Knights Leaning On Defense For 2026 Season
By Rob Gantt
Special to the HSSR
Goose Creek - Stratford High School's 2025 football season was one to remember. With a squad full of talented veterans, the Knights posted a 10-2 mark and lit up scoreboards all over the Lowcountry with their potent offensive attack.
They finished up in the third round of the Class 5A playoffs.
The 2026 Knights, though, are more experienced on defense and may need some time for the offense to begin clicking. A lot of new faces on offense are running out there onto Stackley Field this fall and the Knights opened up the season with a pair of losses to Berkeley and Cane Bay high schools.
"We had some plays where we broke down in some stuff," Stratford coach Dennie McDaniel said. "We've just got to get out of our feelings and play the next play. That's a young team for you. We've got some maturing to do. We'll do that in the early part of the season."
The Knights bring back two all-region players on the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive back Jonah Coleman and senior linebacker Bryce Clemons. The two combined for 19 tackles in the season opener against Berkeley and Coleman picked off a pass, picking up where they left off last fall.
Clemons led the Knights in tackles as a junior and Coleman was third on the squad. In between, senior linebacker Cameron Gibbs was second.
Senior linebacker Jarrett Hearne and junior defensive lineman Kermit Davis are two more notable tacklers returning.
"Defensively, the strength of our team is going to be the front seven," McDaniel said.
Offensively, the Knights are going to battle with two young quarterbacks in sophomores Caleb Lott and Dathan Haywood. Most of the players along the offensive front are brand new, too. They do return senior Micah Adams at tight end, though, and talented senior Jayden Lee is a returning starter at receiver.
Against Cane Bay, Lott completed 12 passes for 293 yards and a 31-touchdown to junior receiver Zayvon Grant. Haywood scored Stratford's other touchdown on a 1-yard run. Lee made five grabs for 148 yards versus the Cobras and Grant tallied four receptions for 72 yards. Adams grabbed two passes for 60 yards.
Senior running back Malachi Breland led the way on the ground with 16 carries for 57 yards.
On special teams, kicker Renzo Gorritti is a returning all-region selection.
The Knights go to Northwestern Sept. 4 and host crosstown rival Goose Creek Sept. 11. They go to Ashley Ridge Sept. 18 and host James Island Sept. 25.
