Class AAAA has Depth with Quality Teams

 By Dennis Brunson

           hssr.com Associate Editor

           Sumter – South Florence High School has established itself as the best football program in AAAA over the past few years. After all, the Bruins have won two of the past three state championships and missed making it three straight and consecutive 15-0 seasons by just three points.

           All that being said, the degree of separation between South Florence and the other top teams in the classification is small. Westside, which beat the Bruins 34-32 to claim the 2023 championship, just missed winning two straight championships by falling 42-41 to the Bruins last year.

           SFHS may be the defending state champion, but it isn’t the defending Region 5 champion. That honor belongs to Hartsville, which beat the Bruins convincingly during the regular season only to fall to them in the third round of the state playoffs.

           The team SFH beat in the lower state championship game was North Augusta, and that was only by a 27-20 count.

           Let’s take a look at each of the teams in the six regions and try to figure out who will be who when the playoffs come around.

           REGION 1

`          1. Westside 2. Wren 3. Emerald 4. Fountain Inn 5. Laurens 6. Southside

           WESTSIDE

           The Rams, who were ranked third in the High School Sports Report AAAA preseason poll, will be having to move forward without Cutter Woods as their quarterback for the first time in three years. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a Woods behind center. Cutter, who is now at South Carolina, is being succeeded by little brother Bear Cutter.

           Bear will still have key playmakers Zyon Paul and Kaylan Powell around him for distribution.

           WREN

           The Golden Hurricanes were ranked 10^th in the preseason poll, but is having to replace the quarterback and running back from last year’s dynamic offense. They had a 3-way battle going on for the quarterback job while Jojo Mosley will be the lead ball carrier. 

           What Wren does have back, however, is four offensive linemen. Back on defense are cornerback Jacob Lewis, safety Nick Owens  and linebacker Adin Hickerson.

           FOUNTAIN INN

           The Fury went 6-5 in just their third season of existence, finishing fourth in the region. They return seven starters on defense, including linebackers Chase Lundy and EJ Lundy.

           On offense, 1,000-yard rusher Bojack Johnson returns at running back. Junior Sam Holliday is back at quarterback.

           EMERALD

           Emerald will be looking to take another big step forward after improving to 5-6 last season after going 1-10 in 2023.

           The Vikings have sophomore Beau Hite back at quarterback with Chris Dean coming out of the backfield and Camelle Hill and Colton Moreno lining up at wide receiver.

           Emerald returns its entire linebacker unit, led by Chris Foster, who finished with 156 tackles.

           LAURENS

           Laurens will be trying to take a big step forward this year after consecutive 9-loss seasons. The Raiders will have a freshman at quarterback in Logan Bragg. Leading rusher Neno Fernandez will be back.

           Laurens will be looking to shore up its defense after allowing an average of 42.0 points per game.

           SOUTHSIDE

           Ater going 0-10 last season, Southside will be in its first season under the leadership of William “AJ” Mills. `     

           The Tigers will be looking to make drastic improvements on both sides of the football ater allowing 45 points per game while scoring just 13 a game.

           Brayson Sullivan and Ashton Pearson are battling for the quarterback job.

           REGION II

1. Daniel 2. Seneca 3. Greer 4. Blue Ridge 5. Pickens 6. Berea 7. Travelers Rest

DANIEL

           The Lions are ranked sixth in the preseason poll, but will be moving forward without Jeff Fruster as the head coach. Fruster, who led Daniel to three AAA state titles, has been replaced by Chris Stone, who was the head coach at Walhalla.

           The Lions will return 10 starters from last season’s 11-2 squad. The quarterback will be sophomore Jace Grass, who played for Pendleton last season.

           SENECA

           Seneca is ranked 11^th and returns 16 starters, eight on both sides of the football. The Bobcats have Gavin Thomas back for his third year as the starting quarterback to go along with 1,200-yard rusher Amari Verner.

           Noah Hamm is one of the leading returners on defense for Seneca, which went 8-3. He had seven interceptions.

           GREER

           Greer will be looking to get off to a faster starter than last year. The Yellow Jackets lost their first three games before rebounding to finish second in the region and reaching the second round of the playoffs.

           Greer is ranked 12^th in the poll. It returns 10 starters but will be breaking in a new quarterback in sophomore Dawson Fowler. He will have wide receiver Tucker Hudson, AJ Jackson and Quantez Miller returning.

 BLUE RIDGE

           After winning just one game in 2023, Blue Ridge won four last season and reached the state playoffs. The Tigers hope to take another big step forward under 3-year starting quarterback Gavin Forrester.

           Blue Ridge returns seven starters on defense.

           PICKENS

           The Blue Flames won five games last season. However, they lost 20 seniors rom that squd.

