480
See PATRIOTS Page 14
Have a safe season.
Kobe Garrett
Cameron Davis
Mike Davis
Rashad Palmer
Diondre Champaigne
Cato Jenkins
Juwan Burnell
Jesse Cruz
SJH-1018467
BY ROGER LEE
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 13
Fort Dorchester Patriots Tanner Ziliak
Dresean White
Jerod Lacy
David Govan
Kevyne Flores
Josiah Johnson
Colt Davis
Jonathan Rouse
Mike Maiorelle
Leroy Bennett
Anthony Foreman
Matt Murray
Nahshon Cyrus
Deonta Morris
Trey Duncan
Datron James
Riley Rozanski
Myles Price
Dekoa Singleton
Natrawn Maxwell
D.J. Commodore
Ryan Chaya
Joseph Hutchinson
Eugene March
Daniel Finley
Myles White
Leon Fields
14 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Fort Dorchester Patriots Wanyae Fludd
Daveon Brown
Dana Coleman
Eurndraus Bryant
Tyese McDonald
PATRIOTS from page 12 Deonta Morris. He and senior Cato Jenkins are the projected starters at cornerback. Juniors Jerod Lacy and Adrian McNeil will likely start at the safety positions. “We will be young in the back, but we have put a lot of our efforts into helping those guys improve,” LaPrad said. The Fort returns four starters to the offensive line. Junior Cody Meree returns at center. Senior Nick Tononi returns at right guard. Senior Tyese McDonald returns at tackle. Senior Brian Sanders was moved to defen-
Quandre Chisolm
Jordan Horne
Nate Philips.
Brian Sanders
Chris Morales
Cody Meree
Stephen Epley
Deaundre Alston
Austin Ake
Terryl Johnson
D'Monte Bailey
Adrian McNeil
Corey Rawlings
Cameron Asbell
Michael Brown
James Mackey
sive end last season but he returns to the offensive guard position this year. Jordan Horne, a senior transfer from Florida, will likely play the tackle position opposite of McDonald. “They have all been in the fire,” LaPrad said. “Horne played on a state championship 6-A team in Tallahassee so he should really help. Depth is a concern on the offensive line but we have some defensive linemen who can also block. In fact, a lot of our second string on both sides of the ball will be from players going two ways.” The Patriots’ quarterback, two leading rushers and leading receiver from last season graduated in May. However, the team
does have some skill players with varsity experience as well as some promising younger skill guys. “Matt Murray started in front of our other running backs last year before he tore his ACL so we feel pretty good about our ability to run the ball,” LaPrad said. “We also have a few receivers who played a good bit.” Murray has earned the starting running back spot and transfer student Nahshon Cyrus, a senior, will also likely spend a lot of time in the offensive backfield. Sophomore Datron James has also shown great promise at the position. Senior receiver D’Monte Bailey returns after finishing last season as the Patriots
Trent Barnes
Nick Tononi
Caleb Middleton
Waqsif Al-Khamaiseh
second-leading receiver. He made 15 receptions last year for 267 yards. Seniors Rashad Palmer and Corey Rawlings are also back after seeing considerable action as receivers. Both are versatile athletes who may line up at multiple positions. Newcomer Diondre Champaigne adds depth to the receiver corps. The Patriots worked out three quarterbacks in the preseason. Junior Kobe Garrett is the projected starter but Rawlings and senior Colt Davis have both shown promise at the position the past two seasons. Rawlings is the team’s punter and sophomore Riley Rozanski will likely handle the placekicking.
Goose Creek Gators Brandon McCants
Dantez Bennamon
JC Simuel
Darrius McCray
Tyler Rio
Omar McRae
Kenny Hampton
Deondre' Daniels
Cedric Matthews
Frank Gadsden
Darian Mickle
Delonzo Prather
Tyrik Johnson
Alex Jacobus
Caleb Kinlaw
EJ Simmons
Andre Rhodes
Dominique McConnell
Jordan McElveen
Tyrik Martin
Shaquille Salley
Quintavis Davis
Dominique Jefferson Maurice Bonneau-Gailliard
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 15
16 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
GCHS Gators
Rashad Bethel
Robert Matthews
Daylin Julius
GO GATORS!
Silas Adams
GOOSE CREEK HIGH SCHOOL
Darin McNeal
Morgan Nelson
Evan McField
Rache McMillan
Malcolm Baylock
Austin Brehmer
Travae Hines
Tory Burrell
Date: Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1 Nov. 8
Opponent: Ashley Ridge Colleton County Summerville Fort Dorchester Dutch Fork (Homecoming) Beaufort Carolina Forest Cane Bay Wando West Ashley (Senior Night) Stratford
Location: Away Home Away Home Home Away Away Away Home Home Away
All Games Start at 7:30PM
SJH-1018467 SJH-1018482
Javier Campbell
Lockwood Anderson
Durrell Timmons
K.J. Wood
Devonte Burns
Josh Matthews
Tyler Hood
Dandre Wansley
Malik Jefferson
Gabrien Gillespie
Matt Principio
Tyriq Glover
Good Luck Gators!
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 17
Goose Creek Gators Marquise Walker
Alex Butch
Blake Daniels
Brandon Travis
Chris Mitchell
Malik Bryant
Tyler Glisson
Myles Dillard
Donte Devore
Kyrice Williams
Zack VanAlstine
Trey Simmons
DeQuan White
Anthony Kinloch
Jacquay Roberson
Jordan Barnes
Cody Jones
Jace Pond
C.J. Polite
Robert Phifer
Kalan Ritchie
Aikeem Gadsden
Dijon Profit
Tanner Sineath
18 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Can Gators keep winning? BY ROB GANTT The Gazette
It’s gotten to be commonplace at Goose Creek High School to say the Gators should contend for a state crown. That is once again a legitimate possibility as the sun comes up on a new season. “As always, the expectations are very high,” Gators coach Chuck Reedy said. “We lost some very talented players but have some excellent players returning and expect to be a very good football team.” The Gators have won 40 of their last 42 games and were 13-0 last season before being ousted from the playoffs by the high school league for using an ineligible player in the playoffs. They were not allowed to defend their 2011 championship as a result. The player in question participated in 17 plays all season and never entered a game Goose Creek led by less than 41 points. Goose Creek lost three Division I players from the 2012 defense and another from the offense in Mr. Football Tramel Terry but bring back a pair. Running back Caleb Kinlaw has verbally committed to Georgia Tech and tight end Kalan Ritchie to South Carolina. Quarterback Dantez Bennamon is a Division I prospect too, especially in an option offense.
