St. John’s Christian Academy Announces Dr. Jerry Brown as Head Football Coach and Bruce Ellington-Player Development Coach Moncks Corner, SC – September 8, 2025 – St. John’s Christian Academy (SJCA) is proud to announce the addition of two remarkable leaders to its football program: Dr. Jerry Brown as Head Football Coach and Bruce Ellington as the Player Development Coach . Together, they join SJCA’s dedicated coaching staff in shaping the next generation of Cavalier athletes. Dr. Jerry Brown enters his 55th year of coaching, including 36 years as a head coach. His legendary career is marked by an unmatched record of success: 8 State Championships (3 as assistant, 5 as head coach) – never losing a title game. Three State Titles at Berkeley High School (1994, 1996, 2009). One of only three coaches in South Carolina history to win state titles at three different schools: Batesburg-Leesville, Spring Valley, and Berkeley. Served as both Head Coach and Assistant in the Shrine Bowl and North-South All-Star Games , winning all four. Inducted into the South Carolina Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2018) and the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2021). Beyond the gridiron, Dr. Brown has faithfully served as a deacon at Santee Community Church in Moncks Corner and Christ Church in Columbia. He is a devoted husband to Mary Ames Brown and proud father of three children, Lucia, Paul, and Larry, and grandfather to Ames, Edye, Hardy, and great-granddaughter Elle. Raised in Moncks Corner, Bruce Ellington is a former professional athlete known for his extraordinary accomplishments as a two-sport standout at the University of South Carolina and for his five-year career in the National Football League (NFL). High School Achievements: Led Berkeley High School to the 2009 Division II-AAAA state football championship as quarterback; finalist for South Carolina’s Mr. Football Award. On the basketball court, he earned South Carolina 4A Player of the Year with senior averages of 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. Collegiate Career: Excelled as both the starting point guard for USC’s men’s basketball team and a wide receiver for the Gamecocks football program. Graduated with a degree in sociology. NFL Career: Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2014 and played five seasons with the 49ers, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, and New England Patriots. Ellington’s versatility, leadership, and determination are hallmarks of his athletic career and will be a source of inspiration for SJCA student-athletes. Dr. Brown and Coach Ellington embrace core values that align deeply with the mission of St. John’s Christian Academy: faith in Christ, a dedicated work ethic, determination, accountability, brotherly love, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Together with the existing Cavalier coaching staff, they are committed to building a program that develops not only strong athletes but also strong Christian men who will serve others with integrity. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Brown and Coach Ellington to the Cavalier Family,” said Becky Ellison, Head of School. “Their combined experience, passion for the game, and dedication to developing young men both on and off the field will strengthen our football program and inspire our school community.” Upcoming Home Game We invite our SJCA family to come out this Friday, September 12, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. for our home football game against Carolina Academy . Let’s pack the stands, show our Cavalier spirit, and give Coach Brown, Coach Ellington, and our Cavaliers a true SJCA welcome. Swords Up and Go Cavs!  Media Contact: Becky Ellison, Head of School St. John’s Christian Academy 843-761-8539 becky.ellison@sjcacavaliers.com