           On the bright side, quarterback Brooks Dow returns for his second year as a starter.

           BEREA

           The Bulldogs will have to remember how to live life without 4-yeaer starter Amazay Robinson at quarterback. Either Johnny Mitchell or Jayden Scates will be the quarterback, and Berea will be operating out of the Wing-T after running the spread.

           TRAVELERS REST

           Travelers Rest went just 1-8 last season, losing starting quarterback Colby Epps in the third game. Epps returns this season.

           Xavier Hagerman returns at linebacker to lead the defense.

           REGION 3

1. South Pointe 2. A.C. Flora 3. Camden 4. Lancaster 5. Richland Northeast 6. Dreher 7. York

SOUTH POINTE

The Stallions are a preseason No. 2 pick and that comes despite the loss of 2,600-yard rusher Mason Pickett-Hicks. However, they do return senior quarterback Cameron McMillan, who tossed 31 TD passes against just four interceptions.

           South Pointe, which played for the upper state title, has South Carolina commitment J’Zavien Currence back in the secondary along with heavily recruited junior transfer Kaiden Watkins.

           A.C. FLORA

           Senior Roper Wentzky is back for his third year starting at quarterback for the Falcons, who were the preseason No. 8. He threw for 2,684 yards and 28 touchdowns.

           Flora also has Wentzky’s favorite target back in senior Kendall Byrd. He had 83 catches for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns.

           CAMDEN

           The ninth-ranked Bulldogs will have junior Greyson Rimpf, the son of head coach Brian Rimpf, back in his first full year as the starting quarterback. Tylin Drakeford will return at wide receiver after coming up with 56 catches for 938 yards and 11 TDs.

           Camden was 9-4 last season and reached the third round of the playoffs after starting 4-3. It returns 12 starters, including all of the offensive backfield and four seniors on the defensive line.

           LANCASTER

           The Bruins went 4-7 last year and were close to being much better. They lost 1-score contests to both A.C. Flora and Camden. Lancaster also reached the state playoffs.

           Lancaster will be trying to get the ball into the hands of Anthony Williams as much as possible. He splits time between quarterback and wide receiver.

           RICHLAND NORTHEAST

           For the first time in fou7r years, Richland Northeast will not have Will Wilson taking snaps at quarterback. He is now at North Carolina State.

           However, the cupboard isn’t bare for the Cavaliers. Senior Kamarion Willingham and sophomore Isaac  Austin were battling for the QB job, and whoever wins it will have plenty of receiving options along with most of the offensive line.

           DREHER

           The Blue Devils are coming off of a 3-7 season that came up just a few points short of a .500 record. Dreher will have Walker Rowe and Chris Baker both seeing time at quarterback. They were splitting time last year before Baker was lost for the year in the early going with an injury.

           Dreher has a massive offensive lineman to run behind in 6-foot-5-inch, 325-pound senior Chanston Evans.

YORK

           York went just 2-8 last season, missing out on the state playoffs. That’s something that doesn’t sit well with veteran head coach Dean Boyd.

           The Cougars return Tyson Freeman at quarterback.

           REGION 4

1. North Augusta 2. Gilbert 3. Gray Collegiate 4. Midland Valley 5. Brookland-Cayce 6. South Aiken 7. Airport 8. Aiken

NORTH AUGUSTA

           The Yellow Jackets were ranked fifth and had 1,800-yard rusher Michael Dow among many key returning players from last year’s 12-2 squad. Colin Tillman and AJ Hillary were vying for the quarterback job.

GILBERT

 Gilbert was ranked 14th. The Indians return just three starters on offense but have eight back on defense. That includes senior defensive backs Wynn Meetze, RJ Kearse and Demarion Brown and senior linebacker Gray Gunter.

           GRAY COLLEGIATE

           Gray Collegiate will be trying to rebound from a season that ended with it forfeiting all of its victories for the use of an ineligible student-athlete and the suspension of first year head coach DeAngelo Bryant for recruiting violations.

           The War Eagles will be led defensively by linebacker Michael Boulware.

           MIDLAND VALLEY

           The Mustangs had all of its wins from a year ago come in region play, which was good for third place. Brent Dorn returns for his first full season as head coach, having served in an interim capacity last year. Also back is junior quarterback Xavier Geter.

           BROOKLAND-CAYCE

           Former Camden offensive coordinator Louis Clyburn is now in charge of the Bearcats, inheriting a 4-7 team. He has Andrew Frick at quarterback. Running the offense will be former USC assistant coach GA Mangus.

           SOUTH AIKEN

           The Thoroughbreds are coming off of a solid 6-5 season, but they are having to replace a slew of outstanding seniors. That list includes 2,400-yard rusher Jevon Edwards and quarterback Tucker Bryan.

