Wilson Hall Rebuilding Year Find Tough Hilton Head Christian Team
Wilson Hall's junior QB Nolan Gooch Head Coach Adam Jarecki.
Larry Gamble
Contributing Writer
Sumter – The Wilson Hall Barons graduated 18 seniors from their championship run team in 2025. This year Head Coach Adam Jarecki is still searching for the right combination of players, positions, and schemes to create that winning formula. Plus, a couple of banged up players already and Jarecki’s task is even tougher.
After a road trip and win against Orangeburg Prep last week, hosting 2-0 Hilton Head Christian for the home opener was going to be a great match up with two good SCISA teams. For the Barons, senior playmaker, RB/DB John Land was sidelined, still recuperating from an injury over the summer.
Coach Jarecki commented after the game, “I proud of the way we played, we knew they were going to be a good club.” With the heat and a few drive stopping penalties, Jarecki put it in perspective, “We are playing hard and some guys had to set up. I’m proud of that.” Looking forward this early in the season coach said, “Hat’s off to them, the last two years, we beat them to go to the state championship, and they came to play.” Then added, “This will help us get back on track and get ready for next week.”
The first quarter started slow for the Barons even with a forced Hilton Head fumble inside the red zone that senior DL Braelen Lewis covered for Wilson Hall to stop the Eagles first threat to score. Starting at the five-yard line, the Barons went three and out, the punt gave the Eagles good field position on their 45-yard line. HHC senior QB Kres Langhals hits 32-yard completion to James Richardson to put the Eagles on the board first, but the extra point was no good.
The Barons owned the second quarter. Junior QB Nolan Gooch connected on a 42-yard TD to Blane Blatt with Cameron Wisely carrying in the two-point conversion to go up 8-6. An interception by Shep Vincent give the Barons the ball at the Eagles 12-yard line. Wisely converts 4th and 5 for the TD but the 2-point attempt fails. Another 35-yard completion Blatt set up a 3-yard TD run by Wisely and the failed 2-pt conversion put the Barons ahead 20-6.
In the second half, the Eagles found their strengths. Langhals connected for TD pass from the 20 but the 2pt conversion failed making the score 20-12 in the 3rd. Gooch connects for a 55-yard TD to make it 26-12 again missing the 2-pt conversion. HHC answers with Langhals driving his team to Barons 19-yard line, then a QB draw for the TD to make it 26-26 with under 4 minutes in the game.
Wilson Hall can’t keep the drive alive, punts to HHC and Langhals get the ball to Richardson for the go-ahead TD to make it 26-32. After the kickoff, an interception by HHC sets up the Eagles at the Barons 10-yard line and Langhals scores again. Final score 38-26 HHC.
HHC Head Coach Ron Peduzzi shared his thoughts about the game, “the last three times we’ve come up here to play them, they’ve beaten us.” Being down 20-6 at half-time Peduzzi reflected, “We challenged our guys to stand up and get after it.” With only three seniors this season, he said, “Our seniors were outstanding in the second half and I’m real proud of them.”
Hilton Head Christian improved to 3-0 and after a bye week hosts Calhoun Academy on 11 Sept. Wilson Hall now 1-1 next travels to Kingstree to face Williamsburg Academy on Friday.
Scoring: 1. 2. 3. 4. Total
HHC 6 0 14 18 38
WH 0 20 6 0 26
