Cross football rounding into playoff form

David Shelton • October 28, 2024

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By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Cross – With the loss of 11 seniors and having a roster this fall that includes only five seniors, Cross head football coach Shaun Wright expected a few growing pains early on.

Those growing pains came in losses to Timberland (43-14) and Lake Marion (7-6, OT) in consecutive weeks. While the losses pained the coach, it also helped the team grow.

Entering an Oct. 11 game against Scott’s Branch, the Trojans sit with a 5-2 record overall and off to a 3-0 start in region 5-A. Those three region wins were impressive as they beat Military Magnet (56-0), Branchville (56-7) and St. John’s (70-0).

“Sometimes a loss can do you some good and I think those games we lost sort of showed our team that we needed to be more consistent and clean some things up,” Wright said. “The whole focus is the region, getting that No. 1 seed for the playoffs.”

Cross has remaining region games with Bethune-Bowman and Baptist Hill, as well as Scott’s Branch.

Senior Karmello Jones is having a season to remember this fall, posting big numbers at running back and linebacker. Jones leads Cross in rushing with 827 yards and has scored 15 touchdowns. Six of those touchdowns came in the win over Branchville. He added four more scores in the following game against St. John’s. Jones also is the leading tackler defensively, racking up 47 total hits.

“We played on a Monday and a Friday. I don’t think I’ve ever had a guy score 10 touchdowns in less than a week,” Wright said.

Sophomore running back Mah’ky Green was slowed early by injury but is up to 382 yards and five touchdowns on only 32 carries.

Sophomore quarterback Tyler Harris, a first-year starter, has passed for 789 yards and eight touchdowns. Six of those scoring tosses have gone to Caden Ramsey, who has 21 receptions for 421 yards. Lavell Joyner and Preston Fuller also have more than 100 receiving yards early on.

Working along a rebuilt offensive line are tackles David Wigfall and Michael Bennett, guards Dakari President and Orin Schultz, and center Jailyn Broughton.

Broughton also starts on the defensive line and has 36 tackles and three sacks in seven games, while Wigfall, a linebacker, has 33 tackles and eight tackles for loss.

William Grant has 30 tackles and eight tackles for loss while Bennett has six tackles for loss.

Ramsey, at safety, has seven interceptions in seven games and has returned two picks for touchdowns.

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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.