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By Billy G. Baker Publisher Manning — Focused on building on a 9-win season in 2022, Manning head football Coach Reggie Kennedy , and his staff, are working out with 85 varsity and junior varsity football candidates on August, 1 st getting ready for a scrimmage the Monarchs will host just three days away against Lake City, Fairfield Central, and Timberland. Coach Kennedy is starting his 32 nd year as a head football coach, and he hopes his 5 th season at Manning will bear a deep run in the playoffs this season. Manning returns six starters back on offense led by the return of all-region Jaylnn Coard , a nose tackle on the defensive front, who also plays running back. Junior all-region slot receiver Jeffrey Ceasar is also back and he also plays in the secondary. Ceasar is a very good return man as well. HSSR Top 100 senior Jamon Brock returns as an all-region performer at right tackle on offense and this four-year starter is a two-way performer at DT also. Senior OL Javon Murray is another returning starter. Junior TE Jaylen Hammett is also a returning starter. The remaining starter back is senior RB Triston Thames . Coach Kennedy also said that senior Jamari Wilson will provide a lot of depth at slot receiver also. “We have a good core group of starters back on offense,” said Coach Kennedy. “We just need to develop depth on both sides of the football.” Manning’s offense should be bolstered by the transfer of former Lakewood QB JaRae Mitchell who is the team’s starting QB. “He’s a good dual threat quarterback who will do a good job managing the offense,” said Coach Kennedy. “He’s a good baseball player also. We run about 65 per cent of the time but when we need to pass JaRae is very capable of getting the ball to our receivers.” The secondary will get added depth this season with the return of junior DB Josuha Cooper , a Manning native, who played in the Charlotte area last season. “He played in our program earlier in his career and we are pleased to have him back with us,” said Coach Kennedy. “I am an old fashion coach who believes that you have to run the football in order to be successful,” said Coach Kennedy. “Last year we won a playoff game (Lakewood) but we lost in the second round. One of our goals this year is to get past the second round.” (Lost to Gilbert last season). Manning graduated 22 seniors off the 9-win team a year ago. “Seven of our 10 regular season games are on the road and we have a young team over-all,” said Coach Kennedy. “We hope to get things rolling early like the great start we had last season.” Coach Kennedy said during the off-season Manning High upgraded their weight room. “You play like you practice so hopefully we will continue to work hard in practice and I have been pleased with our progress so far,” said Coach Kennedy. “We just need to stay healthy and avoid injuries. “We have very good potential but we must develop some depth in our offensive line,” said Coach Kennedy. “Our strength right now is that we have good skill guys on both sides of the football. On defense we are going to hit you and we have decent speed on that side of the football also.” On August, 8 Manning will play a controlled type game scrimmage against Crestwood . After hosting the second annual FTC Jamboree the Monarchs will host Kingstree on August, 18 to start the 2023 season. The Monarch defense is under the direction of coordinator Patrick Fleming who played at South Carolina after graduating from Manning. Coach Kennedy runs the offense. Other assistants include Charlie Richards , Robert Brown , Marco Thompson , Mark Green , Craig Hatcher , Calvin McClary , Greg King and Dontavis Miller . The athletic trainer is Maria Player and the team stats person is Raymond Gibbs .

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