Juggernaut is the word that comes to mind when talking about Goose Creek’s offense. The Gators averaged 46.3 points per game last year and hope to be similarly productive. “Our receivers are as good as we’ve ever had as a group,” Reedy said. “Our offensive linemen are basically veterans, and our backs Caleb Kinlaw and Evan McField have been in the program a long time. “We’re very experienced and we should execute well and we have (in preseason scrimmages).” Bennamon passed for 1,136 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 535 more yards and six touchdowns in 2012. Kinlaw rushed for 1,006 yards and 15 touchdowns. Both are bigger and stronger and have highlighted some plays this summer with punishing collisions on defenders. One play against Berkeley earlier this month stands out for Bennamon. With Reedy calling for his quarterback to get out of bounds, Bennamon lowered his shoulder and knocked a Berkeley player out of the scrimmage. Kinlaw ended several long runs with tough stiff arms on would-be tacklers. “We stress being a physical, tough and hard-nosed team,” Reedy said. “That goes for the whole team.” Seniors Jordan Barnes and Ritchie are the
GCHS Gators
Cody Williams
Frank Wilson
Devon Brown
Trenton Brown
Javon Kinlaw
Montel Gause
Simeon Brown
top pass catchers returning but only combined for 13 grabs, 170 yards and five scores in 2012. Speedy Deondre Daniels moves over from the defensive side of the ball and has big-play potential. He was one of the state’s top sprinters in track last spring. Up front, left tackle Tyler Hood and right tackle Tre Simmons are returning starters. Malik Bryant, Brandon Travis, Zack Van Alstine and Alex Butch will handle the other three spots. Defensively, the Gators were hit hard by graduation. Gone are DE Gerald Turner (USC), DE Mike Myers (East Carolina) and LB/DE Jalen Stevens (Connecticut), replaced mostly by role players. “That’s really what you deal with most of the time,” said defensive line coach Joe Bowers. “When you get those Division I guys, those are special years. Ninety percent of the time you’re not going to have those types of guys.” The lone returning starter on the defensive front is weakside defensive end
DeQuan White. C.J. Polite will play the strongside defensive end. Other players in the mix in the trenches are Kyrice Williams, Ritchie, Trenton Brown, Javon Kinlaw and Devon Brown. Seniors ILB Daylin Julius and OLB Shaquille Salley are the top two players coming back at linebacker. Julius is the top tackler returning after making 120 stops, while Salley was in on 64 stops. Juniors ILB K.J. Wood and OLB Maurice Bonneau-Gailliard have experience too and combined for 56 stops in 2012. In the secondary, senior CB Omar McRae comes back after making 11 interceptions last fall. Andre Rhodes is on the other side. Delonzo Prather is the safety. Specialist Alex Jacobus will handle kicking duties, taking over for record-setter Masamitsu Ishibashi. The Gators open the regular season on Aug. 30 at Ashley Ridge. They host Colleton County Sept. 6 in the first home game.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 19
Will Knights party like it’s 1999? BY ROB GANTT The Gazette
Stratford High School fans have every reason to be more than just a tad giddy about the upcoming season. Crowfield Avenue figures to be rocking as the Knights take aim at a state crown. The Knights are coming off their best season since 2006 and have one of the premier quarterbacks in the country in senior Jacob Park. Stratford last played for a title in 2004 and last won the championship in 1999. Park (6-4, 205) who combined for nearly 2,700 yards passing and rushing last season was an Elite 11 quarterback this summer. The Georgia commitment is ranked as the No. 1 player in the state by the prep publication High School Sports Report. “He makes me look like a good coach a lot of times, like I called the right play,” Stratford offensive coordinator Dennie McDaniel said. “He’s got a lot of confi-
dence in what he can do. The other players have confidence in him that he’s going to put the ball where it’s supposed to be.” Park is part of a senior class that has been looked upon for a number of years as one that could get Stratford back where it used to be. There are a lot of playmakers in the Knights’ 20-man senior class. “There are some individual kids in this group we’ve had our eyes on for a while,” Stratford coach Ray Stackley said. “This senior class has some guys in it we thought were going to be pretty good. We won’t know how special the group is until the season is over.” Senior running backs Jordan Johnson and Tyree Scroggins have paid their dues the last couple of years and will be counted on to carry the mail this fall. Johnson was a tight end/flanker last season and is the top pass catcher returning. “It is time for them to be playmakers,” McDaniel said. “Jordan has moved back to his natural position and we expect a lot of
things from him. Tyree was stuck in the depth chart last year but has had a tremendous spring, summer and fall camp. We are hoping he can continue to develop.” Thad Thompson is the lone senior receiver and is joined in that group by juniors K.J. Givens, Chris Allen and Jameak Jones. Junior Daniel Carter and senior Jared Terhune are the tight ends. On the offensive line, junior Michael Hughes is the lone returning starter. Senior Connor Dayton is the only senior and, at 63, 315, the biggest lineman. The other projected starters are senior Ja’Avonte Peeples, junior Bryce Smith and sophomore Matt Morris. On the other side of the ball, the Knights have the makings of a great defense, Stackley said. “We’ve only got one starter back up front but our perimeter people are pretty dadgum good,” he added. The group is headlined by senior defensive backs Taylor Morrison and Sheldon
Reid. Morrison made 10 interceptions from his free safety spot and Reid added seven interceptions at corner. Senior Dauntae Horton and sophomore Braxton Boykin are the other two defensive backs. Inside linebacker Cecil Smith and outside linebacker T.J. Deveaux are returning starters on the second level along with Michael Simmons. Other linebackers will be juniors Menre Rice, Navae Daniels and Tyreik Faulks. Senior Joe Cook is a defensive end with experience along with the other senior defensive end Steven Hill. Senior Jordan McArthur is another end. On the interior line, junior Rodrigo Hernandez and junior Deondre Williams are starters. Stratford hosts Berkeley on Aug. 30 to begin the season and travels to Sumter and Fort Dorchester the following two weeks.
