Lontime Powers Back on Top in AA
Chesterfield's junior Guard Marquan Blount.
By Dennis Brunson
hssr.com Associate Eitor
Sumter – The 2024 football season in the AA classification was one that saw some traditional powers make deep pushes in the playoffs. No one did it be5ter than Clinton High School, which won the state championship by beating Barnwell 35-6.
Batesburg-Leesville was undefeated before losing to Clinton in the third round of the state playoffs. Manning had its best season in over a decade while reaching the lower state championship game, and Central made a good run in the playoffs.
Let’s take a look at each of the seven regions and who we think has the best chance to play for a state title in December.
REGION 1
1. Clinton 2. Chesnee 3. Liberty 4. Landrum 5. Blacksburg
CLINTON
The Red Devils use their dominating flexbone offense to control games and win the program’s ninth state title but first since 2009. However, they will be breaking in a lot of new players this season.
Sophomore Easton Powell will take over at quarterback. Darren Hester, Jaden Potter and Trenair Collins will be the running backs. Brayden Fuller returns at right tackle.
Each of those will be starting on defense as well.
Clinton was ranked second in the High School Sports Report AA preseason poll.
CHESNEE
The Eagles are coming off a 6-6 season and were ranked 14th./ They will be rotating at quarterback with Keedyn Platt and Evan Lawter. One of their goals will be getting the ball in the hands of Braylon Blanton.
Platt and Blanton will start in the secondary with linebacker Carson Gossett being a key cog as well.
LIBERTY
The Red Devils will be replacing standout quarterback Logan Smith with senior Caleb Pilgrim. Jamijae Karim is returning after running for over 1,000 yards, and Pilgrim will have Kendall Jackson and Chris Stable as his top targets.
Zach Welborn is a standout at defensive end.
LANDRUM
Mike Reid takes over a team that went 5-5. He has Ty Foster back at quarterback along with AJ Lindsey at running back. Cooper Tidwell and Braylon Revis will be the receivers.
BLACKSBURG
The Wildcats lost a lot on offense after going 2-8 last season. Treyvon Clark will be the new quarterback with Gage Lee the top running back.
Ryley Burton will be a key performer at linebacker, and Lane Rising will be a starter on both sides of the line.
REGION II
1. Batesburg-Leesville 2. Saluda 3. Strom Thurmond 4. Ninety Six 5. Pelion 6. American Leadership
BATESURG-LEESVILLE
Not only are the Panthers the pick to win the region, but they were the No. 1 team in the preseason poll.
B-L returns six starters on offense, including star running back Amadre Wooden and speedy wide receiver KD Whitt. There are seven back on defense, the top ones being defensive lineman Travis Gates and LB Tyler Wootton.
SALUDA
Greg Woerner takes over a 9-2 team from Stewart Young, who took the job at Lexington. The Tigers look to be strong again, ranked No. 7 in the preseason.
Saluda returns four of four starters on the offensive line led by center Sid Shaw. Brayden Williams will be the quarterback with Tristan Daniels at running back and CJ Springs a key receiving target.
Springs will also be a key contributor in the second at cornerback.
STROM THURMOND
The 12h-ranked Rebels have six starters back on offense from a 6-4 team, including quarterback Bri’Shaun Lee.
Seven starters are back on defense led by DB Kaleb Simpkins, who has an offer from Wake Forest as well as three Ivy League schools.
NINETY SIX
Ninety Six will be looking to improve upon a 3-8 season. They have quarterback Jacob Evans along with targerts such as Kobi Quarles, Carter Davis and tight end Parker Sutley.
` DL Nathan McCary and LB Gabe Hackett will be key performers.
PELION
Cory Helms takes over a program that went 2-9 last season. He will have junior Alan Moore back at QB while Tre Jackson and Brady Cottingham will be getting carries.
Cottingham will also start on the D line alongside Ben Stabler, who will also start on the OL
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
ALA is in its second year of existence and it received no favors being placed in such a deep region. The goal this season is to win a game after going 0-9 last year.
Brice Cook will be the quarterback with Leonard Pressley as his top target. ALA will have a slew of players going on both sides.
REGION 3
1. Fairfield Central 2. Chester 3. Mid-Carolina 4. Columbia 5. Eau Claire
FAIRFIELD CENTRAL
Fairfield Central was ranked third. The Griffins played for the upper state title, losing to Clinton.
