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HSSR Class AAA Pre-Season

Billy Baker • Aug 02, 2023

Dillon Begins 2023 Season As Team To Beat In AAA For 2023 Season

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher


 Moncks Corner — Last year when Beaufort High came into Dillon in the Lower State championship and beat the Wildcats on their home field by rolling up 410 rushing yards, it was a confidence builder for the Eagles who defeated Powdersville a week later for the state AAA championship at Benedict College.


 Beaufort has graduated 21 seniors from that team including (perhaps) the best tandem of running backs on any team in South Carolina last season in Kacy Fields and Appalachian State signee Colton Phares. Phares also played DB. In the state title game against Powdersville  the duo ran the ball for 65 times to tally 417 yards.


 Needless to say, those two stand-outs will be hard to replace and this is why the HSSR ranks the defending AAA state champions number 8 in our first pre-season poll for the upcoming pre-season season.  The Eagles started 8 seniors on offense in the state title game last year along with six seniors on defense. The strength of their team this season will be led by junior QB Samari Bonds, (6-1, 170) a true dual threat who passed for around 1,000 yards as a sophomore, while adding nearly 700 yards on the ground.


 On defense the Eagles will be led by senior LB Quin Rivers (5-10,200), and junior LB Will Codding (5-10,200) along with the return of senior DL Robert Johnson (6-1, 220). Opening up holes from the OL will be Super D-1 sophomore prospect Kenshon Speaks (6-3,295).


 Dillon head coach Kelvin Roller (22-2) in his first two seasons as head coach,  has brought in a new defensive coordinator in the person of Will Clark who came to Dillon from Scotland County, NC. Clark was a former head coach who won a state title at Crest High in Shelby.


 Dillon has one of the top sophomore quarterbacks in the Southeast in Josiah Oxendine (6-0,175) who has quick feet, a strong arm and leadership skills off the chart.  Oxendine comes into his sophomore season with at least 8 firm D-1 offers.


 Blocking for him from the left side is the HSSR’s number one Top 100 2024 prospect Josiah “Big Cat” Thompson (6-6,285,4.9) who committed to South Carolina in early April. Junior center Carlos Miller (6-2, 265) is another quality OL leading the charge up-front.

 

 On defense, the Nasty Cats will be led by senior inside LB Sirmod McCallum (5-11,195) and senior OLB Ian Meyers (6-4, 195) along with DB Zay Davis (5-8, 170). Fling will also see spot duty at DB and he led the team in picks last year with six.


Coming out of Spring football drills, with 95 varsity and junior varsity candidates Coach Roller told the HSSR,  “What we hope we accomplished during our Spring work-outs was developing strength and speed in our skill position players, while we continue to work hard to develop needed depth in our offensive and defensive lines,” said Coach Roller. “At Dillon, our goal will always be to compete and play for a state championship every season.


“For us to reach that goal (winning a state title) it will depend on how hard we work during the off-season, in the weight room, and in outside conditioning,” said Coach Roller. “What we get accomplished between now and the start of August is very important to our goals.”


Daniel comes into the season ranked number two by the HSSR. The Lions have won seven state championships since they won their first one as an AA school in 1966.


 Head coach Jeff Fruster is a Daniel graduate and he led his alma mater to back-to-back state titles over Camden in 2020 (52-31) and in 2021 (45-20). Last year a very talented team finished 12-1. Last year Daniel lost to Powdersville, 36-35 in the third round, that snapped the Lions 36-game win streak. Needless to say, the team has been focused on starting another 36-game win streak when they play Greer on August, 18.


Daniel out-scored teams 647-170 a year ago.


 The strengths of the Daniel team this season will be in the linebacking corp and along the offensive front. On defense junior LB prospect Spencer Conn (6-0, 200) returns after leading the team in tackles with 123 stops, including 13 TFL and 8 sacks last season. Senior MLB/DE prospect Ty Plumblee  (5-11, 190) returns after making 91 tackles, 3 TFL and 3.5 sacks a year ago. In the DL the leader is prospect Jaeden Young (6-0,267) who had 54 tackles last season including 11 TFL and five sacks. Junior DL Damien Parker (6-1, 230) also returns after a strong junior season. Senior DB Isaac Turner (6-1, 170) also returns to lead the secondary and he also punted for a 35.6 yards average last season.