20 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Stratford Knights Tyree Scroggins
Sheldon Reid
Van Harvey
Michael Simmons
Dre Steed
Jameak Jones
Tyler Tekac
Jacob Park
Tyreik Faulks
Thad Thompson
J.D. Davis
Jamison Mobbs
Dwight Barr
Taylor Morrison
Kemp Shider
Terik Johnson
Michael White
Navae Daniels
Michael Amos
Braxton Boykin
Griffin Martin
Quaheim Duffus
Jordan Johnson
Maverick Stenstrom
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 21
22 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
GO KNIGHTS!
Stratford Knights Jonah Walker
Jamar Williams
Cecil Smith SJH-1018500
Dauntae Horton
STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL
B.J. Wright
T.J. Deveaux
Menre Rice
Jacob Morrison
Justin Rhodes
Matt Morris
Richard Cook
Blake Tillman
MIchael Hughes
Tivon Koiner
Jalani Lewis
Daniel Dees
Jacob Fitzgerald
Jordan McArthur
Deondre Williams
Corey Rappley
Grant Gregorich
Rodrigo Hernandez
Toriano Delestline
Steven Hill
Date: Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1 Nov. 8
Opponent: Location: Berkeley Home Sumter Away Fort Dorchester Away Ashley Ridge Home Colleton County Away Summerville Home Cane Bay Away Wando Home West Ashley Away South Florence Away Goose Creek Home All Games Start at 7:30PM
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 23
Stratford Knights Nick White
Jordan Domingo
Connor Dayton
Ja'Avonte Peeples
Austin Dees
Eddie Hiott
Jared Terhune
Daniel Carter
Bryce Smith
Steven Pierpoint
Tristan Ham
Chris Williams
Rob Gantt/Gazette
Chris Allen
Austin Chesser
KJ Givens
Joe Cook
Daylon Fields
Matthew Hutson
Stratford defensive coordinator Joe Marion figures to have one of the top defenses in the area this fall.
24 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Summerville Green Wave Sawyer Bridges
Joshua Orr
Daniel Smith
GO GREENWAVE!
Darin Smalls
SUMMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Tevin Bryant
David Coccoli
T.J. Hopkins
Krishaon Jackson
Anthony Collins
Travis Bryant
Mac McCurry
Cameron Burnette
Johnston McCurry
Rondale Johnson
Sean Smith
David Kennedy
Marquis Cheeseboro
DeAndre Richardson
TaShawn Redding
Kevin Dickinson
Darrell Ford
Amadi BeCoate-Roper
Chris Felder
Jacerie Ponder
Date: Aug. 29 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1 Nov. 8
Opponent: Location: Cane Bay (Parent Night) Home Berkeley Away Goose Creek (Hall of Fame) Home Wando Away West Ashley Home Stratford Away Fort Dorchester Away Beaufort (Homecoming) Home Colleton County Away Ashley Ridge (Salute to Veterans) Home Bluffton Away All Games Start at 7:30PM
SJH-1018504
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 25
Roger Lee/Journal Scene
Junior Kawuan Cox is a returning starter for Summerville on the defensive.
Green Wave returns lots of talent BY ROGER LEE The Journal Scene
The Green Wave football team returns several starters, has some top-notch talent and is poised to make some noise this season. Summerville had a slow start in 2012 but finished strong to claim another region championship. Along the way, younger players developed and a veteran coaching staff ironed out some kinks so the Wave enters its 2013 campaign with fewer question marks. “The kids are working hard and we had a good preseason,” Summerville coach John McKissick said. “I feel like we will be better, but everybody we play might be better. I’m excited about the athletes we have coming back, but I’m a little worried about inexperience at certain positions.” Last season Sawyer Bridges stepped into the team’s quarterback position as a freshman and started every game. He completed more than 100 passes for more than 1,300 yards and seven touchdowns. He also averaged 3.5 yards per rush. In other words, he isn’t a rookie anymore. “Sawyer is a good quarterback,” McKissick said. “He throws the ball well. He runs well and he has a good head on his shoulders. There are two or three other quarterbacks in the area getting all the recogni-
tion, but Sawyer is as good as they are.” Summerville has several other players with QB experience, but sophomore Krishaon Jackson is expected to claim the second-string role. They should have decent protection as Summerville has good size and experience on the offensive line. Anchoring the line will be Division-1 prospect Zack Bailey and fellow returning starter Jonathan James. Senior Sean Smith returns to the tight end position. All three have peeked the interest of college recruiters. Other projected starters up front include senior Vincent Brown, junior William McArn and sophomore Chandler Farrell. “We should be ok on the offensive line, but we don’t have the depth we would like to have,” McKissick said. “We will be ok with our backfield and receivers.” The Wave took a blow when their leading rusher from last season moved out of state. It’s hard to replace a tailback like Davon Anderson who rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns, but Summerville isn’t without talent at the position. Senior Jacerie Ponder, who split time between the offensive and defensive backfields last year, has been tagged as the starter for running back position. Junior Darrell Ford See SUMMERVILLE Page 28
26 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Summerville Green Wave Daquan Wrighten
Aaron Greene
Cameron Moore
Tean Becoate
Michael Murray
Justin Brigman
John Van Slooten
Quadray Poinsette
Chad Wood
Matson Bryngelson
Codie Soto
Erik Von Nessen
Brandon Williams
Armani O'Banner
Matt Powell
Leroy Hart
Carlton Campbell
Darrell Smalls
Terry Nelson
Richard Russum
Joshua Smalls
Eric Henderson
Ronald Mitchell
Ryan Almas
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 27
Summerville Green Wave Hundley McCurry
William McArn
Chandler Farrell
Austin Rutledge
Vincent Brown
Seth Brown
Jonathan James
Travis White
Bo Memering
Zack Bailey
Parrish Clontz
Jamal Lucas
Devon Scott
Andre' Bigham
Julian Gibbs
William Luck
Dwayne Pierce
Kawuan Cox
Raekwon Williams
Malik Harrell
Khalid Katz
Andrew McCullough Leondre Thompson
28 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Green Wave
Roger Lee/Journal Scene
Green Wave offensive linemen Chandler Farrell and Zack Bailey double-team an Orangeburg Wilkinson rusher during a scrimmage.