They will have to replace some key performers, mainly 2,000-yard rusher Tydarion Grier. They do have Kaden Diggs back at quarterback. LBs Breone Whitaker and Dre Walker both recorded over 100 tackles.
CHESTER
The Cyclones had a down year for them, going 5-6. However, they are always competitive under head coach Victor Floyd and were ranked 13th.
Hudhaifah Taylor is back after running for just under 1,000 yards. Junior Caleb Feaster will again be a key contributor in the running game. Junior Omari Pendergrass caught six TD passes.
MID-CAROLINA
The Rebels went 5-6 last season with a very young team. They return eight starters on offense and seven on defense.
Davis Ruff is back at quarterback. Ryker Woolstenhulme and Wyatt Mazza will be at RB. There are our starters back on the O line.
COLUMBIA
The Capitals went 5-6 last season, the first time it had wn that many games since 2011.
Darius Cunningham will be the quarterback with Tyquan Sanders back at RB. Leading tackler and linebacker Rondrecus Peterson returns as well.
EAU CLAIRE
The Shamrocks went just 2-9 last year, but it was a successful season. The program picked up its first victory since 2019.
Smith Bryant is back at quarterback with Joshua Smith and JahCory Sumter expected to get the football a lot.
The defense will be led by 6-foot-5-inch edge rusher Kevin Williams.
REGION 4
1. Central 2. Cheraw 3. Andrew Jackson 4. Chesterfield 5. North Central 6. Buford
CENTRAL
The Eagles had Pageland rocking last year, going 10-3 and reaching the third round of the playoffs.
They return nine starters on offense and seven on defense. That includes junior QB Dwayne Louallen and running backs Ashten Wilson and Aiden Short.
Taveon Moore is a standout both in the secondary and as a receiver for the No. 6 Eagles.
CHERAW
The Braves won the region crown last year, going 10-3 and losing to Barnwell by one point in the lower state championship game.
No. 8 Cheraw lost a lot of players, but quarterback Kadin Thomas should have a good year, The defense will be le by DB Crawford Poole.
ANDREW JACKSON
The Volunteers went 4-6 overall but were 3-2 in region play. Logan Neal is back at quarterback and 1,000-yard rusher Damias Seegars returns as well.
Defensive end Kamron McGill is back after having 11 tackles for loss
CHESTERFIELD
The Rams went 6-5 last season but were just 1-4 in region play. They hope to improve upon that.
Bryce Adams is back at quarterback. Sincere Hubbard will be back to anchor the defense at middle linebacker.
NORTH CENTRAL
The Knights are trying to build from a 3-7 season in which they went 1-4 in region play.
QB Bryce Price is back to lead the offense. DL Zaimain Bennett returns to anchor the defense.
BUFORD
Like Chesterfield and North Central, Buford also went 1-4 in the region with a 2-7 overall mark.
Noah Crump returns at quarterback along with his two top WRs in Cole Carnes and Hawkins Wilson.
CB Marvin Randolph is back after having nine TFLS.
REGION 5
1. Hampton County 2. Barnwell 3. Whale Branch 4. Edisto 5. Lake Marion
Hampton County
The Hurricanes were ranked eighth in the preseason poll. They went 8-3 last year after losing 18 starters from the previous season. They return most of their starters on both sides of the football.
Tarell Grant will take over at quarterback while 1,000-yard rusher Jaylen Singletary will line up beside him. He will have five returning starters opening holes.
Singletary is also a standout at CB. Junior MLB Javn Risher had 12 TFLs.
BARNWELL
The Warhorses lost lots of talent from last year’s team that played for the state title. However, there are plenty of pieces returning.
That starts with four offensive linemen led by Jackson Bedingfield. They will be leading the way for Nehemiah Brown, who Is also a standout DB. Top defensive performers returning are LB Henri Creech and DB Damahjal Devoe.
WHALE BRANCH
Willie White is the new head coach, taking over for Jerry Hatcher after a 4-6 season.
Senior Jernion Bowers returns after leading in both passing and rushing. Defensive lineman Tony Broxton Jr. is back after recording 12 TFLS and three quarterback sacks.
EDISTO
Edisto went 3-7 last season and 1-3 in the region. They will have Jason Worthington at QB with Makye Salley a top target.