 The Daniel offensive front is very talented led by senior Appalachian State commitment Watson Young (6-2, 260) who graded out at 86 per cent with 18 pancake blocks last year. Sean Bolger (6-3, 230) is another prospect at center and Seth Corontzes (6-2, 295) is another prospect who returns in the OL.


 Chester, coached by veteran Victor Floyd comes into the pre-season ranked number three in AAA. The Cyclones will come into the 2023 season focused on winning a region title, and a goal of winning a state title with numerous playmakers returning at several positions.  


 Junior QB prospect Trooper Floyd (6-3, 180)  is stronger coming out of his sophomore season where he completed 150-of-245 passes for 2,011 yards and 19 touchdowns. Floyd will have his top receiving target back in senior prospect Reggie Heath (6-1, 170) who led the team in receptions as a junior with 56 catches for 1,004 yards and six TD’s.


 The Cyclones OL returns four starters led by CJ McCree, guard Jerimiah Gladden, senior center Austin Allen, along with tackle Travent Weldon. Senior RB Elijah Coleman (5-9, 200) will provide depth in the back field. Senior two-way performer Kyan Kennedy (6-3, 215) is a real talent at TE and last year he contributed 68 tackles with 14 TFL in the DL.


 On defense senior Antonio Hopkins (5-11, 180) is a head hunter at MLB and he led the defense last season with 113 tackles, 15 TFL and four sacks despite missing several games with an injury. Hopkins is also an excellent RB where he gained over 490 yards and scored 8 TD’s last season. Super Sophomore Terry Radford (6-1, 230) can play multiple spots on defense from LB to DE and he had 83 tackles, four sacks and a team leading 27 TFL last year.


 Other top players back on defense include NG Tyquan Feaster who had 72 stops last season along with senior OLB Maurice Foster who had 51 tackles and three interceptions a year ago.   


After last season, Coach Floyd told the HSSR, “Maybe having so many players going both ways just wore us down over the season,” he said. “We need to focus more on consistent play throughout the season this upcoming season.”

     

 At number five, Camden has the horses to pull the wagon to a state championship. The HSSR has five of their seniors in the pre-season Top 100 prospects list, so if the Bulldogs are going to get to the gold medal round this just might be the year.


Camden defeated five region foes 238-47 last year and they won their first two playoff games over Loris and Lower Richland before bowing out in the third round at home against Dillon in a 31-14 loss.


 Camden will likely play several top athletes both ways later in the season to get ready for the state title run. Senior Cortez Lane is a versatile RB/WR returning and he led the team in scoring with 92 points a year ago. Senior Top 100 Grayson White (6-0, 195)  returns at QB, and if needed he is a capable MLB. White threw for 2,257 yards last year and 20 TD’s. White also rushed for 887 yards and scored 13 TD’s.


 White’s top receiving target returns in senior Top 100 Jaquarivs Mayrant after he had 62 receptions for 1,002 tards and 7 TD’s a year ago. Camden should have no problem scoring points this year. Senior Top 100 OL Carter Rimpf (6-3, 270) is a Top 100 prospect up-front in the trenches.


 On defense senior Top 100 LB Wilson Nash (6-0,200) returns after leading Camden on the tackle index last season with 94 tackles and 13 TFL.


 Clinton, coached by future Hall of Famer, Corey Fountain finished 13-1 last season before losing at Powdersville 27-14 deep into the playoffs.


 Five seniors from last year moved on to play at the next level. The buzz around Clinton over the summer was the commitment of DB Zay Johnson (6-2, 170) to Cincinnati. The Red Devils averaged 48 points a game last season and they return a lot of talent on both sides of the football. 


 After Red Devils loss to Powdersville in the upper state championship game, head coach Corey Fountain, shared these comments with the HSSR. “We wanted to win really bad tonight for our seniors who have helped us build the program over the past four years,” said Coach Fountain. “Bryson James is a hard-working senior who will be competing in the North-South all-star game along with defensive lineman Hezekiah Kinard who is also playing in the North- South game. We are losing another really good running back in Jishun Copeland along with three offensive linemen in Naim Mayes, Dre Aiken and Jay Martin.


“We have around 23 seniors on the team and we will miss all of them,” said Coach Fountain. “This was a tough loss for us but you have to realize that only two teams are left in the end and it is a very competitive situation.” 


