AAAA Feature: North Augusta looks to get over hump and win AAAA state title
Shrine Bowler Simeon Jones Jr., Touchstone picks Joshua Simpkins, Javon Ryans lead defense
North Augusta – The North Augusta High School football team has been flirting with getting to the AAAA state championship games the past two seasons.
The Yellow Jackets played host to South Florence in the 2024 lower state championship game, dropping a 27-20 decision to the eventual state champion. Last season, NA ran into the Bruins in the third round, falling by a 49-14 count.
Just like the two previous seasons, North Augusta will begin its run in the playoffs with just one loss. It is 9-1 overall and went 5-0 in winning Region 5.
Jackets head coach Richard Bush said his team isn’t focused on the playoffs per se. Instead, it is focused on itself.
“Our team's mindset right now is that we have to continue to get better each and every day if we went to continue to play in the postseason,” said Bush, who is in his fourth season in charge of the program. “In order for us to take the next step as a team, we have to continue to get better each day. In order for us to do that we have to attack everything with a workmanlike mentality. We also need to play well on offense, defense, and special teams.”
NA is the No. 3 seed in the lower state, sitting behind top seed Hilton Head Island and No. 2 seed Lugoff-Elgin. The fourth seed is South Florence.
Each of those teams received first-round byes. North Augusta will face No. 6 seed Irmo, a Region 5 foe. Irmo beat No. 11 South Aiken, another Region 5 team, 39-0 in the first round. both region foes, in the second round on November 13.
In the regular-season matchup, NA defeated Irmo 25-16.
The Yellow Jackets have been stout on defense all season. The most points they’ve allowed in any game was 27 in the regular-season finale against 2-8 Midland Valley. It ended up as a 35-27 triumph as NA rallied from a 27-7 halftime deficit.
“Our defense is a group of guys who have played a lot of football games together,” Bush said. “They work extremely hard each day and have the willingness to get better each day. The defense has answered the bell each and every week so far this year.”
North Augusta has three all-stars in its front seven on defense. They are Shrine Bowl defensive lineman Simeon Jones Jr. and Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl defensive lineman Joshua Simpkins and linebacker Javon Ryans.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 315-pound Jones is committed to South Carolina. He has 19 tackles for loss on the season.
“Simeon dominates games in the middle of our defense,” Bush said. “He demands a double team and can play the run and the pass.”
Simpkins is a 6-3, 250-pounder with 31 tackles and five TFLs. Ryans is 5-11 and weighs in at 215. He has 95 tackles and nine TFLs.
“Josh Simpkins and Javon Ryans are two of the team's captains,” Bush said. “They are both really smart football players who are explosive and make plays all over the field.”
Since losing the season opener to defending AA state champion Strom Thurmond 21-7, the Yellow Jackets have been pretty steady offensively. They have scored 341 points with the only hiccup since the opener coming in a 10-7 win over South Aiken.
NA has a pretty balanced offensive attack as well. Senior running back Jayden Hatcher, who is committed to Gardner-Webb, is just shy of 1,000 rushing yards with 957 to go along with 12 touchdowns.
“What makes Jayden Hatcher a good running back is that he has a quick burst and has the ability to make any cut as soon as he sees the opening,” Bush said.
Quarterback Collin Tillman has thrown for 1,533 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Lower state top seed Hilton Head is also 9-1. The Seahawks are led by senior quarterback Derrick Raniszewkski. He has hit on 112 of 180 attempts for 1,829 yards and 19 touchdowns. Hie’s also ran for 385 yards and four more scores.
Senior Jeremiah Walters is far and away the leading receiver with 53 catches for 939 yards and nine TDs. Senior Jayvin Rusher is the top runner with 755 yards and 10 touchdowns on 94 carries.
Second seed Lugoff-Elgin is another 9-1 team and is led by a pair of Shrine Bowlers in running back Tiyon Fanning and wide receiver/defensive back Eric Richardson.
Fanning has been a workhorse with 197 carries for 1,635 yards and 17 scores. He also has 19 catches for 261 yards and another TD.
Richardson has 38 catchers for 757 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s also ran the ball 16 time for 135 yards and two scores.
The upper state No. 1 seed is Gaffney, which dropped down to AAAA following reclassification. The Indians are also 9-1.
Gaffney has come on offensively toward the end of the season. It is averaging 246 rushing yards a game led by senior Amire White with 787 yards and nine scores. Senior Kareem Shaw has 41 yards and four TDs, while Shrine Bowl defender Kendaris Bailey has 389 yards and nine touchdowns on 55 carries.
Sophomore quarterback Corey Taylor has shown steady progress. He has hit on 97 of 147 passes for 1,384 yards and 14 scores.
Westside is another 9-1 team as the No. 2 seed in the upper state. The Rams are led by sophomore Bear Woods. He has passed for 2,435 yards and 35 touchdowns by hitting on 167 of 261 passes.
He has four receivers with at least 27 catches. Shrine Bowler Tajeh Watson-Martin has 45 catches for 699 yards and 11 scores, sophomore Jae White has 39 catches for 697 yards and 14 TDs, sophomore Kam Mattison has 31 catches for 300 yards and five touchdowns, and senior Elijah Lipsey has 27 grbs for 421 yards and three scores.
Senior Damauri Robinson is the leading rusher with 729 yards to go with six scores.
Defending state champion South Pointe of Rock Hill is the No. 3 seed. The Stallions’ two losses came to city rivals Rock Hill and Northwestern, both AAAAA schools.b
