Calhoun County and Orangeburg Prep prepare for title chase
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Orangeburg – Two teams in the Orangeburg area look to be serious state title contenders in their respective leagues in 2011.
Calhoun County’s Saints have been a contender for several years and coach Walt Wilson has another quality team that should contend in the class A ranks. The Saints were 9-3 last season and over the last five years have been one of the top five or six teams in class A.
Wilson says competing and winning games is nice but he is looking for his program to take the next step.
“Our motto is `It’s time to finish,’” says Wilson, who has a 61-30 record as a head coach. “We’ve done everything at Calhoun County except finish. We’re averaging close to 10 wins a year since we’ve been here, won region championships, had players go to college. But it’s not about those first 10 games, it’s about those last four. That’s what we’re trying to improve on.”
As has been the case for several years, Calhoun County is again well-stocked with prospects and skill people. Senior receiver Mark Irick is one of the state’s top prospects at his position and recently verbally committed to Virginia Tech.
Senior offensive lineman Clyde Johnson also rates as a top prospect, and joins fellow seniors Jake Scott, Jevonte Brown and Tyrone Gordon to give the Saints a solid offensive line.
Junior Terrance Whitmore takes his athletic skills to quarterback, moving from wide receiver. Lawrence Mitchell returns as the team’s top running back.
“We’ve been blessed with skill guys,” says Wilson. “Every year someone else emerges in the skill positions. The bottom line is the guys up front win games. This year the offensive line will be a plus for us. We’ve got some guys that have been in the trenches and know what it takes.”
Defensively, Calhoun County has been one of the state’s better teams and 2011 should be no different. Brown returns as a starter on the defensive front. Senior Aaron Eisom will start at one end and Scott will start at the other.
Senior Maliek Brown and junior Dekembre Brown are the top returning linebackers. Seniors Allen Atkins and Richard Hart will anchor the secondary.
“We had six shutouts last year and that’s been a constant,” says Wilson. “The defense always puts us in a situation to win.”
Calhoun County opened the 2011 season on August 20 and lost a tough game to AAA Marlboro County, 38-34, in a game that went back and forth throughout.
Orangeburg Prep won four games last season as a member of the SCISA class AAA ranks but coach Adam Holmes has a team capable of contending this season.
The Indians opened the season with a solid win over defending SCISA AA state champion Thomas Sumter on August 19th.
The Indians have a bevy of talent and experience returning at the offensive skill positions this fall.
Senior Cap Thackston is back at quarterback after topping 2,000 passing yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Senior Sean Odom is the team’s top receiving threat, scoring 13 touchdowns last season.
Anchoring the running game is junior returning starter Aaron Crandle, who gained more than 600 yards last season. Senior Ben Cooper is another key receiver and junior tight end Nick Garrick could be a threat in the passing game as well.
Senior Chris Hughes is a two-year starter at tackle and sophomore Charlie Sutcliffe started at center as a freshman.
Other projected starting linemen include sophomores Trey Fanning (6-3, 230) and Paul-Henry Davis, and freshman Ben Ridgeway.
Sophomore linebacker Reeves Connelly leads the defense. Connelly had 92 tackles as a freshman in 2010. Tray Gideon is a leader up front with 79 tackles last season and Matthew Berry had 65 as a sophomore.
Senior Hastine Jennings had 78 tackles last season and is a leader in the defensive secondary. Odom also returns as a starter after totaling 83 tackles and three interceptions last season.
