Brian Smith Enters Year Two As Head Football Coach In Kingstree

Billy Baker • June 14, 2024

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By Billy G. Baker

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Kingstree — In his first season as the head football coach at Kingstree High, after CE Murray consolidated with Kingstree to become the Blazers, Brian Smith’s team finished a respectable 6-6 and the team is hoping to build on that first- year bench mark.

This past Spring Coach Smith and his staff worked out 37 varsity football candidates at the school.

“The strength of the team coming out of Spring drills is both sides of our lines,” said Coach Smith. “We are just hoping our skill position players can play well behind the offensive line guys.

“We expect to compete in every game and go out and line-up and battle with the goal of still being around in late November,” said Coach Smith.

Kingstree will have early August scrimmages with Lugoff-Elgin and Johnsonville before playing in the Lake City Jamboree. The team will start the season in Week 0 hosting Georgetown on August, 23^rd.

The team graduated three next level players in DL James Brockington, DB/QB JaShaun Dorsey, and DB Terrance Scott. Brockington (6-2, 280) was a North-South all-star who signed with The Citadel after last season. Brockington had 57 total tackles including 20 TFL.

The team will return several key players from last season who are impact players. Coach Smith is very high on rising junior Tyleek Dukes (6-0,180) who caught 22 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns last season. On defense Dukes blocked three punts, 66 total tackles, including 8 TFL and two sacks with two forced fumbles.

“Dukes is the best athlete on our team and out of necessity we are moving from receiver to running back because we need the ball in his hands as much as possible,” said Coach Smith.

Xavier Dukes (5-9,170) is a rising senior prospect at receiver and he was named to the Joanne Langfitt Showcase after last season. Dukes caught 18 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran back an 80-yard Kick-off return for a touchdown.

In the offensive line all-region performer Mychal Wallace (6-2, 310) will be returning to the Blazers. He plays both ways. On offense he had 12 pancakes last season. In the defensive front he had 30 total tackles with 11 TFL.

Rising sophomore linebacker Maleek Dukes (6-2, 190) returns after leading the team with seven sacks his freshman season.

Rising senior OL/DL Malcolm Salters (6-0,255) also caught the attention of colleges who came by in May.

The QB position is being competing for by rising freshman Makhi Shaw who is an all-around athlete who plays three sports. The other candidate is sophomore Randy McFadden who is more of a thrower who can also run.

Ramello McFadden (5-10, 200) returns at RB/LB along with DB/slot WR Bryson Epps (5-8,170). Khaled Riggins is also returning at WR/CB. A newcomer with a lot of potential is rising junior WR/LB Benjamin Washington (6-4, 190).

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First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.