SUMMERVILLE from page 25 and senior Darin Smalls are also likely to see action in the offensive backfield. Smalls, who has verbally committed to South Carolina, has been a starter in the defensive secondary for the past two seasons. However, this year coaches are considering using him more either in the offensive backfield or as a receiver. A number of other players may also see time at running back. Summerville should be able to move the ball through the air. Smith and fellow senior and returning starter William Luck make good targets. Others likely to see action as a receiver include senior Johnston McCurry, junior Julian Gibbs, sophomore Chris Felder and Donnell Bryant, who transferred after playing at Pinewood Prep last season. Summerville also has some experienced and talented players on the defensive side of the ball. Anchoring the defense are five returning starters – Smalls and fellow DB Kevin Dickinson, linemen Kawuan Cox and Matt Powell, and linebacker Mac McCurry. Smalls and Dickinson are seniors while the other three are juniors.
As a middle linebacker last year McCurry led the team in tackles with 175, including 10 sacks. Cox and Powell both finished last season with more than 90 tackles and Cox had a team-high 13.5 sacks. “On defense we need to develop some experience at nose guard and tackle, but we will be ok on that side if we manage to get pressure on the quarterback,” McKissick said. Senior Darell Smalls has been moved from linebacker to tackle in an effort to help create that pressure. Other projected starters on the defensive front include sophomore Hundley McCurry and senior Travis Bryant. Seniors Chad Wood and Tean Becoate will see a lot of time at linebacker and senior Daniel Smith will see a lot of time in the secondary. Senior David Kennedy returns after handling a good bit of the Wave’s kicking duties last year. This season he may also do much of the punting. “I think Kennedy might be a D-1 player,” McKissick said. “He has good hang time on his punts and last year he put a lot of kickoffs into the end zone.” Johnston McCurry, Smalls and Bryant are slated to be the team’s primary kick returners.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 29
Berkeley Stags
Third year the charm for Stags? BY DAN BROWN The Independent
Diamante Harley
Branden Williams
Conner Teague
Joseph Dress
Dylon Baker
Matthew Harkness
Daryl Frazier
Leo Rivers
Josh Fiddie
Tirahn Bradford
Bryce Kunkle
Joshua Simmons
Kamal Barton
Marcus West
Joshua Sellers
Jermeck Crocker
Kalen Hawkins
Leon Simmons
Chris Richardson
Jonathan Washington
Tyler Crouse
Julian Robinson
Kyle Morrison
Harrison Matthews
They say, “The third time is the charm.” That’s what Berkeley Stags football fans are expecting. This year is it for the Stags. After coming off a pair of sub-.500 seasons the Stags field a team stocked with 52 juniors and seniors with two seasons of experience. It’s a team Coach Jeff Cruce hopes to get over the hump. “We have come a long way since the end of last season,” Cruce said of the 6-8 2012 campaign. “We are working on things we haven’t been able to work on the past two seasons. We expect big things this fall.” BHS play one of the area’s tougher preregion schedules with early games against Stratford, Summerville, Cane Bay and Timberland.
“We play three Class AAAA teams and Timberland, who always play us tough,” Cruce said. “On top of that we scrimmaged Goose Creek and play them for two quarters in Sertoma. We’ll get to see how we stand up to the larger schools.” Berkeley fields an experienced line with Sterling Fiddie, Ohen Wren, Alex Taylor and J.R. Fiddie in the trenches. On defense, seniors Josh Simpson, Branden Williams and Damian Woods anchor a deep secondary. “We’re big on defense and we’re quick,” Cruce said. “Our defense should put our offense in position to win ball games.” On the offensive side of the ball junior Joseph Dress will take the ball under center with Josh Sellers, Diamante Harley and Jonathan Washington anchoring the ground game, and Dylan Baker, Bryce Kunkle and See STAGS Page 31
GO STAGS!
30 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Berkeley Stags Jordan Brown
Alex King
Kaleb Butler
Damion Woods
D.J. Barberena
Darrius Nelson
J.R. Fiddie
Peyton Thompson
Hagen Schindledecker
Sterling Fiddie
Sam Hucks
Chris Mathis
David Meree
Lablonc Winfield
James Ancrum
Kraig Jowers
Bernard Eaddy
Jaleel Cromedy
Date: Aug 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 3 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL
Opponent: Location: Stratford Away Summerville Home Cane Bay Home Manning Away Timberland Home James Island Away Hanahan Away Stall (Homecoming) Home Orangeburg-Wilkinson Home Hilton Head Away All Games Start at 7:30PM
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 31
STAGS from page 29
2013 Berkeley Stags
D.J. Witherspoon as primary targets through the air. Cruce likes his team’s chances in Region 8AAA after a 3-2 record and a second place finish in 2012. “Hanahan and James Island will both be tough this year, and Hilton Head and Orangeburg-Wilkinson have improved,” Cruce said. “We match up well against our region, but we have to come ready to play. With our strong pre-region schedule we’ll know where we stand come October.” After lining up against Goose Creek in the Friday night feature scrimmage against Goose Creek in the Sertoma Classic, the Stags kick off their regular season on Aug. 30 on the road against Stratford.
Berkeley Stags James Wallace
Mason Edwards
Alex Taylor
Craig Mims
D.J. Witherspoon
Deion Williams.
Good Luck to all athletic teams!
32 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Cobras poised to strike
Cane Bay running back Ramonte Frasier is one of the top weapons for Cane Bay’s offense and also returns kickoffs.
