Lucy Beckham Hoping To Build On 9-2 Season With Strong Senior Leadership

Billy Baker • August 16, 2024

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Lucy Beckham football players that attended the HSSR Media Day

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Columbia - Lucy Beckham High, coming off of a 9-2 football season in 2023, was represented at the HSSR annual football media day at the University of South Carolina a by offensive lineman Sawyer Hearne (6-4, 275), tight end Talmage Askins (6-3, 215) and quarterback Chalmers Ballard (6-2, 180).

Jamel Snith is the head coach of the Bengals and they are hoping to build on a very successful season in 2023.

Athletes like Hearne, Askins and Ballard certainly give the team an opportunity to build on last year’s success at the new school in Mt. Pleasant that started playing varsity football in 2022 after being a highly successful junior varsity program for two prior seasons.

Askins talked about his role on the team for the upcoming season. “I need to step up and be a good leader and we have to play even harder this year moving up to 5-A from 4-A so there is going to be some new competition,” said Askins. “In our offense we run the ball a lot so I block a lot but I catch passes also so I am a hybrid type tight end.

“My goal is to help the team win games in whatever role I am needed,” said Askins. “I am a H-back tight end and while I do a lot of blocking, I can also get out in space and catch passes.”

Askins was hampered by a knee injury last season but he came back to help the Bengals late in the season.

Entering his senior season, Askins has been contacted for a potential next level opportunity by Lenoir Rhyne, Newberry, Limestone College, Anderson University and Erskine and he hopes to earn a scholarship to college football with his play as a senior at Lucy Beckham.

Ballard, an all-region QB pick last season, will be starting for the third season in the Bengal’s offensive line. “One of my personal senior goals is to earn a spot on the North-South or Shrine Bowl teams after the season, and pick up a couple more scholarship offers during the season,” said Ballard. “I am also focused on helping the team have continued success.”

After completing 95-of-175 passes for 1,025 yards and 8 TD’s as a sophomore, Ballard stepped up to an even better junior season. Last year he completed 129-0f-203 passes for 1,708 yards and 24 TD’s.

Ballard talked about why he feels the school has had early success in football, as a new program. “I think the time all of the players spend together conditioning and preparing for the season helps bring about unity and focus,” said Ballard. ““Although we are a younger team this year, we have worked really hard and we are focused on a winning season. My coaches have asked me to step up and be a good senior leader this season and that is what I intend to do.”

Hearne, who had to leave the media day early, is a returning starter who has a 315-pound bench and 500 squat, and he will start at left tackle for the Bengals.

“My goal is to help my team win as many games as possible,” said Hearne. “My main goal is to be a good leader for my team.”

Hearne hopes to once again earn all-region honors this season and he also hopes to be selected to a post-season all-star game. Hearne graded out at 87 per cent last year according to his head coach.

His top five colleges entering his senior season include Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Wofford, North Greenville and Mercer.

Coach Smith said the Bengals return only four starters on offense and three from defense this season. “We graduated 23 seniors after last season and I am starting my 5^th season at the school, but this is only our third season as a varsity program,” said Smith, who played football at Spring Valley High School. “We only have 13 seniors in the program this season and going from 4-A to 5-A we are going to have to grow up in a hurry.”

Several other returning starters for Beckham include WR Trevor Reynolds (6-2, 200), center Seth Damron (6-1, 240), DL Jackson Edwards (5-11, 240), DL Parker Causey (6-0,230), along with LB Hank Aeppli (6-0,200) who earned all-state honors a year ago.

Lucy Beckham will start the season hosting West Ashley on August, 23rd. They are joined in Region 7-AAAAA this year by Berkeley, Cane Bay, Stratford, Goose Creek and Wando.

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