           Junior WR Kyson Mcleod is back after coming up with 42 catches for 580 yards and seven TDs.

           AIRPORT

 The Eagles will be in their first season under head coach Chris Napier after going 2-9 last season. Junior Talon Harlin is the quarterback.

           AIKEN

           The Fighting Green Hornets will be trying to win a game on the field this season for the first time since 2022. Last season’s triumph came via Gray Collegiate’s forfeit.

           Steve Hibbitts is in his first season as head coach and inherits a lot of returnees on both sides of the football. Tanner Padgett returns at quarterback.

           REGION 5

1. South Florence 2. Hartsville 3. Crestwood 4. Darlington 5. Lower Richland 6. Lakewood 7. Wilson

SOUTH FLORENCE

           The Bruins have gone 41-4 the past three seasons and are in position for another strong season. Messiah Jackson returns at quarterback ater passing for 2,080 yards and 30 TDs last season.

           Linebacker Terry Gordon returns after coming up with 87 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss. Fredrick Cooper  is back to lead the secondary.

           HARTSVILLE

           Hartsville has six starters returning on offense and just our on defense from the region title team. Kylif Miller and Tristan Spann will be focal points on offense while Chris Price, Rod Cranford and Ziyon Mason will lead the way on defense.

           CRESTWOOD

           Crestwood went 5-6 last season after having to replace a load of experience. The Knights will be young again but talented with only 13 seniors on the roster.

           Sophomore Jayden Martin returns after moving around the offense last season between quarterback and wide receiver. Freshman Brayden Boults will make his debut and already has some Football Bowl Subdivision offers after summer amps.

           The defense is experienced and is led by defensive back Da’shan Scriven, who had five picks last season.

           DARLINGTON

           The Falcons return a combined 14 starters from last year’s 6-win team that reached the second round of the state playoffs. Nine of those starters are back on defense and are led by Oreion Small and Adarius Martin.

           Quarterback Jaylen Augustus is back on offense.

           LOWER RICHLAND

           The Diamond Hornets won five games last year and have a senior-laden team this year. They return all five starters on the offensive line in Chama Sabb, Jeremiah Goodwin, Adrain Davis, Tyler Robinson and Zayair James.

 The defense returns practically its entire unit led by co-leading tacklers Ophir Hill and Daniel Gee.

           LAKEWOOD

           Lakewood is in its third season under head coach Willie Offord. The Gators went 2-9 last season.

           Brian Brooks will bounce around the offense, including quarterback. Kaiden Brown will likely see a lot o time at quarterback. The offensive line is experienced with Calvin Wells, Keytrelle Griffin, Connor Lee and Charlton McLeod returning.

           WILSON

           Wilson went just 1-9 and is being led by former Sumter assistant Brian Wilson this season.

           Tristen Howard will be the quarterback while senior Myquan McWhite will be a key performer at running back. Senior defensive back Aiden Mack will lead the defense.

           REGION 6

1. Bishop England. 2. Bluffton 2. Hilton Head Island 3. May River 4. Beaufort 5. Colleton County

BISHOP ENGLAND

           The Battlin’ Bishops hope to build on last year’s surprising 9-3 season in its firt year under head coach Logan Hall.

 Quinn Mahoney returns at quarterback. He is committed to        Mahoney was a threat with his passing and running ability as he collected 2,950 yards in total offense and accounted for 30 touchdowns.

 The top returners on defense include linebacker Hunter Alex  and lineman Matthew Ponkow.

Alex was in on 113 tackles and recorded 11.5 tackles for a loss. Ponkow had a remarkable sophomore season last year with 98 tackles. He logged 23 tackles for a loss, including 11 sacks.

 BLUFFTON

 Bluffton was ranked seventh in the preseason poll after going 6-5 last season. North Carolina commit Carnell Warren is back at wide receive3r and will have quarterback Aedan McCarthy throwing to him.

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Hilton Head was ranked 13^th after going 9-3 last season despite starting 10 sophomores. The Seahawks allowed just 14.5 points per game and were led by senior linebacker Will Jimenez.

           MAY RIVER

           May River was ranked 15^th but has just four starters back on offense and three on defense from a 9-3 team. The Sharks return tailback Andrew Johnson and halfback Sean Mitchell on offense. The defense is led by senior end Zavier Polite.

 BEAUFORT

The Eagles had their first losing season since 2019, going just 2-9. However, they return a load of experience with 25 seniors.

           That being said, the offense is inexperienced. The defense is led by junior linebacker Colton Freeman, and senior linebacker James Thomas.

 COLLETON COUNTY

           Adam Kinloch returns for his third season as head coach of the Cougars. They will be looking for improvement after going 1-9 and not winning a region contest.

           Colleton County will be looking to get the football into the hands of wide receiver Keandre Allen as much as possible.