The Countdown Begins On The Re-Launch Of Varsity Football At The Spartanburg Day School

The Countdown Begins On The Re-Launch Of Varsity Football At The Spartanburg Day School 



By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Spartanburg—They literally have a count-down clock at the Spartanburg Day School keeping their fans, players, and coaches up to date until their historic first season of varsity football, in over 40 years, kick-offs on August 14 with an away game against Asheville Christian Academy in North Carolina.

The team is head coached by Patrick Moffitt and he has spent the past two seasons working with a “B” team and a junior varsity team to get prepared for varsity football at the SDS.

“We didn't do 7-on-7 this summer,” said Coach Moffitt. “We just had summer workouts. We had a great turnout in guys who showed up each and every day, and a lot of our guys have really improved, both in and out of the weight room, since the summer started.

“The school community is extremely excited for our varsity football coming back to campus this fall,” said Coach Moffitt. “It has been something since we got here (2024) and it has been a tremendous buy-in from our players, fans, school administration, and our coaches. Everyone is looking forward to being together on campus on Friday nights for our home games.”

Coach Moffitt is in the process of adding one more varsity coach to the program. “I should have one more assistant who hasn't officially accepted yet, so just have the same coaches as of now.”

Those two varsity assistants include Andrew Vaught, a Wofford graduate who has done a good job developing the offensive line. The other full-time assistant is Chris Cormier who came to the Griffins from St. Thomas Aquinas High in Florida, where he served as the team’s offensive coordinator. Coach Cormier was a four-year letterman as a quarterback at West Virginia Wesleyan.

The excitement of varsity football returning to the school has attracted new players. “We have added two more kids to the roster since early June,” said Coach Moffitt. “They are new kids to the school whose families relocated to the Spartanburg area (not for football purposes). These families moved from other states. One is Finlay MacMillan, (6'2" 255 OL/DL) while the other is Sagan O'Brien, (6'2" 220 OL/DL).

Coach Moffitt said the team will be a member of the SCISA 2-AA region. The Griffins will scrimmage Blacksburg High on August 6^th, prior to playing at Asheville Christian on the team’s first home game is on August 28th against the Thornwell Charter School.

Some of the leadership players, who have played on the Griffins “B” team and junior varsity teams the past two seasons include sophomore Charles Wilson (WR/LB), sophomore Camden Teel (WR/DB), sophomores Nick Querin (OL/DL), sophomore Tyler Fernanders (WR/DB) and junior Heath Boyd (RB/LB).

“These five players have been staples for us in the program since we started it back in the fall of 2024,” said Coach Moffitt. “They have been the group of guys who have really set the example and been leaders in both seasons, and during off-season workouts. We have a lot of other great kids who have worked really hard, and the whole team is really bought in to what we're trying to build. We're excited with the group we have and can't wait to get going.”