 Clinton had the rare feat of having three 1,000-yard rushers on their team during the 2022 season. James and Copeland were joined by junior Jayden Robinson giving the Red Devils a potent rushing attack all season.


 Powdersville, coached by Robert Mustar, comes into the season ranked number 8 by the HSSR after key graduation losses, mainly 2000-yard rusher Thomas Williams, who had a great career. Williams signed with Virginia Tech after the season. Williams rushed for 236 yards on 20 carries and scored three TDs in the title game versus Beaufort.


 Powdersville does return 8 starters on offense and 7 starters on defense so they could be a spoiler for teams in the upstate come playoff time. The top two returning seniors are QB Eli Hudgins along with LB Harrison Jefferies. The top junior back is LB Javier Mills. Desmond Hunter is a sophomore with a lot of potential. Running back Jayden Pepper (5-10,179, 4.35) is a top running back who has transferred to Powdersville from Greenville High. 


Powdersville will begin the 2023 season against 20th ranked Broome in August.



 HSSR Pre-Season AAA Football Rankings - (As of July, 23)

1. Dillon

2. Daniel

3. Chester

4. Clinton

5. Camden

6. Gilbert

7. Beaufort

8. Manning

9. Chapman

10. BHP

11. Seneca

12. Philip Simmons

13. Hanahan

14. Brookland-Cayce

15. Powdersville

16. Aynor 

17. Crestwood

18. Woodruff

19. Lower Richland

20. Walhalla


 

SCISA Softball and Baseball Championship Update for Tuesday

By Larry Gamble • 15 May, 2024
Updates to the SCISA Championship Series for Softball and Baseball. Some games in this best of three series are not complete, others were weather postponed. SCISA SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES CLASS AAAA Champions - Laurence Manning Monday Laurence Manning 5 Hammond 4 Tuesday Hammond 0 Laurence Manning 9 CLASS AAA Champions - Pee Dee Academy (third straight state title) Monday Orangeburg Prep 0 Pee Dee Academy 3 Tuesday Pee Dee 6 Orangeburg Prep 5 AA Monday Colleton Prep 1 Clarendon Hall 6 Tuesday rescheduled for Wednesday at 5pm Clarendon Hall Colleton Prep Wednesday At Neutral Site if Needed CLASS A Champions- JEFFERSON DAVIS ACADEMY Monday Cross Schools 0 Jefferson Davis 4 Tuesday Jefferson Davis 11 Cross Schools 0 SCISA BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Best-of-3 series AAAA Monday Augusta Christian 3 Cardinal Newman 1 Tuesday rescheduled to Wednesday Cardinal Newman at Augusta Christian, 6 p.m. Thursday At - Lexington HS - if Needed AAA Monday Hilton Head Christian 3 Pee Dee Academy 1 Tuesday rescheduled to Wednesday Pee Dee at Hilton Head Christian, 6 p.m. Thursday At Neutral Site if Needed CLASS AA Champion - Dorchester Academy Monday Calhoun Academy 2 Dorchester 6 Tuesday Dorchester 5 Calhoun Academy 1 CLASS A Monday Richard Winn 8 Holly Hill 2 Tuesday rescheduled for Wednesday Holly Hill at Richard Winn, 6 p.m. Thursday At Neutral Site if Needed

LMA, Pee Dee, JDA win SCISA softball titles, Dorchester claims baseball crown

By Staff reports • 15 May, 2024
Other four Game 2s postponed, rescheduled for Wednesday

Clarendon Hall Uses Five Run Second Inning to Defeat Colleton Prep 6-1, In Game One Of SCISA AA Softball Best-of-Three Championship Series

