So, with the release of the 2013 Athlon Sports High School Football Magazine, it is time to get into some serious high school football talk. Today, I'm going to talk about the contenders for the Class 4A title with expectations and my opinion of what they need to get it done.
FIVE TO WATCH IN 4A
Back in the off-season, it looked like the Gaffny Indians were going to be an inarguable choice as the top contender with the state's top offensive weapon, Shaq Davidson, coming back to quarterback, joined in the backfield by one of the state's top running backs, Hylik Foster. But the injury bug has changed things and while the Indians may very well be considered a top contender, I don't think they are a run-away pick. Quarterback Shaq Davidson suffered a hand/finger injury playing basketball and that injury is supposedly going to sideline him for the first two games. I'm hearing different, though. I've heard he's put off the cast and is 50/50 for the Northwestern game in two weeks. Even if that is true, I don't see this team beating a solid Trojan line up. The Indians have one returner on the defensive side of the football and almost a completely new offensive line. With Davidson not healthy, I think the Trojans win this game soundly. That said, it is a long season and the Indians will recover and be a contender in the playoffs.
Northwestern is solid. Their defense is strong, including two of the top secondary players in the state in Corey Sargent and Jacquavious Mackey. On offense, quarterback Mason Rudolph will return and give this team everything they need to fuel a powerful air raid attack. They have Mustafa Love at wide receiver, Dupree Hart at receiver and running back and he may be their best threat, and if the rumor is true, the Trojans are getting a transfer from Andrew Jackson in WR Quadarius Fair (6-4, 190, pictured left), who will be a huge addition. This offense is solid and which ever WR, Fair or Love, lines up in the slot will catch 100 balls this season. Look for the Trojans to be back in Columbia.
The Byrnes Rebels have to be mentioned in this conversation as they return what may be the most lethal of all of the passing attacks in the state, returning quarterback Shuler Bentley leading the way. Last season, Bentley tossed for more than 4,700 yards and 59 touchdowns, completing 64% of his passes. He is backed up by 2017 brother Jake Bentley (6-3, 200), who already has verbal offers on the table from Appalachian State and Auburn from camp performances/evaluations. They have an impressive list of targets led by senior Shaedon Meadors (6-2, 186) who holds six offers right now. Last season, Meadors had 48 catches for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Tavin Richardson (6-3, 210), had 38 receptions for 549 yards last season and holds seven offers right now. Senior Greg McHam (5-10, 170) may be the most dangerous at the receiver spot. Last season, he hauled in 58 catches for 924 yards and 16 scores. This past off-season, he was one of the more valuable receivers in the Rebels' 7 on 7 line up and won the Most Valuable Wide Receiver award that the Palmetto Showdown. McHam has one offer from UTC right now. Their challenge will be on defense. Last season, the Rebels gave up 20 points per game; add to that the fact that Chris Miller, former head coach and defensive mind, is now at Spartanburg. The Rebels must improve defensively to get to the the championship.
Dutch Fork was on the field with Gaffney at last year's 4A DI title game and came up short. That team lost their top player, wide receiver Jordan Berry, to graduation. They return a solid group of players and have to be mentioned among the contenders. Quarterback Derek Olenchuk returns with experience but gone is fuel from his passing stats last season, Berry. They do return two solid running backs. Everyone is talking about junior Matt Colburn and with good reason, he is a very good back. But I also like their senior, Walter Roberson, who has worked hard in the off season and actually looked good in scrimmage against Spartanburg. Their line big but I believe it is stronger outside the tackles at the Tight End position than it is inside the tackles. Defensively they are solid and I like their secondary, though they did give up three through the air in the Vikings' scrimmage (one was called back). This team has the talent and the coaching to get back to the title game.