BY ROB GANTT The Gazette
The Cane Bay Cobras had a competitive first year in Class AAAA and are changing their identity a bit to match their personnel as they head into their second season in the state’s highest level of football. Gone are a lot of the bulky bodies that made Cane Bay a power team the last couple of seasons, and the Cobras are switching their schemes on both sides of the ball to take advantage of their increased speed and athletic ability. Coach Russell Zehr’s team brings back two starters on the offensive line. The defensive line was completely wiped out by graduation. “We even lost our backup guys,” Zehr said. Last season, the Cobras were 6-6 and all those wins were battles, Zehr recalled. All of them were by 11 points or less and five were by single digits. “That’s the biggest difference between Class AAA and Class AAAA,” he said. “Not only are you playing bigger schools every week, it’s a grind. Every team is good. That’s Class AAAA football.” On offense, Cane Bay has gone to a oneback, spread type of attack. The Cobras have experienced players returning in quarterback Devin Kilgore and running back Ramonte Frasier. Kilgore has a strong arm and good mobility and Frasier is a solid speed back. He had kickoff returns for scores last fall, too. Tyler Farr is slated to also play running back for the Cobras. At receiver, Devin Dingle and Rashad Andrews will be the top options in the passing game. Up front, left tackle Nate Amico and center Keith Anderson have starting experience. Trevor Ridgeway (LG), Chris Hitchman (RG) and Joseph Sass (RT) are the projected other starters for the Cobras as they head into the season Aug. 29 at Summerville. Cody Stegall will start at left tackle. The tight ends are Gerald Baker and Tre Robinson. Defensively, Cane Bay has a new defensive coordinator and has switched to a 3-4 scheme under Jody Kafina. The 3-4 is more of a slanting defense and linebackers are sent into the gaps, but they also have to be able to back up and cover the pass. “We’ve got all the pieces we need,” Zehr Rob Gantt/Gazette
See CANE BAY Page 34
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 33
Cane Bay Cobras Rashad Andrews
Kevin Bunch
Devin Dingle
Austin Sineath
Dwayne Swett
Keshawn Foy
Akeem Lincoln
Jonathan X
JJ Jenkins
Jacob Page
Jonathan Bowman
RJ Griffin
Devin KIlgore
Tre Robinson
Keenan Simpson
TabariousHartzog
Bridges Howard
Gerald Baker
Tracy Gilliard
Romonte Frazier
Kevon Young
Alandis Murray
Tyler Farr
Matt Rudy
Alex Collette
Malachi Jenkins
Jacob Bradrick
34 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW The lone returning starter in the second-
CANE BAY
ary is Tracy Gilliard. Malachi Jenkins,
from page 32 said. “We just need to get them working together.” Savion Pinckney and Brandon Brown hold down two of the spots up front, while Colton Shannon and Derrick Moser are getting the reps at the other spot. Inside linebacker Matt Rudy anchors the defense as a whole. He’s the leading tackler returning. Paul Peart is the other inside linebacker. R.J. Griffin, Keenen Simpson and Akeem Lincoln are the outside linebackers. “We’re going to be aggressive,” Kafina said. “I’m excited about our play-making ability.”
Tobarius Hartzog and Jameson McCollum are slated to start in the other three defensive back slots. “We don’t have a lot of size but we probably have a little more team speed than last year,” Zehr said. “We’ve got the opportunity to put an athletic group out there.” On special teams, Phillip Jackson is the kicker and Austin Sineath the punter. After Summerville, the Cobras host Fort Dorchester on Sept. 6 and travel to Berkeley on Sept. 13.
GO COBRAS! Dominic McKelvey/File Photo
There’s nothing like the excitement of a Friday night football game at Cane Bay High School. Above, a packed house enjoys the 2012 Cane Bay – Berkeley contest at CBHS.
DJ eniqueInge
Brandon James
Jaleel Williams
Phillip Jackson
Josh Granville
Terrell Bryant
Jameson McCollum
Franklin Robinson
Nakil Tolliver
Trey Burdette
Paul Peart
SJH-1018467
CBHS Cobras Date: Aug. 29 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 24 Nov. 1 Nov. 8
CANE BAY HIGH SCHOOL Opponent: Summerville (Thursday Night Lights) Fort Dorchester Berkeley Beaufort Ashley Ridge Colleton County (Homecoming) Stratford Goose Creek West Florence (Thursday Night) Wando West Ashley (Senior Night)
Location: Away Home Away Home Away Home Home Home Away Away Home
All Games Start at 7:30PM
SJH-1018467
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 35
Cane Bay Cobras Keith Anderson
Roderick Jones
Matt Davies
Carl High
Joseph Sass
Trace Turner
Austin Brown
Carlos Gilliard
Chris Hitchman
Chase Meecha
Marshall Myzell
Trevor Ridgeway
Derrick Moser
Cody Stegall
DesmondBennett
Justice Walker
Tyler Davies
Eddie Felkel
Nate Amico
Tyler Blake
Jeff Ackerman
Colton Shannon
Brandon Brown
Justice Farmer
Zach Bachelor
Matrel lDouglas
Curtis Cherry
36 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
GO HAWKS!
High hopes at HHS BY ROB GANTT The Gazette
As far as what a team looks like on paper, the Hanahan Hawks have to be considered a legitimate player in the chase for the Class AAA crown this fall. The Hawks were 11-2 last season and bring back essentially all of the key pieces on their defense. So, if defense truly wins championships, count Hanahan as a force to be reckoned with both in the region and beyond. “We feel pretty good about the guys we’ve got (on defense),” Hanahan coach Charlie Patterson said. “I’d say, without question, this is the best defense we’ve had since I’ve been here. We’ve
got a lot of guys with experience. We’ve got a lot of guys that can run. We’ve got a lot of guys that will hit you.” The Hawks return 10 starters on that side of the ball from a team that made the third round of the playoffs, and quality depth is an asset at every level, Patterson said. Former Timberland defensive coordinator Steve Blanchard has taken over the HHS defense. Blanchard sees his group’s potential but insists it will only be met with hard work and attention to detail. “The whole thing about good versus great is how much they want to play together,” See HANAHAN Page 45
Hanahan Hawks
Date: Aug 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
HANAHAN HIGH SCHOOL Opponent: Military Magnet Academy Timberland Bishop England Edisto Wade Hampton Orangeburg-Wilkinson Berkeley (Recreation Night) James Island Hilton Head (Homecoming) Stall (Parent Night)
All Games Start at 7:30PM
Terrell Green
Sam Denmark
Saaehim Brooks
Isaiah Williams
Corbin Heyward
Brian Ford
Walt Fagan
Christian Leake
Deandre Thompson
Chase Patterson
Lyndon Young
Alex North
Mason Schwerzler
Kyle Spigner
Haven Horlback
Marlon Washington
Location: Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Home SJH-1018484
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 37
Hanahan Hawks Rodney Prioleau
Andrew Conyers
Kymone Smith
Marquise Mack
Jessie Kunze
Josh Greenbaum
Jacob Billings
Parker Collins
Ronald England
Kahlim Denmark
Cyrone White
Adrien Pew
Larry Smith
Clarence Graham
Malik Simmons
Chase Pfaff
Dominque Lucas
Vontrel Grant
Quan Wade
Tyler HInes
Greg Casselmann
Javonte McLaurin
Yassim Muhammad
Jacob Garibay
Deandre Garrison
Nick Misuraca
Jon Allen Powell
Dominique Green
Bernard Hilliard
Isaac Holt
Cameron Richardson
Anthony Tolliver
Stephen Churchill
Tre Smalls
38 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
GO WOLVES!
