HSSR Class AAA Top 15 Poll (Pre-Season)

HSSR Class AAA Top 15 Ranking (Pre-season)

  1.  Dillon (10-2)

  2. BHP (13-1)

  3. Oceanside Collegiate (12-3)

  4. Marlboro County (3-7)

  5. Chapman. (10-2)

  6. Christ Church (12-3)

  7. Broome (9-3)

  8. Silver Bluff  (9-4)

  9.  Aynor (5-6)

  10. Hanahan (7-5)

  11. Southside Christian (8-4)

  12. St. Joseph’s (11-3)

  13. Crescent (6-5)

  14. Powdersville (4-7)

  15. Loris (7-3)

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Moncks Corner - Of the five classifications in South Carolina, no doubt, realignment has affected the Class AAA classification more than any other for sure.

Teams moving up to AAAA include defending champion Daniel and runner-up Camden along with Brookland-Cayce and Gilbert who moved up also. Chester, Clinton, and Manning all moved down to AA from AAA. Oceanside Collegiate moved from AA to AAA.

What we do understand is Dillon and Belton-Honea Path (BHP) are traditional AAA football powers and they come into the season ranked one-two in AAA.

In mid-July Dillon junior quarterback, and two-year starter Josiah Oxendine, informed head Dillon High coach Kelvin Roller that he was transferring from the team but they no indication where he was transferring to, in a rather strange development in late summer near the start of August practices.

Should Oxendine not return to the team it appears wide receiver Rahmond Hamilton (6-1, 180) will get a strong look at quarterback. Dillon is returning five starters on offense and six starters on defense and all 11 returners are seasoned veterans with a lot of talent.

The strength of the team should be at running back where both Jamarion Fling and Dominick Felton return. Fling led the team with 1,425 rushing yards last season while Felton played through an injury riddle season while rushing for 325 yards.

Dillon graduated the best left tackle in school history in Mr. Football Josiah Thompson now at South Carolina competing for early playing time. The Wildcats developing good play in the offensive line will be a key factor in their success this season.

After the 10 days of Spring drills were over, and after several weeks of 7-on-7 passing league in the books, these are Coach Roller’s comments, “I was very pleased with our kids work ethic this off- season in the weight room,” he said. “They understand we have to get bigger and stronger and they worked to achieve that. We had a productive Spring practice season to help propel us into the summer.”

Coach Roller said the strength of the team rests with the skill guys, led by running backs senior Jamarion Fling (5-10, 175) and junior Domonick Felton (5-9,170) who missed part of last season injured. Fling has over 1,400 yards rushing with several interceptions on defense. Felton rushed for over 325 yards.

Over the summer junior wide receiver Zay Robertson (6-1, 175) performed well in 7-on-7 drills and he caught several passes at the 7-on-7 competition camp at South Carolina on June, 14 that caught the attention of Gamecock coaches. “Zay is one of the best wide receivers in the state,” said Coach Roller. “He, along with Rahmond Hamilton (6-1, 180), Rike Niyazaga (5-9,170), along with tight ends Da Dae Williams (6-4, 220) and athlete Walker Chavis (6-1, 185) will bring challenges for defenses.”

Dillon senior place kicker Stephen Rojas also returns for his third season and he has a strong leg.

The Nasty Cats of defense will be led by Azavian Deberry (6-0,270), Temerian Rogers, and Kyheinm Lester up-front. The defense will also be led by three athletic and mobile linebackers. Junior Keriyon Brown (5-10, 185) earned HSSR all-state honors last season with 104 tackles and three interceptions. Junior Daniel Capehart (5-11, 190) and Tae Tae Tanksley will also hold down linebacker slots and sophomore Kelvian Manning (6-2, 170) could also compete for playing time also.

The secondary will be patrolled by several players going both ways. This athletic group is led by Robertson, Hamilton, and Fling, flipping from offense. Expect players like Dan Graves, Zeth Campbell, Jacob Hunt, D’jan Green, and Williams to also see spot duty in the secondary.

Dillon has a very strong schedule this season. “We have a very challenging schedule in opening up with Scotland County, Socastee, Wilson, Marion, and Hartsville but the challenge of our schedule should help prepare us for the tough moments in the playoffs,” said Coach Roller. “Our goal is to play in that last game of the season.”   

 Finding a QB to replace the departed Oxendine will be a key issue in the success of Dillon this season.

At number two is upstate AAA power BHP led by Clemson commitment running back Marquis Henderson (5-10, 170) an all-purpose RB who is ranked amongst the top three HSSR-2025 prospects in South Carolina. Head coach Russell Blackston (120-42)  will have a lot of supporting players around Henderson after going 13-1 a year ago with several key starters returning.     

We sense Marlboro County, with new head coach Cory Taylor is on the move after finishing 3-7 a year ago under former coach Quin McCollum who is now at Chesterfield. Coach Taylor comes to Marlboro County from Clinton, NC where he went 61-12. His 2023 team went 15-1, losing their only game in the AA state championship finals.

Coach Taylor told David Shelton of the HSSR in early June, “I know they take football serious here,” he said. “I love this area of football. I started off in Scotland County. So, I know about the battle of the border. I knew about this area and I just wanted to get back to this area.”

There is one report that as many as 16 players have transferred to Marlboro County over the summer.

Several of them played for Coach Taylor in Clinton last season. The Bulldogs will be led by two seniors already committed to major college football. Jackson Kenan (6-0,177) is a corner back committed to Rutgers while Josiah Dwyer (6-4, 255) is a defensive lineman committed to East Carolina.

Marlboro County is in the same region with top ranked Dillon so that game should be quite a battle when the two teams meet in Dillon on October, 18.  

Rounding out the top five in AAA are the defending AA champions Oceanside Collegiate, Marlboro County and Chapman.

Christ Church, is ranked 6^th, and the cavaliers won  the Class A state title a year ago. They return five starters on offense and six starters on defense for head coach Quin Hatfield.

“Our strengths coming into the season will be at the quarterback position (Tucker Henrix) and we have some playmakers back (Jackson Repp and Jude Hall at the wide receiver positions and they are playmakers for us,” said Coach Hatfield. “Repp has 13 offers and he is getting interest from both USC and Clemson. Hall has six offers with biggest two from Cincy and Boston College.” 

Hendrix is a preferred walk-on commitment to Clemson.

“We are young up-front in the offensive line and trying to build depth in the defensive line as well,” said Coach Hatfield. “Our challenge is building over-all depth across the board.”

Christ Church will open the 2024 season at Hammond on August, 23^rd.