The time is finally here. High school football is here in earnest. We have sat through a long off-season, with lots of hype for this season.
My name is Joe Wright. This is my fourth year doing these previews. Welcome to all the long-time readers and the new ones as well. I am a James Island alumni from 2010 who helped to do stats for the football program for three years.
Sertoma last week in the Charleston area certainly helped things. We had some great games, and there were lots of exciting players showcased on the fields at Johnspon-Hagood Stadium.
Timberland proved themselves with a win over Goose Creek, while Wando, West Ashley, and Stratford played well, as Summerville garnered a tie against Fort Dorchester.
This year, I will start a new state-wide poll of teams which will be posted after every Friday night. It will be called the Right 11. It will encompass all classifications and try to provide a look into who is the best football team in South Carolina.
I have also changed my preview style this year. I will focus on one game of the week every week, and write a full preview of the game with a prediction at the end of the column. This week, that game will be South Florence at Fort Dorchester. For other games, I will write a informative preview talking about the keys to the game.
The previews will be organized by classification and who is home. All games start at 7:30pm unless otherwise noted.
4A
Cane Bay at Colleton County (on WALI 93.7 FM)- A very important game for two rising local teams. This year could be a breakout year for either, and a season-opening win will be a catalyst for either, especially Cane Bay, who has to travel to Summerville then host Fort Dorchester and Berkeley in the next three games.
Hanahan at James Island- Last year’s battle between the Hawks and Trojans was the first game JI played after the death of former LB Tristen Allen, and the Trojans pulled out the road upset. This year, Hanahan returns Virginia Tech commit WR Sam Denmark, while James Island replaces QB Gage Moloney, who transferred to Northwestern. The defense who stops their offense the best wins this one.
Providence (NC) at Summerville (on ESPN 98.9 FM and 910 AM)- This game will mark a huge turning point in Lowcountry football. John McKissick will not be on the sidelines for the first time in 790 games. Under Joe Call, Summerville has changed their philosophy, playing music during practices for the first time and making practices more like their counterparts.
They will face Providence and new coach Brad Bowles, former St. John’s Head Coach and Goose Creek assistant. Providnece had a ten win campaign last year, and start the season ranked #15 in the Charlotte Observer Sweet 16.
3A
Loris at St. James: St. James starts their regular season with a battle against Grand Strand rival Loris.
Berkeley at Johnsonville (WTUA 106.1 FM): Berkeley makes the trip to Florence County to play Johnsonville in what may be a tough opener for the Stags.
Ridgeland-Hardeeville at Hilton Head: Hilton Head starts their season with a game against local Lowcountry rival Ridgeland-Hardeeville.
Edisto at Orangeburg-Wilkinson: The Bruins open up the season against an Edisto team who just replaced its coach a few weeks ago.
2A
Bluffton at Battery Creek: Bluffton makes the trip to Battery Creek, in a required battle. Last year, Bluffton had to forfeit its game against them after they used an ineligible player.
Ashley Ridge at Woodland: A very important Week Zero battle, one of the top games of the week. Ashley Ridge QB Steven Duncan makes his first appearance of the season as the Swamp Foxes travel to what could be a tough Woodland team. Expect a very even ball game.
Lincoln at Academic Magnet: Magnet RB Nate Schlosser and the Raptors open up the season against an improved Lincoln squad.
Andrews at Waccamaw: The Yellow Jackets open up the year traveling to Pawleys Island to face an improving Waccamaw team.
C.E. Murray at Kingstree: Coach Charlie Brown leads the Jaguars as they host C.E. Murray.
1A
Garrett vs. Burke (St. Andrew’s HS Stadium): Burke opens up their season in West Ashley against local rival Garrett in what will be a competitive game.
Allendale-Fairfax at Baptist Hill: Embroiled in a hazing scandal involving a top transfer, Allendale-Fairfax makes the long trip to Baptist Hill to start.
St. John’s at Screven County (GA): St. John’s makes the trip to Sylvania, Georgia to play a Screven County team which is one of the top teams in its class in the state.
Lake View at Scotts Branch: Scotts Branch hosts a Lake View team which won ten games last year.
SCISA
Porter-Gaud at Estill: Porter-Gaud and Estill continue the rare SCISA/SCHSL series this year, this time in Estill.
Estill has forfeited the game. Porter-Gaud will play Thomas Heyward tonight and hope to be 2-0 after tonight.
Pinewood Prep at First Baptist: An improved First Baptist team hosts Pinewood Prep in what could be a good ball game.
Williamsburg Academy at The King’s Academy: Williamsburg Academy travels to The King’s Academy in the opener for both teams.
Trinity-Byrnes at Hilton Head Christian (7pm): Trinity-Byrnes makes the long trip from Florence to play Hilton Head Christian.
Dorchester Academy at Robert E. Lee: Dorchester Academy, who returns 14 starters, travels to Bishopville to play Robert E. Lee.
Andrew Jackson at Beaufort Academy: Beaufort Academy makes the trip to Andrew Jackson for their season opener.
Carolina Academy at Cathedral Academy: Cathedral Academy opens the season with a home game against Carolina Academy.
John Paul II at Clarendon Hall: Pope John Paul II High School starts their first year of varsity play with a game at Clarendon Hall. The school is a Catholic HS in Ridgeland.
Greenwood Christian at Faith Christian: Greenwood Christian makes the long trip down I-26 to Faith Christian, who played well at Sertoma in their first 8-man Sertoma game.
Laurens Academy at Coastal Christian: Another Lowcountry/Upstate 8-man matchup, with the Lowcountry team being at home.
Richard Winn at Charleston Collegiate: Richard Winn, one of the state powers in 8-Man, travels to Charleston Collegiate in the season opener for both.
Wardlaw Academy at St. John’s Christian: St. John’s Christian opens up the Moncks Corner football season with a game against Wardlaw Academy.
W.W. King at Patrick Henry: W.W. King makes the long trip to Estill to play Patrick Henry…
And now for the game of the week. South Florence at Fort Dorchester.
South Florence has been a Pee Dee power for several seasons running. After spending a decade from 2000-09 with no more than six wins a season, since 2010, the Bruins have won at least seven games a year. In the last two years, they’ve lost a total of three games. Last year’s only regular season loss was to Fort Dorchester in Florence, 34-10.
South Florence’s offense replaces several of their major stars, as QB Nick Jones has graduated, replaced by Lindsey Robinson. They also replace their top RB, Rodney Brunson. The Bruins do bring back their top four receivers.
The defense returns their captain, Gavin Grimsley, who had 135 tackles in 2014. South Florence is also replacing their K, Evan Rabon.
Fort Dorchester is bringing back most of their top players on offense, including QB Dakereon Joyner, who already has an offer from South Carolina and will probably be looked at by every major school in the country. He’s just a sophomore. They also return RB Datron James (Army and Navy offers), and one of the top o-linemen in the state, John Simpson, with several major offers.
Overall, they return nine starters this year, six on offense, three on defense. There has been a lot of anticipation this year with the Patriots. They had more fans than almost anyone at Sertoma, and won the overall spirit award. They tied Summerville 14-14 in the last two quarters of Sertoma.
In this game, the keys will be which offense can strike first. The offense for Fort Dorchester is a little bit more experienced than South Florence, but with this being the first game of the season, anything can happen.
Whatever team makes the fewest mistakes will come out on top on this one.
My prediction: Fort Dorchester 31, South Florence 24
Enjoy the games!
Carolina Sports Thoughts 