Kennedy feels like Manning football program is back

Manning – Reggie Kennedy feels like the Manning High School football program has finally

caught back up. From what you ask? COVID-19.

The Monarchs went 0-10 in 2020, THE coronavirus season. However, it wasn’t just about the

losses. Out of an abundance of caution, offseason practice time and weight room time were practically

eliminated for the better part of the year, and the number of student-athletes participating took a drastic hit

as well.

“I really feel like COVID put us two years behind,” said Kennedy, the MHS head coach. “The

last three years we’ve done an outstanding job of bouncing back. I feel like we’re finally back on track.”

Back from a 15-game losing streak and missing the state playoffs for two straight years. Things

started to turn in 2022 with a 9-win season followed by an 8-win campaign in 2023. The culmination

came this year as Manning went 12-2 and reached the AA lower state championship contest.

“It means a lot to us, to the community, to the school to have the season we had,” said Kennedy, who led

the Monarchs to their first lower state title game since 2010. “I feel like football sets the tone for the school

year. Our fans are used to winning, expecting more.”

The year actually started with one of the two losses as MHS lost to Crestwood 17-14 on a last-

minute field goal. Manning quickly righted the ship, winning its final nine regular-season games,

including going 6-0 in claiming the Region 7 crown.

The region title set the Monarchs up to host three playoff games at Ramsey Stadium as long as

they won. They did that, beating North Central 55-0, Hampton County 28-27 in overtime and Philip

Simmons 34-21.

MHS had to go on the road for the lower state title game against Barnwell. The contest was tied

14-14 at halftime before the Warhorses pulled away in the second half for a 37-14 victory.

Kennedy felt Manning had the ability to put together a strong season, but that didn’t necessarily

include winning 12 of 14 contests.

“I guess you could say I was a little surprised,” said Kennedy, who just completed his seventh

season at the school. “I felt like the format with us going to AA (from AAA after reclassification) and

with what we had coming back we could have a good season.

“What we did in the offseason was important to us,” he added. “They worked hard in the

offseason and it paid off during the season. I thought we would advance, but I didn’t know we’d advance

that far.”

Manning was led by Jeffery Ceasar and Jaylnn Coard, who were both selected to the Shrine

Bowl of the Carolinas South Carolina team, of which Kennedy was the head coach.

Ceasar was selected as the Region 7 Player of the Year, and he had a tremendous season on

offense, defense and special teams.

As a wide receiver, Ceasar had 39 catches for 530 yards and a 13.6 per-catch average. Six of his

catches went for touchdowns and he also had four catches for 2-point conversions. He had 10 carries for

38 yards and two touchdowns.

As a cornerback, Ceasar had seven interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns, and 172

return yards. He had 41 tackles, three tackles for a loss, seven pass deflections, one forced fumble and one

fumble recovery.

On special teams, Ceasar averaged 34.1 yards on 14 kickoff returns, taking three of them back for

touchdowns. Ceasar returned four punts for scores, giving him seven TD returns total. He had 309 yards

on eight punt returns for a 38.6 average.

Ceasar scored touchdowns five different ways – on a run, on a catch, on an interception, on a punt

return and on a kickoff return – to finish with 17 touchdowns.

“He just had a special season,” Kennedy said of Ceasar.

Coard, who was also selected to the South Carolina Football Coaches Association AA All-State

team, had 67 tackles and 14 tackles for loss from his noseguard position as he was named the Region

Defensive Player of the Year. He also had one quarterback sack, forced two fumbles and had a pass

deflection. The 6-foot-3-inch, 290-pound Coard rushed for 707 yards and 14 touchdowns on 79 carries on

offense. He also had 24 2-point conversion runs to finish with 108 points.

Eight other Monarchs joined Ceasar and Coard on the All-Region team. They were quarterback

Ja’Rae Mitchell, cornerback Joshua Cooper, left tackle Isaiah Hampton, tight end Jaron Hammett,

linebacker Jontavious Canty, linebacker Lamar Hilton, right tackle Jeremy Blanding and strong safety

Dayvon Bannister.

Mitchell completed 77 of 104 passes for 877 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 199

yards and four touchdowns on 73 carries. Cooper had 18 tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack and one

interception while rushing for 355 yards and three touchdowns on 61 carries.

Canty had 97 tackles, two sacks, a defensive touchdown and 11 ½ tackles for a loss. Canty was

also the leading rusher with 769 yards and nine touchdowns on 112 carries. Hilton led in tackles with 151

to go with three sacks and 14 ½ TFLs.

Bannister had 38 tackles and four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Along with

opening holes with Hampton and Blanding, Hammett had two catches for 33 yards and a touchdown.

Manning will have six starters back on offense, including four offensive linemen, and five on

defense. Kennedy hopes the just completed season was the start of a long run of success.

“We can’t go backward,” Kennedy said. “The program is at a good place right now, and we want

to keep it there. I think the players saw the importance of the offseason.”