Wolves young and hungry
TIMBERLAND HIGH SCHOOL
Date: Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Opponent: Manning Hanahan Cross C.E. Murray Berkeley Kingstree Lake City Lake Marion Andrews Lee Central
Location: Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Away Home Away
BY DAN BROWN The Independent
The Timberland Wolves are a young team but by the time the Region 7AA schedule begins, this will be a team tested by fire with pre-region contests against Manning, defending Class A state champ Cross, Hanahan and arch rival Berkeley. Wolves Coach Art Craig believes his team is ready. “We had a really good summer,” Craig said. Craig admits his team is going through a youth movement with just nine seniors returning, but as shown by their performance this summer during camps and passing leagues, his young Wolves can hold their own. “We’ve heard all summer how we’re young, how we’re down but teams come up against us this fall thinking that, they might get their feelings hurt some,” said Craig. On offense Timberland hands the ball to junior quarterback Ryan Hood. While untested as a starter coming into the 2013 season, Hood saw plenty of action under center in 2012 and has responded to the starting job by playing like a seasoned veteran. “A lot of people will know the name of Ryan Hood before the season is over,” said Craig. “He can throw the football. He knows his reads. He’s really stepped up and played well this summer.” Behind Hood in the backfield are Bernard Harmon and Shamel Williams to both run the football and haul in the passes. Matt Gabel and tight end Wyatt Craig will also be targets in an offense that will throw the ball more than in years past. “We could put the ball in the air 20-to-25 times a game, Craig said. “We’ll still run like we always do but we have the ability to pass the ball as well.” On defense the Wolves’ front four is likewise
All Games Start at 7:30PM
SJH-1018508
See WOLVES Page 40
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 39
Timberland Wolves Shamel Williams
Daniel Robinson
Drake Campbell
Matt Gabel
Darius Hamilton
Darelle Pressley
Johnell Brown
Armonte Prioleau
Ryan Hood
Austin Stevens
Mikael Smith
Dayvon Reid
Matthew Rembert
Wyatt Craig
Jaquann Thompson
Ezekiel Padgett
Dan Brown/Independent
Junior Wyatt Craig anchors the Wolves defensive front four.
Kevin McHoney
Brandon Simmons
Roger Rembert
Bernard Harmon
Jared Cleveland
Za'von Whitaker
Willie Goodman
Dashawn Kelly
40 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
WOLVES from page 38
Dan Brown/Independent
Timberland’s Za’von Whitaker and Bernard Harmon take part in tackle drills in preseason practice.
THS Wolves Alex White
Damon Kelly
Deangelo Cleveland
David Fosnight
Nick Smith
Malick Rivers
Kevin McCray
Lance Lambert
Cody Wadford
Austin Rentzel
Keenan Williams
young with a pair of juniors in Wyatt Craig and Johnell Brown playing bookends for a pair of sophomores inside. The team’s talent on the defensive side of the ball leaves its veteran coach casting an optimistic eye to 2013. “Our defense is young, but we are going to surprise a lot of people this fall with our play,” Craig said. As is the case with smaller schools, many of Timberland’s players go both ways and play both offense and defense on Friday nights, with Gabel, Williams and Harmon filling up the defensive backfield. In 2012 Timberland lost in the Lower State Championship game to its longtime nemesis Dillon. The Wolves bypassed the annual Sertoma preseason exhibition in Charleston this year and opened their season on Aug. 23 against Manning in “Week 0.”
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 41
GO TROJANS!
Trojans’ goal: Defend title BY DAN BROWN The Independent
Date: Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25
CROSS HIGH SCHOOL Opponent: Kingstree C.E. Murray Timberland Hemingway St. James Lake Marion Military Magnet Academy (Homecoming) St. John’s Lincoln (Parent’s Night) Baptist Hill
Location: Away Away Away Away Home Home Home Away Home Away
All Games Start at 7:30PM
Cross has waited almost 10 months to defend its Class A Division II state championship. The Trojans field the most potent backfield of any school at any classification in the state with the trio of All-State running backs in Devontae Shepherd and the Evans twins, Dionte and Diamonte. “A lot of people expect us to return to Columbia,” said Cross Coach Shaun White. “A state championship is as much about luck as it is winning games.” Shepherd and the Evans twins each posted 1,000-yard seasons either on the ground or combined offensive yardage in 2012 to lead Cross to a 14-2 record and the state championship. They anchor both the Cross offense and defense. Under center, the Trojans turn to sophomore Jamar Matthews to direct the offense.
“Jamar Matthews has had an outstanding preseason,” said Wright. Wright said his team is still a little behind on defense and working on communication from the sideline to the players on the field: “I like the focus of our players and we are looking to get better every day. We are starting to get in better shape but issues as usual are scary again this year.” The coach will call on seniors Greg Jones, James Jackson, and Isiah Hampton, sophomores Malcom Garrett and Neil Davis in the trenches offensively and defensively. Shepherd, Dionte Evans and Diamonte Evans also comprise the defensive backfield. Cross added former Kingstree head coach Reginald Jamison who will handle defensive coordinator duties with Berkeley grad and former Arena Football League veteran Denario Smalls. The Trojans began their season on Aug. 23 against Kingstree.