St. Johns Christian Academy To Name Dr. Jerry Brown As head Football Coach On Monday Afternoon, Former Berkeley High & SC Star Athlete Bruce Ellington Will Also Be Named A Top Assistant Also By Billy G. Baker Publisher Moncks Cormer — Dr. Jerry Brown, who coached up five state championship football teams in coaching stints at Spring Valley , Berkeley , and Batesville - Leesville between 1985 and 2022 ; becoming only of three coaches to ever accomplish such a feat in state history, will be introduced as the new head football coach at St. Johns Christian Academy at the football stadium at the school at 4 p.m. Monday. At the same event, former Berkeley High two-sport star Bruce Ellington , who went on to play basketball and football at South Carolina , will be introduced as a top assistant coach with Coach Brown at the school. In a late Sunday night call to the HSSR from St. Johns Christian Academy Head of School Becky Ellison, was elated that both Coach Brown and Ellington would be reuniting with each other, and the plan is to have them meet with the team at 9 a. m on Monday morning.  “We are beyond excited, and very appreciative to have Dr. Jerry Brown and Bruce Ellington to come on board to help rebuild our football program,” said Ellison, a three-time former HSSR all-state softball player from Stall High School, where she helped lead a team to a state title. “We are inviting the media to attend a 4 p.m. press conference on our football field on Monday afternoon to introduce both Coach Brown and Bruce Elvington.” Dr. Jerry Brown's Career Coaching record (as verified with intense research from HSSR historian Gerald Doolittle on Sunday night) reveals a 296-149 record at the conclusion of Brown’s last season at Berkeley in 2022. Here is a break-down of Coach Brown’s 37-year journey in coaching: Spring Valley 1985-1989 Record 48-14 State title in 1988 finishing 12-2; Fairfield Central 1990 1992 12-23 record, Berkeley 1992-2010- Record was 176-64with State Titles in 1994 (15-0), 1996 (14-1) & 2009 (9-3). Bateburg - Leesville -2012 & 2013-17-8, with AA State title in 2013 with 12-2 record; Spring Valley -One season in 2014-with 6-5 record, Northside Christian in 2016 with 3-6 record; Wade Hampton between 2017-2020 with 29-14 record, and back at Berkeley- 2021 & 2022 with a 5-15 record (missed some time coaching dealing with health issues of his wife, Mary Ames Brown.) Coach Brown is a member of the SC Football Coaches Hall of Fame. In his coaching career he has been named Statewide Football Coach of the Year Five Times by The High School Sports Repor t & other news organizations. Coach Brown played in the 1967 Shrine Bowl as a player from Winnsboro, SC. He was an assistant Shrine bowl coach in 2000 and in 2022 he was the head Shrine bowl coach as the Sandlappers won the game 17-13. Coach Brown also served as both an assistant and head coach in the annual North-South all-star football game at Myrtle Beach. Coach Brown was 4-0 in the four all-star games he served in.

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR  Moncks Corner – Head coach Shaun Welch begins his second season as the head of the St. John’s Christian football program after a solid first season where the Cavaliers ended the season in the first round of the SCISA Class AA playoffs. Before taking over the head job the Newberry College graduate had been an assistant coach for three years at SJCA. He began putting his stamp on the program last season and looks for year two to see more progress from his team. “Last year was my first year as head coach and I was proud of the way the team responded and played throughout the year. We went 4-6 in regular season and 3-2 in region. Our region losses came from Pee Dee Academy, which on the state championship and Bethesda Academy, which was the state runner up. We also took our first lost a season from Pinewood Prep the 3a state champion,” said coach. Coach continued, “My first goal when I first took over the program was to make sure that our team was disciplined, learn life lessons, give all our glory to the Lord, and get better every day, not just us football players, but as young men.” On the field coach Welch and his staff put in a spread offense that relay’s heavily on RPO’s but stressing the run game. Defensively, the one thing the Cav’s struggle with his size along the defensive front so they play with three down linemen with the rest of the defensive made up of athletic players that can get the football. Returning to coach Welch’s staff are Matthew Myers and Stephen Billiot . Myers handles the offensive and defensive lines and brings a wealth of experience to Cavaliers. Billiot is in his third year at SJCA and is the team’s defensive coordinator and running back’s coach. Ryan Jackson and Christopher Oliver will be in there first year at SJCA. Jackson will coach the wide receivers and the defensive backs while Oliver will handle the quarterbacks as well as help with the receivers and the defensive backs. “We stress to our kids discipline conditioning and getting better every day. Each week we must get better as we make it to our region into our playoff run, of course the first few games matter, but we want to progress every week. We have a veteran group returning so we are expecting a good season but we have a lot of work to do before the season starts,” coach Welch said. .

