Southside Christian wins third straight Class A baseball state title

Stallions will be in SCISA Class A after playing for 3 straight AA titles

Lamar – Coming off back-to-back seasons of 9-4 records, the Lamar High football team is aiming to take the next step in 2024. Second-year head man Stephen Burris must replace 13 seniors from last year’s squad but still returns more than a dozen players who were starters in last year’s third-round playoff loss to Johnsonville. Burris and the prospective 2024 Silver Foxes are busy putting in the work during the summer months, a process that began with spring practices in May. However, Burriss used the spring to work more with younger players, trying to acclimate them to the varsity level. “We had a large number of guys running track and playing baseball, which we encourage because multi-sport guys are important at a small school,” Burris said. “We used this spring to really focus on the young guys who may not have gotten the reps with the veteran guys out there. We were able to slow things down and just teach those young guys the way we do things.” The Silver Foxes will be most experienced along the offensive line this coming fall. A solid group of veterans return, led by senior left tackle Kendall Walton, a 6-5, 305-pounder who has received six college offers this spring. Senior Tahj Johnson will be a third-year starter and junior Devaughn Locust also returns. Burris is hopeful for a healthy return for quarterback Zori Pierce, a true dual-threat weapon who is recovering from a knee injury sustained late last season. “He is coming along great and we expect him to be ready in August,” the coach said. “He’s definitely a key piece to the offense, a catalyst. And, he’s a good leader.” Senior Zoom Jackson returns as the team’s top receiving threat but there is a lack of experience at running back. Looking to step in and fill that role is sophomore DQ Green. Two key pieces returning defensively are Alvion Ward and Kamon Miller. “I think building depth is going to be key for us,” Burris said. “We played one game out of 13 with our full starting lineup last year. Building depth and staying healthy have been a major emphasis for us. We are working hard this summer to condition and to get stronger for the long haul.” The Silver Foxes will open the 2024 season with a home game against Darlington. Lamar’s first three games of the season are home games before a road game at Lake City on Sept. 13.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Kingstree — In his first season as the head football coach at Kingstree High, after CE Murray consolidated with Kingstree to become the Blazers, Brian Smith’s team finished a respectable 6-6 and the team is hoping to build on that first- year bench mark. This past Spring Coach Smith and his staff worked out 37 varsity football candidates at the school. “The strength of the team coming out of Spring drills is both sides of our lines,” said Coach Smith. “We are just hoping our skill position players can play well behind the offensive line guys. “We expect to compete in every game and go out and line-up and battle with the goal of still being around in late November,” said Coach Smith. Kingstree will have early August scrimmages with Lugoff-Elgin and Johnsonville before playing in the Lake City Jamboree. The team will start the season in Week 0 hosting Georgetown on August, 23 rd . The team graduated three next level players in DL James Brockington , DB/QB JaShaun Dorsey , and DB Terrance Scott. Brockington (6-2, 280) was a North-South all-star who signed with The Citadel after last season. Brockington had 57 total tackles including 20 TFL. The team will return several key players from last season who are impact players. Coach Smith is very high on rising junior Tyleek Dukes (6-0,180) who caught 22 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns last season. On defense Dukes blocked three punts, 66 total tackles, including 8 TFL and two sacks with two forced fumbles. “Dukes is the best athlete on our team and out of necessity we are moving from receiver to running back because we need the ball in his hands as much as possible,” said Coach Smith. Xavier Dukes (5-9,170) is a rising senior prospect at receiver and he was named to the Joanne Langfitt Showcase after last season. Dukes caught 18 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran back an 80-yard Kick-off return for a touchdown. In the offensive line all-region performer Mychal Wallace (6-2, 310) will be returning to the Blazers. He plays both ways. On offense he had 12 pancakes last season. In the defensive front he had 30 total tackles with 11 TFL. Rising sophomore linebacker Maleek Dukes (6-2, 190) returns after leading the team with seven sacks his freshman season. Rising senior OL/DL Malcolm Salters (6-0,255) also caught the attention of colleges who came by in May. The QB position is being competing for by rising freshman Makhi Shaw who is an all-around athlete who plays three sports. The other candidate is sophomore Randy McFadden who is more of a thrower who can also run. Ramello McFadden (5-10, 200) returns at RB/LB along with DB/slot WR Bryson Epps (5-8,170). Khaled Riggins is also returning at WR/CB. A newcomer with a lot of potential is rising junior WR/LB Benjamin Washington (6-4, 190).