By Billy Baker • 14 May, 2024
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Summerton — Softball championships are not always won just by the plays of the moment; they are won by the players on championship teams who prepare on a year-round basis, through summer ball, fall ball, outside instruction, and a total commitment to the sport. In Clarendon Hall’s 6-1 win over Colleton Prep (18-5-2) in Monday’s first game in the best- of- three SCISA AA state title series, observers could see the aforementioned on full display as a relaxed and well-trained team from Clarendon Hall played error free softball. Pitcher Calli Yount had 11 strike-outs, and the Saints produced timely hits with runners in scorer’s position.  It was the third time the two teams had meet this season and it was the third win for Clarendon Hall. The two previous wins were 8-0 and 6-0 so Colleton Prep improved by scoring a run this time. They hope to score even more as the two teams (weather permitting) get ready to play game two at 5 p.m. at Colleton Prep today. After the game Clarendon Hall head coach Jeffrey Bays , told the HSSR, “We definitely got some timely hits today but we didn’t hit the ball like we usually do,” said Coach Bays. “You do have those games where you are not as strong as you usually are at the plate, and we tell our girls to be patient and wait on their pitch. “Getting some walks, mixed in with a few timely hits, proved to be a game changer for us, said Coach Bays. “I was really proud of how the girls responded to the challenge today. I can’t think of an error we made, and that is really important, and we have played very clean ball most of the year. “Our pitcher tomorrow will be a game time situation,” said Coach Bays. “Calli had a good outing today but we do have several pitchers who can throw strikes so we’ll just have to wait and see.” Colleton Prep head coach Tiger Martin told the HSSR , “They scored six runs total and five of them came in the second inning and then they got a solo home run later and made some errors and gave them some walks that helped them score the six runs,” said Coach Martin. “More games are lost then ever won. The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually comes out on top and they played a cleaner ball game then we did tonight. “It didn’t help that we had four backward K’s and we need to swing the bats more,” said Coach Martin. “We have to lay off her riser ball that was coming in high today and it can be virtually unhittable. Hopefully, we will have an umpire today that likes them thrown a little lower. We have to hope she can bring the ball down a little.” The Saints pushed across five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Yount led off with a single and then Colleen McIntosh drew a walk. Lacey Corbett singled to score Yount for a 1-0 lead and a throwing error on the throw in allowed both runners to advance to second to third. Two batters later, Macie McIntosh drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Brynlee Brewer , the only new starter on the team this season, reached on an error allowing two runs to score to make it 3-0. Two batters later, Macie McIntosh , drew a one-out walk to load the bases. An RBI ground-out RBI by junior Mandy Wells made it 4-0. The Saints 5 th run scored on a passed ball. In the CP 4 th inning, Ava Murray led off with a double down the third base line. She was brought in on a two-out single by Hannah Strickland to close the deficit to 5-1. CH added an insurance run in the bottom of the 5 th on a solo home run by Yount over the left field fence. Yount had three hits in the game including a home run. Clarendon Hall had six hits for the game and they benefitted from several CP errors and five walks they were issued. Yount gave up five hits in the game with two walks to go along with her 11 K’s. Senior Sydney Stivender pitched all six innings for CP. She recorded four strike-outs in taking the loss.

SCISA BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDUP

By Staff reports • 14 May, 2024
Hilton Head Christian, Augusta Christian, Dorchester, Richard Winn take openers

SCISA SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ROUNDUP

By Staff reports • 14 May, 2024
Laurence Manning, Pee Dee, Clarendon Hall, Jefferson Davis win openers

Cardinal Newman wins fifth consecutive SCISA boys soccer state title

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • 14 May, 2024
Cardinals beat Hammond 4-0 to finish as undefeated AAAA champion

SCISA Softball and Baseball Championship Scores

By Larry Gamble • 14 May, 2024
Scores from around the SCISA universe from Game 1 Monday. SCISA SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Best-of-3 series AAAA Monday Laurence Manning 5 Hammond 4 Tuesday Hammond at Laurence Manning, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday At Neutral Site if Needed AAA Monday Orangeburg Prep 0 Pee Dee Academy 3 Tuesday Pee Dee at Orangeburg Prep, 6 p.m. Wednesday At Neutral Site if Needed AA Monday Colleton Prep 1 Clarendon Hall 6 Tuesday Clarendon Hall at Colleton Prep, 5 p.m. Wednesday At Neutral Site if Needed CLASS A Monday Cross Schools 0 Jefferson Davis 4 Tuesday Jefferson Davis vs Cross Schools, @ Bluffton High School Wednesday At Neutral Site if Needed SCISA BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Best-of-3 series AAAA Monday Augusta Christian 3 Cardinal Newman 1 Tuesday Cardinal Newman at Augusta Christian, 6 p.m. Thursday At Neutral Site if Needed AAA Monday Hilton Head Christian 3 Pee Dee Academy 1 Tuesday Pee Dee at Hilton Head Christian, 6 p.m. Thursday At Neutral Site if Needed AA Monday Calhoun Academy 2 Dorchester 6 Tuesday Dorchester at Calhoun Academy, 6:30 p.m. Thursday At Neutral Site if Needed CLASS A Monday Richard Winn 8 Holly Hill 2 Tuesday Holly Hill at Richard Winn, 6 p.m. Thursday At Neutral Site if Needed