 By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Moncks Corner – St. John’s Christian Academy fell a little short of their goal to get into the SCISA AAA baseball championship series, as they fell in the state semi’s to state runner up Orangeburg Prep (4-1) in what was the rubber game for the teams this season. The loss dropped their record to 12-9. They finished second in region 4 AAA at 4-2 with their only losses coming to AAA state championship Hilton Head Prep. The Cavaliers had to come thru the losers bracket in the state tournament as they dropped their first game to Pee Dee Academy 4-0 before beating Spartanburg Christian (6-1) and Patrick Henry (3-2) to set up another game with Pee Dee Academy . Senior Mason Ritter, who pitched well in losing to Pee Dee in game one, pitched a four hitter and didn’t allow a run to cross the plate as SJCA won the game 1-0 setting the game with OP. On the season he went 4-5 with a 2.31 ERA. He struck out 50 hitters in 42.1 innings. Senior Sumpter Moorer was named to the SCISA all-state team after leading the Cav’s in batting at .388, in hits with 26, runs scored with 17, doubles with four, triples with three and one round tripper. He was second in RBI’s with 11. On the bump, he appeared in nine games and had a 0.91 ERA to lead the team. Tyler Black was solid all year on the bump, leading the team with five wins. His era was 1.91 and he had team high 60 strike outs. Senior Lucas Morrison led the team in stolen bases with 9 while senior Landon Chipman was second on the team in hitting with a .297 average. Jacob Glover has been outstanding behind the plate this season. The junior had two errors in a 156 chances for a .987 fielding percentage. He did a great job of handling the pitching staff all year. “We had a veteran group with seven seniors that have played a lot of baseball together and they knew what it would take to make a playoff run. They have set a standard for future teams, ” said head coach Stewart Pierce . “

The SCISA Baseball playoffs are in the final semi finals and here are the updated brackets. 

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Moncks Corner – St. John’s Christian Academy has gotten off to a solid start to the season at 8-5/4-2 and sits comfortably in playoff position as they head into their final three games of the season with two of the games against teams they could meet once the SCISA playoffs start in Orangeburg Prep and Williamsburg Academy . The third is against SCISA class A perennial power Holly Hill Academy . Fortunately Head coach Stewart Pierce has a veteran group that understands what it takes to be successful to make a deep run in the playoffs. “This a veteran group with seven seniors that have played a lot of baseball,” said coach Pierce. “We have worked hard to correct the little mistakes and we are playing our best baseball at the right time.” Seniors Mason Ritter , Tyler Black and Sumpter Moorer have been the leaders of the team this season at the plate, in the field and on the bump. Moore leads the team in hits with 19, runs scored with 13, RBI’s with 8 and has hit for the cycle with three doubles, two triples and the teams lone round tripper. He also has stolen six bases. He has been just as impressive when he has taken the hill. He is 1-0 with a 1.14 era in eight appearance (team high) and leads the Cavs with three saves. Black and Ritter are tied for the team lead in wins with three each. Black has a 1.68 era and leads the team with 45 strikeouts in 33 innings of work. He is hitting .300 with five RBI’s. Ritter is 3-3 with a 2.17 era to go with 36 strikeouts in 26.2 innings of work. Teams have a .236 on base percentage against him. Senior Landon Chipman is second on the team in most offensive categories. He is currently hitting .317 with 13 hits on the year. He is also second in stolen bases with eight. He has been solid at second base with a .951 fielding percentage and only two errors in 41 chances. Lucas Morrison leads the team in stolen bases with 9. He continues to improve in other aspects of the game and is playing his best baseball as the playoffs near. Junior catcher Jacob Glover has been outstanding behind the plate this season. He has two errors in a 111 chances for a .982 fielding percentage but his biggest value is how he has handles the pitchers.

SJCA's Thomas Hester making another lay up.