Cross Trojans
SJH-1018477 SJH-1018477
Roger Ravenel
Diamonte Evans
Devontae Shepherd
Dionte Evans
Anthony Wigfall
Dwayne Howell
Qwantavious Felder
Anthony Meyers
42 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Anthony Meyers, Jesse Turner, Greg Jones, Dionte Evans, Devontae Shepherd and Diamonte Evans are the seniors leading Cross in defense of its 2012 state title. At left, the student athletes relax after a recent practice. Dan Brown/Independent
Cross Trojans Jaqwan Washington
Jesse Turner
Jamarial Pringle
Joseph Ravenell
Tiryn Footman
Demetrius Gibson
Kevon Davis
James Jackson
Marvin Dixon
Greg Jones
Miles Garrett
Isiah Hampton
Neil Davis
Malcom Garrett
Jalma Walker
Tony Richburg
Follow the 2013 Trojan football season at www.berkeleyind.com Leroy Smalls
Marcellus Forbes
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 43
GO PANTHERS!
PINEWOOD PREP HIGH SCHOOL
Date: Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 1 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Opponent: Northwood Wilson Hall Orangeburg Prep Cardinal Newman Augusta Christian Ben Lippen Heathwood Hall Laurence Manning Hammond Porter Gaud
Location: Away Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Home Away
All Games Start at 7:30PM
File Photo
Clayton Are will provide senior leadership during the upcoming campaign.
Panthers leaning on experienced leaders in 2013 BY GAIL OSBORNE For The Journal Scene
First year Pinewood Head Coach Michael Wright is looking for his players to have a great experience this season while continuing to learn, grow and develop. “I want this team to be successful,” said Wright, who spent the past decade at the Flint
Hill School in Fairfax, Va. “Success is measured by wins and losses so ideally I would like some wins not just for the players but for the community at large especially after a run of some tough experiences over the past few years.” The Panthers have a smaller roster this season so several players will see both sides of See PINEWOOD Page 44
SJH-1018494 SJH-1018467
Follow high school sports at: journalscene.com berkeleyind.com & ourgazette.com
44 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Pinewood Panthers Steven Kennedy
Kevin Weber
Michael McCombs
Cameron Hendrix
Lewis Vaughn
Austin McCray
PINEWOOD from page 43
Dexter Coaxum
Lesley Redden
Zachary Latham
Andrew Latham
Drayton Knight
Alex Ruggiero
Alex Nelson
Cameron Poaps
Grayson Charpia
Brad Richards
Shareef Boddie
Cody Bazzle
Bobby Thomas
Harrison Scott
Clayton Are
Michael Wright
the ball. There are currently two juniors in the running for Pinewood’s starting quarterback position. Lewis Vaughan is still adapting and learning the position and his commitment is terrific. Also vying for the spot is Dexter Coaxum. “Lewis is a savvy guy who is improving from scrimmage to scrimmage,” Wright said. “Dexter is mobile and elusive and is going to be able to do some good things either as a quarterback or in another position.” Senior captain Shareef Boddie should be an impact player this season. He will play both offensive tackle and defensive end. Captain Clayton Are, also a senior, will play offensive and defensive tackle and is a big physical threat. “Clayton has really come into his own and is a big athlete with a big presence,” Wright said. “You can see his confidence, passion
and the drive for excellence that he brings to the game.” Center/defensive end Cameron Poaps and
linebacker/running
back
Alex
Nelson are also senior captains who have really stepped up this year. “Both players have been with the program for a few years,” Wright said. “Their leadership is showing and they are both a great asset to the team. I am also impressed with senior Zachary Latham who will play linebacker and running back. He is a quiet leader who has a huge impact.” Kicking for Pinewood is senior Kevin Weber who will also be a major factor at defensive back and wide receiver. Weber has a strong leg and has proven accurate from long range. He also has good speed, size and hands. Pinewood opens up on the road with a game against Northwood Academy Aug. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 45
File Photo
Pinewood senior Kevin Weber (11) zeroes in on a tackler in action last year.
HANAHAN from page 36 Blanchard said. “If nine people are out there doing it right and two are doing it wrong, then you’re not going to be successful. “They have the talent. They’re strong. They’re fast. They’re quick. It’s about being fundamentally sound and them doing what their coaches tell them to do.” Up front, the defensive ends are junior Corbin Heyward, senior Dominique Lucas and senior Bernard Hilliard. The inside players are sophomore Dominique Green, junior Jacob Garibay and senior Vontrel Grant. Seniors Lyndon Young, Ronald England and Marquise Mack are returning starters at linebacker. Brian Ford and Tre Smalls also factor into the mix on the second level. Free safety Marlon Washington leads the group coming back in the secondary while Andrew Conyers and Deandre Thompson are corners. Isaiah Williams will play in the secondary too. Offensively, the Hawks aren’t as seasoned. They bring back four starters, but one of those isn’t North-South quarterback Anthony Smalls. Smalls piled up passing and rushing yards the last two seasons but is now at South Carolina State. Patterson said the fact his defense is so strong,
it’s helping the offense come along. “It’s not like we can get a false sense of being good,” he said. Hanahan turns over the keys to the offense to Mason Schwerzler, a senior. He’s got some weapons around him in bulky running back Quan Wade and wide receiver Terrell Green. Green, a tall target for Schwerzler, will be one of the top downfield threats in the Lowcountry. The other regular targets will be Saaehim Brooks, Greg Casselmann, Sam Denmark, Kahlim Denmark and Chase Pfaff. Haven Horlback is a change of pace back and brings more speed and shiftiness to the backfield. Wade is a North-South runner. Up front, junior right tackle Anthony Tolliver and senior right guard Jacob Billings are returning starters. Junior left tackle Larry Smith (LT), junior Cody Graham (LG) and junior Josh Greenbaum (C) are slated to start at the other spots. Corbin Heyward and Chase Patterson are the tight ends. Kyle Spigner will be back as kicker/punter. Hanahan was an overwhelming favorite in Week 0 against Military Magnet and is set to take on county rival Timberland in Week 1 before traveling to natural rival Bishop England on Sept. 6. The Bishops have won two Class AA titles in a row.
