23 for 2023: Key questions, top talking points for Midlands high school football season
The high school football season is here.
Teams across the Midlands are filled with high hopes and enthusiasm. Here are 23 things to watch for as the 2023 season kicks off this coming week.
Can Dutch Fork reload and repeat?
The Silver Foxes are the preeminent program in Class 5A, South Carolina’s top public school classification, and they’re coming off a sixth championship in the last seven years. Dutch Fork returns a talented defense but must replace some skill guys on offense. Senior Jon Hunt will get the start at quarterback after backing up Aliam Appler last season. Sophomore Ethan Offing also might see some reps at QB. The biggest hole to fill will be at running back, as Mr. Football finalist Jarvis Green is now at Clemson. That duty will likely fall on senior Trenton Lodge, who rushed for 384 yards and four touchdowns in a reserve role last season.
Can anyone challenge Hammond?
No one has been able to come close to the Skyhawks in SCISA lately. Hammond is going after its seventh straight championship this year. Cardinal Newman will try to give the Skyhawks a run as second-year coach Cory Helms has brought in a lot of talent, including transfers Cortez Lane and Pedro Reyes. Ben Lippen and Heathwood Hall have firepower on offense, but it remains to be seen if anyone can close the gap on the powerhouse Hammond program.
Will any teams forfeit against Gray Collegiate?
This a result of one of the biggest hot-button issues in S.C. football circles: competitive balance.
Fairfield Central, Newberry, Mid-Carolina and Eau Claire high schools all said they are considering forfeiting their Region 3-2A games against Gray Collegiate Academy. The schools put “TBD” next to Gray on football schedules posted to social media. The teams haven’t declared their intentions with any certainty, but Fairfield football coach Demetrius Davis hinted Friday that his team is leaning toward a forfeit.
The S.C. High School League said it won’t enforce fines against the Midlands teams that forfeited spring sports games against Gray, a West Columbia-based charter school that faces criticism for how it builds its athletic rosters.
How will Dustin Curtis fare in his return to Lexington?
One of the biggest coaching moves of the offseason was Dustin Curtis leaving Dorman after one year to come home and lead his alma mater at Lexington High. Curtis’ hire was a popular one, and he’ll look to keep the momentum going that Perry Woolbright had the last couple years. The Wildcats have an experienced quarterback in Taiden Mines, but they’ll have some big holes to fill — including the void left by Mr. Football finalist Jonah Norris.
Ridge View refocuses after season ends in disappointment
The Blazers’ 2022 season ended abruptly after the S.C. High School League ruled Ridge View had to forfeit all of its wins and were banned from the playoffs because of the use of ineligible players. After a long offseason to think about that, Ridge View looks to bounce back.
The Blazers are young on offense in some positions, especially at receiver, but have big potential. Ridge View also lost a lot on defense but returns two of the area’s best in Myles Brown and David Matthews.
Another realignment looms
Realignment happens every two years in South Carolina as a way to address competitive balance. This will be the second year of the 2022-24 realignment, meaning things might look a little different with regions and teams in classifications next year. We’ll have a better idea around December when 45-day attendance numbers are finalized and help the S.C. High School League determine how many teams there’ll be per classification and what the regions will look like.
Batesburg-Leesville switching up offense
The Panthers are moving to the run-oriented flexbone offense in Greg Lawson’s second season. Tanner Watkins is back at quarterback to run the offense, with sophomores Amadee Wooden and K.D. Whitt at wingbacks and Jayden Davis likely at fullback.
Stadium changes for some area teams
Three Midlands schools will get a new-look at their home stadiums.
▪ Gray Collegiate moves into its on-campus stadium and won’t have to travel to Midlands Sports Complex for home games.
▪ Hammond’s Eden Stadium has turf and a new track. The Skyhawks open their home schedule against Prince Avenue Christian (Ga.).
▪ Chapin’s Cecil Woolbright Stadium will have new turf as well along with a new press box, restroom, concession area and visitors locker room. Capacity also jumps from 3,961 to more than 5,500.
Will anyone challenge B-C and Gilbert in Region 5-3A?
Gilbert and Brookland-Cayce were the top two teams in Region 5-3A last year and look to be two of the favorites again this year.
The Indians are ranked in the 3A preseason poll, with B-C just out of the top 10. Both can put up a lot of points.
Elsewhere in the region, Orangeburg-Wilkinson added state championship-winning coaches in Jerry Brown and Art Craig to its staff and usually have a wealth of athletes each year. Lower Richland also should be in the mix with 1,000-yard back Lamarion Pearson and big offensive lineman Dakari Sumter leading the charge.
Can Shane Fidler help reenergize Airport football?
Head coach Shane Fidler is another of the new faces on the sidelines in the Midlands this year and hopes to build up the Eagles program. He’s brought a lot of energy and excitement since leaving Ashley Ridge in May.
Fidler has had success at his last two stops at Ashley Ridge and Waccamaw, and hopes to do the same with the Eagles, who went 2-8 last season.