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Barnwell - Barnwell head football coach Brian Smith (131-116) enters his second season directing the tradition rich Warhorse program and during May Spring drills 45 varsity candidates worked out over a two-week period preparing for the upcoming 2024 season. When the HSSR releases their first AA football pre-season ranking in early July, Barnwell should be ranked among the top five AA program in South Carolina for the upcoming season. Some observers refer to Smith’s first season in Barnwell as an over-achievement season as Coach Smith and his staff developed a very young team into an 8-win, third round AA playoff contender. The Warhorses went on the road in the second round of the play-offs last season and upset a 10-win higher seeded Marion team, 31-25. Barnwell was eliminated the following week by eventual AA champion Oceanside Collegiate , who have moved up in classification this season. “We are excited about our upcoming season,” said Coach Smith. “Our goals have not changed. Our kids have really worked hard this off-season to maintain the level of excellence that Barnwell High school has exhibited for so long. “Our kids know that the only way to improve is through hard work and that excellence does not take a day off,” said Coach Smith. One bright spot for Barnwell is the return of two-sport star Cameron Austin who committed to South Carolina in baseball this past April. Austin ran a 4.54 forty at a Shrine Bowl/North South joint combine at Woodland High in the Spring. He completed 144-of-185 passes last season for 1,765 yards and 13 touchdowns. Austin also rushed for 911 yards on 135 carries adding 21 rushing touchdowns. Austin is ranked as the number 16 over-all football prospect in the current HSSR Top 100 list . Despite being pledged to South Carolina baseball Coach Smith said, “Cam is having colleges check in on him and many have stopped by to view film during Spring ball,” he said. In addition to Austin, the team returns 11 seniors who could all start once the season begins. The top receivers back include Jaquan Peeples, Logan Sturkie , and Kahzeer Wesley . Tony Cherry and Lamar Buxton return in the offensive line. On defense the team will be strong at linebacker with three potential senior starters returning. They are Jeremiah Eaddy, Lex Thomas , and Clayton Zissett . Jordan Peeples returns in the secondary and place kicker Lane Evans returns for his senior season. The top newcomers on the team, expected to be major contributors, include freshman running back/receiver Jayden Peeples and senior Jayden Rollins . Coach Smith has a projected starting group coming out of Spring drills that is subject to change by the start of August drills. On offense 8 starters are back led by Austin at quarterback. Nehimiah Brown is the projected starting running back, and the four-wide receiving consists of Peeples, Wesley, Sturkie, and Trey Boleman . Buxton and Cherry could be joined in the offensive line by Copeland Owens , Caleb Wilson , and Jackson Bedingfield . On defense, five starters return for Barnwell. The projected starting group consists of Zissett, Jahlian Carter, and AJ Miller in the defensive front, The two inside linebackers are expected to be Thomas and Eaddy and the outside linebackers are currently led by Hayden Pierce and Jayden Pinckney . The corner backs expected to start are Pinckney and Damajhai Devore, and the double free softies are Jayden Rollins and William Robinson . Evans will handle kicking and punting duties. Barnwell will scrimmage at Blythewood on August, 8 against teams from North Augusta , Catawba Ridge , Rock Hil l, and Blythewood . On August, 12 Barnwell will host Aiken in a scrimmage before competing against Saluda in the Strom Thurmond hosted jamboree on August, 16. Barnwell opens the 2024 season against Blackville-Hilda on August, 23 rd . The Barnwell assistant football coaches include: Jon Burdge , Issac Cooper , William Hammonds , Alan LeRoy , Cody McCollum , Britt Pender , and athletic director Derek Youngblood .

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