Hartsville – If the opening game of the 2023 season is any indication, the Hartsville High football team should be a major factor in the Class AAAA state playoffs come November.
However, winning a game on Aug. 18 does not guarantee success three months later but getting off to a good start is better than the alternative of losing.
Hartsville opened the season with a 55-7 thrashing of Conway in week zero, showing balance offensively and an improved defense. That defense allowed 30.4 points per game last season and head coach Jeff Calabrese says a major emphasis on improvement was the focus in the offseason. Hartsville yielded only 127 yards to Conway in the opener.
“We should be improved on defense,” said Calabrese, entering his 19th season at Hartsville and his 30th year in coaching overall. “We have adjusted some things to try to take advantage of some personnel. Physically, we can hold up better I believe. We have a bunch of juniors on our defense but a lot of those guys played as sophomores so we have some experience.”
Linebackers Coleman Radcliff and Web Barnes will be two of the key leaders defensively. Radcliff totaled 15 tackles in the season opener. Other linebackers include juniors Zay Hickman and Xavier Robinson, and senior Jacques Coe.
Senior Bryson Jacobs and junior Jordan Davis are back at end. Jacobs had nine tackles in the opener. Seniors Hayden Wilson and Pat Lesesne work in the middle but sophomore Ezra Brockingberry has worked himself into serious playing time at nose.
Senior Cole Winburn is a third-year performer at safety and junior Demarion Coe is a third-year starter on the back end as well. Coe had seven tackles in the season opener.
Sophomore corner Kylif Miller had eight tackles against Conway and junior Antuan Segars is working at corner as well. Expected to see time at safety are McCoy Harry and Tyrik Kelly.
If the defense can hold its own, the Hartsville offense should be capable of scoring enough to win. The Red Foxes averaged 43.5 points per game last season.
Senior McKendrie Douglas returns at quarterback, his third season as the starter. Douglas (6-3, 195) threw for 1,500 yards and completed 61 percent of his attempts as a junior. He also added about 700 yards rushing.
“Great leader, great kid and very knowledgeable in terms of knowing our offense,” Calabrese said. “He is the total package and is as consistent as any player you will find. He literally does everything well.”
Hartsville’s forte offensively is the running game and senior Carmello McDaniel returns for his varsity season. McDaniel (5-8. 185) rushed for 147 yards in the opener.
Junior Hakeem Watters and Reggie Smith also will see their share of work in the running game. Watters, a track athlete playing football for the first time, had 66 yards rushing in the opener.
Senior Keon Hickson and junior EJ Smith will be the top receivers in a long rotation of players. Jackson Moore is a returning starter at the H-back position and sophomore Dorian Knowles is getting work as well.
The starting offensive line should be a solid unit. Senior center Slayton Stokes is a third-year starter, as is junior guard Deric Brown. Senior Evan Young returns at left tackle and senior Jazir Reardon starts at right guard. Talented sophomore Chris Price is starting at right tackle.
All Rights Reserved | The High School Sports Report 1986-2021