Stephen Roberson begins second stint in Midlands
Stephen Roberson is the new coach at Columbia High. He was the coach at C.A. Johnson from 2017-19 and led the Hornets to a four-win campaign in his final year. Those four wins were their most since the 2013 season.
Now, Roberson hopes to turn around a Capitals program that is coming off a 2-9 season.
Can Blythewood repeat as region champs?
The Bengals won their first region title in a decade when they captured the Region 3-5A crown, and they have the pieces to repeat. Blythewood has a new coach in James Martin, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after Jason Seidel’s departure.
The team returns several key players on defense, led by sack leader Edward Robinson.
The Bengals’ biggest region threat likely will be from Clover, which also is under a new coach in Perry Woolbright.
Will Irmo break through with a region title?
The Yellow Jackets have all the pieces in place to contend for the Region 5-4A championship, with the toughest competition coming from Ridge View and defending region champion A.C. Flora. Irmo has a dual-threat QB in AJ Brand, a bruising running back in Jaden Allen-Hendrix and playmakers at receiver in Telvin Smith and Donnie Murph. Georgia State commit Elijah Williams anchors the offensive line. Jylil Favor leads the defense along with defensive back Isaiah McClary.
Who steps up for AC Flora on offense?
A.C. Flora came within a win of playing for the Class 4A state championship last year. For 2023, they need to replace a lot of firepower on offense and along the offensive line. The Falcons will be breaking in a new quarterback in Heath Moser. Noah Kelson and Aidan Moseley will look to fill the big void left by 2,000-yard rusher Markel Townsend. The team also will be looking to replace leading receiver Chris Lofton.
Can White Knoll continue momentum?
The Timberwolves saw a five-game improvement in Nick Pelham’s second season. White Knoll returns several key players from last year, including quarterback Landon Sharpe, Hassan Lee and Austin Cunningham on offense, and Jaiden Kimble on defense. The Timberwolves could be one of the teams to look out for this year.
Will the Midlands have another Mr. Football finalist?
In 2022, the Columbia area had three players (Jarvis Green, Jonah Norris, Xzavier McLeod) picked as Mr. Football finalists, given to the top senior player in the state. McLeod won the award, the first area player to win it since 2014.
On paper, the area might not have an obvious big-time player to be considered. One name to watch for is Camden QB Grayson White, who should put up big numbers in the Bulldogs’ offense.
What does Cam McMillon do for an encore?
The Fairfield Central quarterback exploded on the scene as a freshman last year and threw for 3,300 yards and 33 touchdowns. With a talented group back around him, expect those kinds of numbers and even more from McMillon, who is sure to get on more colleges’ radars this season.
Which transfers will have the biggest impact?
Here are a few names who changed places and might have big seasons at their new school: Cardinal Newman’s Cortez Lane (formerly Camden); Irmo’s Jaden Allen-Hendrix (Gilbert) and Donovan Murph (Our Lady of Good Counsel, Md); Jayvon Gilmore at Ben Lippen (Ridge View); Hayden Cushman at River Bluff (White Knoll); Michael Boulware at Gray Collegiate (Spring Valley); and KJ Golden at Fairfield Central (Lugoff-Elgin).
Can CA Johnson improve on solid season?
C.A. Johnson is coming off one of its best seasons in more than a decade. The Hornets won seven games in 2022, the most since 2009, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the second straight year.
Now, CAJ hopes to continue the momentum. The Hornets return quarterback Caleb Pearson, who rushed for 1,600 yards. Keivonte Bates will be the workhorse back after the graduation of Dawan Rice.
What will Year 2 look like for Corey Jenkins and Dreher?
It wasn’t the debut former Dreher standout Corey Jenkins had hoped for in returning to his alma mater. The Blue Devils went 2-8 in 2022 and missed the playoffs. Now, Dreher hopes for improvement in 2023.
The Blue Devils have several key pieces back, including quarterback Colby Fuller and two-way standout Charles Jeffcoat.
Can Eau Claire end its losing streak?
Eau Claire begins the season on a 23-game losing streak, something new coach Demarcus Simons hopes to end in his first year with the program. The Shamrocks were in a lot of games early in the 2022 season, with three losses by no more than 10 points.
How will Spring Valley fare under new coach?
Nygel Pearson is back in South Carolina and takes over at Spring Valley. Pearson was a standout at S.C. State and has been coaching in North Carolina.
Pearson hopes to turn things around at Spring Valley. The Vikings won just four games last season, the fewest in a 10-game season since 2010.
Spring Valley will be tested early with non-region games against White Knoll, Chapin and Ridge View. If they can get some early wins, it will help build confidence for Region 3-5A play.
Who replaces Cooper Johns at running back for River Bluff?
One of the biggest questions for River Bluff entering the season will be replacing starting running back Cooper Johns, who had 2,157 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns last season.
It looks like that duty will fall on junior Trace Nettles and sophomore Michael Shields. Nettles had just five carries last year, and Shields didn’t play on varsity.