SCISA softball, baseball state championship series set to begin on Monday

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • 13 May, 2024
Five of eight series will have teams trying to defend titles

Day Two Of SCISA Softball Tournament Establishes Final Two Teams In All Four Classifications For State Title Starting On Monday

By Billy Baker • 13 May, 2024
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Sumter — The good news was that no rain fell on Sumter’s Patriot Park on May, 11 providing for some great games in the annual SCISA softball playoffs with 8 teams qualifying to compete for AAAA, AAA, AA and Class A state titles starting on Monday. Game two will be played on Tuesday at the opposite site of the home team on Monday. If a third game is needed it will be played at a neutral site on Wednesday. One notable highlight from the games on Saturday was junior Mandy Wells of Clarendon Hall hitting three consecutive home runs in her team’s 15-0 win over Calhoun Academy to advance the Saints to the AA finals on Monday against Colleton Prep . Wells hit her two home runs to dead center field and her second homer was a base clearing grand slam. Her third home run was a line drive over right center field. Wells came into the SCISA tournament batting .481 with 28 RBI’s. Game one between Clarendon Hall and Colleton Prep is schduled for 6pm on Monday in Summerton. Laurence Manning defeated Hammond 5-3 to advance to the AAAA finals. The lost sent Hammond to the loser’s bracket finale against Wilson Hall and Hammond the defeated the Barons 14-4 to earn the right to play Laurence Manning for the title starting on Monday at 6 p.m. in Manning. “We started out hitting the ball right at people and Hammond gave us a great game,” said LMA head coach Buddy Truett . ´We didn’t like having to get up at 7 a.m. to get over here by 9 a.m. and it took us awhile to get going. We are excited to playing for a state championship. It should be a very competitive series and having finished runner-up the past two seasons we are focused on winning it all this year.” LMA trailed Hammond 3-3 going into the bottom of the 6 th inning. Lily Welborn led off with a single and made it all the way to third on a throwing error. An RBI single by Kaylee Avins scored Welborn to tie the score at 3. The difference in the game was a two- run homer from 8 th grader Karly Bjork the next batter up for LMA. “I told her after she hit the home run that I didn’t think I could love her anymore but I do now,” said Coach Truett. “I am very proud of the girls. We made some errors early in the game we do not normally make but we came back from being down and I very proud of all of them. ”We know that Pee Dee has good pitching and they are a solid hitting team also so we are expecting quite a series against them,” said Coach Kinard. “We went over there last year and kicked the ball around a bit. Our goal is playing better defense against them. Defense wins championships.” In Class AAA action, Orangeburg Prep defeated Thomas Sumter 15-0 to advance to the AAA finals. The Class AAA championship games for Pee Dee and Orangeburg Prep start Monday in Mullins at 6pm. Pee Dee Academy head coach Wes Eskridge told the HSSR after his team’s big win over John Paul II Saturday: “We have been fortunate to win three state titles in a row and we are competing in the finals for the 7 th straight time and I could not be prouder of this team,” said Coach Eskridge. ”Jo Jo Perritt is just a sophomore and she gets the job down in the circle for us. “Orangeburg Prep is a tough team and the key for us is for us to play our game and not theirs,” said Coach Eskridge. “We know we have to keep working hard.” In Class A action Jefferson Davis Academy will compete against Cross Schools , who defeated Laurens Academy 4-3 to advance. Jefferson Davis earned the right to play for a Class A title by defeating Cross School 7-1 on Saturday. Head JDA head coach Bart Owens told the HSSR , “Regan Still did a great job pitching all three games in the tournament and she is headed to Florence-Darlington Tech to play next season,” said Coach Owens. “We beat Wardlaw 16-3 and Laurens Academy in our other two tournament games ”Regan is an outstanding pitcher and she is the best that I have ever had at JDA,” said Coach Owens. “Super proud of the whole team today. Or goal now is to win the state championship next week.” The Class A championship series starts Monday at JDA game time is 6pm.

Christian Academy wins SCISA AA boys soccer state championship

By Dennis Brunson hssrl.com Associate Editor • 13 May, 2024
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