LAKE MARION
The Gators are coming off a 3-5 season in which they went 0-4 in region play.
They have good size on the offensive line in Caden Keller (6-0, 254) and Charles Smith (6-4, 240).
REGION 6
1. Philip Simmons 2. Timberland 3. Woodland 4. Andrews 5. Academic Magnet 6. Burke
PHILIP SIMMONS
Philip Simmons went 10-3 last season, reaching the third round of the playoffs. The fifth-ranked Iron Horses have seven starters back on both sides of the ball.
Maurico Curry and Hayes Goddard have battled for the quarterback job. Yosi Mallett and Jaydon Camp will anchor the offensive line.
The defense is led by linebacker brothers Brody Tonon and Trevor Tonon with brother Chase Tonon in the secondary.
TIMBERLAND
The Wolves have a lot of talent returning from a squad that wen 8-4. They are ranked 10th.
Desmond Green, who has committed to Florida, leads an experienced O line. Senior Malyk Goodman returns at QB.
DB Carter Hawkins was one of the top tacklers on the team in 2024 and led in interceptions.
WOODLAND
Woodland was No. 11 and is coming of a 7-4 season and has six starters returning on both sides of the football. That includes three All-State performers/
They are offensive tackle Tyreon Summerson, linebacker Jaemin Pinkney and DL Dononvan Miles.
Jervaze Salley returns at quarterback.
ANDREWS
Andrews has seven starters back on both sides of the football from a team that went 6-5.
One of those returning is RB AJ Lee, who is close to 3,000 career yards. Also back is defensive lineman Chris Stewart, a Western Michigan commit.
ACADEMIC MAGNET
Academic Magnet went 4-7 last season and 1-4 in region play. Campbell Stoklosa is back at QB. Junior LB Caleb Parrish is the leading returning tackler.
BURKE
Burke went 1-8 last season and was winless in five region contests.
Ka’Mari Taylor will be the quarterback and will play free safety on defense.
REGION 7
1. Manning 2. East Clarendon 3. Lake City 4. Mullins 5. Kingstree 6. Marion 7. Atlantic Collegiate
MANNING
The Monarchs lost their first game of the season and then reeled off 11 straight wins before falling to Barnwell in the lower state title game.
Manning, which was ranked fourth in the preseason, returns four of five starters on the O line. Lovell Stevenson will take over at quarterback, but will have Jontavious Canty lining up at running back.
Canty is also a standout linebacker. However, he is only one of two returning starters defensively.
EAST CLARENDON
The Wolverines went 8-4 last season and reached the second round of the playoffs for the second straight year.
Takoda Cornelius is back after starting at QB the past two years. He will still see plenty of time taking snaps, but he’ll line up at WR some. Blease Hardy and Gavin White will see time behind center.
All of the offensive line returns with Jayln Barron and leading the way.
LAKE CITY
The Panthers were 4-7 last season, but came up on the short end of several games. They have six starters back on offense, led by 3-year starting QB Amari Hanna. There are four returning starters on the O line. RJ Matthews will be a weapon at WR.
Senior linebackers Shayon Shavers and Hunter Blanchard will lead the defense.
MULLINS
The Auctioneers made a big jump in Marc Lowery’s second season, going rom winless to seven victories. However, they finished fifth in the region so the goal is to make a push.
KaNazzion Bethea returns for his third and final year at quarterback. Andre Littlejohn and Nathan Peracki are back at linebacker to lead the defense.
KINGSTREE
Brandon Cantrell is the Blazers’ new head coach. He takes over a team that went 5-7 and reached the second round of the playoffs.
He inherits an outstanding running back in senior Tyleek Dukes, who ran for 1,798 yards and 21 TDs. Sophomore Makhi Shaw returns at QB after starting as a freshman.
BJ Washington is back after coming up with 17 TFLs and nine sacks.
MARION
The Swamp Foxes are young – really young. They are starting just three seniors on offense and none on defense. There are only three juniors starting on defense.
The starting quarterback is freshman Jayden Nowlin. Two of the seniors will be on the O line in Diego Herrera and Norvell Finklea.
ATLANTIC COLLEGIATE
The Armada had a successful first season because it didn’t finish last in the region. ACA went 1-8, the victory coming over Marion.
Brennon Moore plays all over the field on both sides of the ball. He was the main QB, and he has one of his favorite targets back in sophomore Tyler Yock.