46 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW
St. John’s begins anew BY DAN BROWN The Independent
In 2012 the St. John’s Christian Academy Cavaliers reached the pinnacle of SCISA 8Man Football by winning the Lower State Championship and earning a shot at the state title. The Cavaliers missed the brass ring,
falling 58-42 to Wardlaw. Nine months later it’s time to pick up the pieces with a new lineup and a new football coach in Matt Gilbert. Longtime coach Bill McCall resigned on June 1. Several key pieces of the Cavaliers starting eight graduated. The Cavaliers will start over with a young
and inexperienced team and Gilbert is ready to embrace the 2013 edition of SJCA football. “We have 17 kids on our roster so far and almost half of them had never played football before,” Gilbert said. “We may not have football players but we have athletes and these kids are smart. There’s going to be a rebuilding process here, but they get it. They are easy
to teach and they learn quickly.” Gilbert has tabbed Southpaw Dustin Parsons as the team’s quarterback, the first time since 2006 the Cavs will have a quarterback under center not named Hammond. “He’s got a good arm,” Gilbert said. “He’s a See ST. JOHN’S Page 47
Chargers aim for return to glory BY ROB GANTT The Gazette
The Northwood Academy Chargers have been on a decline since last playing for a SCISA championship in 2009. However, second-year coach Phillip Keefe can see things turning around, beginning this fall. The Chargers, with 29 players, have one of the larger rosters in SCISA Class AA and bring back some proven offensive commodities. “We do return a good crop of skill kids,” Keefe said. Included in that group is three-year starter Will Lloyd at quarterback. Lloyd, a junior, threw for over 1,800 yards last fall and ran for over 400 more. In all, he accounted for 23
touchdowns. He will have a pair of seniors behind him in Darrett Drayton and Chris Williams. Drayton hit the 700-yard mark in 2012 and Williams was just below that. Both have bulked up since. “They had a great offseason as far as summer work,” Keefe said. “They’ve put on 10 to 15 pounds of muscle. They will be the workhorses. Darrett is the bigger of the two but they’ve both got some shiftiness about them.” Junior Trey Stuckey and sophomore Trevor McNeil are also candidates for playing time at running back. Northwood graduated its top receiver but bring back seniors Noah Hammond and
GO CHARGERS! NORTHWOOD ACADEMY Date Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oc.t 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Opponent Home/Away Pinewood Home Colleton Prep Home Florance Christian Away Hilton Head Christian Away Hilton Head Prep Home Williamsburg Academy (HC) Home Dillon Christian Away Palmetto Christian Away Thomas Heyward (Senior Night) Home Bible Baptist Away All Games Start at 7:30PM SJH-1018486
Andrew Singer along with junior Douglas Dwight. Senior Micah Loudin is back out for football after a few years away and is the fastest player on the team, Keefe said. “He’s a 4.6 guy and that’s pretty fast for SCISA,” Keefe said. “He reminds us of (former Northwood RB Uriah Singleton) when he gets the ball. He’s not far from Uriah gear.” Dwight, Singer and Hammond all had over 20 receptions last year. Dwight had 521 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, while Singer had 418 yards and five scores. Up front, junior guards Jonah King and Trennon Richardson are returning starters. Three other juniors are in the mix too with tackle Micah Deveaux, guard Hunter McLeod and center Dalton Kolodjiez. Sophomore Zack Ellison and freshman Christian Papa will also get time on the line. The name of the game will be ironman football for most of Northwood’s offensive starters, and many will have hybrid roles when they turn around and play on defense. The top tackler returning is linebacker Darrett Drayton. He made 55 stops in 2012. Keefe said Richardson, King, Williams, Kolodziej and Deveaux are shaping up to be the inside techniques on the front. Kolodziej had 31 total tackles last season. Sophomores Brandon Sessions and Bernard Brown are mentioned as contributors at defensive end, along with Deveaux and Williams. Joining Drayton on the second level are McNeil, junior Josh Heffner and junior Jai McKinney. In the secondary, Keefe said Dwight, Singer, Hammond, Stuckey, Heffner, Loudon and Lloyd are options. Hammond had 30
stops in 2012. On special teams, Singer will handle kicking duties. Tyler Harrison and Lloyd are also specialists. Singer was 28 of 33 on extra points and tacked on three field goals, with a long of 32 yards. Northwood opens the season at home against Pinewood Prep on Aug. 30 and will host Colleton Prep on Sept. 6. The Chargers play their home games at Gahagan Sports Complex in Summerville but are hoping to get into their new facility near Carnes Crossroads later in the season. “Our football program started in 2004 and has never played an actual home game,” Keefe said. “I don’t think I could even put it into words what it would mean for us to get up there and play (by the end of the season). There is still a lot that has to happen for that to happen for us.” While they were only 2-8 in the regular season in 2012, the Chargers nearly pulled out a playoff victory in the opening round against Thomas Sumter. A missed 26-yard field goal with under a minute left sealed Northwood’s fate. But it also inspired the Chargers heading into the offseason, where they made steady progress. The Chargers got in a full spring practice and then were full speed ahead in the summer with 7 on 7 games and also put in time in the weight room. “The kids have worked extremely hard,” Keefe said. “Getting back to those winning ways is something we’ve been talking about and the kids have made a pretty good effort… we’re leaps and bounds ahead of where we were.”
FOOTBALL PREVIEW • August 2013 • 47
GO CAVALIERS!
ST. JOHN’S CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Date: Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
Opponent: Location: Clarendon Hall Away James Island Christian Away Cathedral Academy Away First Baptist School Home Coastal Christian Prep Home Faith Christian School Home Beaufort Academy Away Charleston Collegiate (Homecoming) Home Patrick Henry Academy Away Carolina Academy (Senior Night) Home All Games Start at 7:30PM
St. John’s Cavaliers
Austin Murchison
Byron Rodgers
Cody Dunlap
Colin Murchison
Dustin Parsons
Harun Scott
Hunter Singletary
Jantsen Robertson
John Fondren
Logan Brown
Luke Hutto
Marcus Johnson
Reece Myers
Walter Edwards
ST. JOHN’S from page 46 pitcher so he can throw the ball.” Gilbert will count on experienced Cavalier ath-
SJH-1018498
letes to lead the charge like Logan Brown, Walter Edwards, Marcus Johnson and Hunter Singletary. “We will have a good understanding where we are as a team by our first home game,” Gilbert said.
48 • August 2013 • FOOTBALL PREVIEW