North Augusta is the sleeper contender that few people are talking about. We already knew the Yellow Jackets were returning a solid roster of talent but they looked very good against Goose Creek in scrimmage - good enough that I have to mention them as a contender in the 4A-DII race. They return junior quarterback Trib Reece, who I think could be the best quarterback in the Regin V-4A. Their offensive front is solid, anchored by Jake Whitley and while they lost their top running back to graduation, they do return two other guys who got significant touches last season. They're defense is athletic and physical and I was impressed with what they did against the Goose Creek ground game. Look for North Augusta to battle Dutch Fork for the Region V Crown this season.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON:
Goose Creek
Greenwood
South Pointe
Bluffton
Spring Valley
Irmo
This post was edited on 8/10 9:46 PM by JB@Rivals
FIVE TO WATCH IN 4A
Back in the off-season, it looked like the Gaffny Indians were going to be an inarguable choice as the top contender with the state's top offensive weapon, Shaq Davidson, coming back to quarterback, joined in the backfield by one of the state's top running backs, Hylik Foster. But the injury bug has changed things and while the Indians may very well be considered a top contender, I don't think they are a run-away pick. Quarterback Shaq Davidson suffered a hand/finger injury playing basketball and that injury is supposedly going to sideline him for the first two games. I'm hearing different, though. I've heard he's put off the cast and is 50/50 for the Northwestern game in two weeks. Even if that is true, I don't see this team beating a solid Trojan line up. The Indians have one returner on the defensive side of the football and almost a completely new offensive line. With Davidson not healthy, I think the Trojans win this game soundly. That said, it is a long season and the Indians will recover and be a contender in the playoffs.
The Byrnes Rebels have to be mentioned in this conversation as they return what may be the most lethal of all of the passing attacks in the state, returning quarterback Shuler Bentley leading the way. Last season, Bentley tossed for more than 4,700 yards and 59 touchdowns, completing 64% of his passes. He is backed up by 2017 brother Jake Bentley (6-3, 200), who already has verbal offers on the table from Appalachian State and Auburn from camp performances/evaluations. They have an impressive list of targets led by senior Shaedon Meadors (6-2, 186) who holds six offers right now. Last season, Meadors had 48 catches for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Tavin Richardson (6-3, 210), had 38 receptions for 549 yards last season and holds seven offers right now. Senior Greg McHam (5-10, 170) may be the most dangerous at the receiver spot. Last season, he hauled in 58 catches for 924 yards and 16 scores. This past off-season, he was one of the more valuable receivers in the Rebels' 7 on 7 line up and won the Most Valuable Wide Receiver award that the Palmetto Showdown. McHam has one offer from UTC right now. Their challenge will be on defense. Last season, the Rebels gave up 20 points per game; add to that the fact that Chris Miller, former head coach and defensive mind, is now at Spartanburg. The Rebels must improve defensively to get to the the championship.
Dutch Fork was on the field with Gaffney at last year's 4A DI title game and came up short. That team lost their top player, wide receiver Jordan Berry, to graduation. They return a solid group of players and have to be mentioned among the contenders. Quarterback Derek Olenchuk returns with experience but gone is fuel from his passing stats last season, Berry. They do return two solid running backs. Everyone is talking about junior Matt Colburn and with good reason, he is a very good back. But I also like their senior, Walter Roberson, who has worked hard in the off season and actually looked good in scrimmage against Spartanburg. Their line big but I believe it is stronger outside the tackles at the Tight End position than it is inside the tackles. Defensively they are solid and I like their secondary, though they did give up three through the air in the Vikings' scrimmage (one was called back). This team has the talent and the coaching to get back to the title game.
North Augusta is the sleeper contender that few people are talking about. We already knew the Yellow Jackets were returning a solid roster of talent but they looked very good against Goose Creek in scrimmage - good enough that I have to mention them as a contender in the 4A-DII race. They return junior quarterback Trib Reece, who I think could be the best quarterback in the Regin V-4A. Their offensive front is solid, anchored by Jake Whitley and while they lost their top running back to graduation, they do return two other guys who got significant touches last season. They're defense is athletic and physical and I was impressed with what they did against the Goose Creek ground game. Look for North Augusta to battle Dutch Fork for the Region V Crown this season.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON:
Goose Creek
Greenwood
South Pointe
Bluffton
Spring Valley
Irmo
This post was edited on 8/10 9:46 PM by JB@Rivals