For the Love of the Game by Ashley ‘A.B.’ Brown: Area season preview and The Huddle Top 12 High School Football Poll
It is that glorious time of the year once again – football season. Specifically high school football season. Once again, there are some great players, storylines and matchups as we enter the start of the 2024 season. Can Midland Valley repeat its magic of a year ago while replacing 24 Seniors, including 3,000-yard rusher Traevon Dunbar? Can a talented Aquinas team handle a jump from Class A to Class AAA? Will new head coach Sean Tiernan be able to turn things around at Greenbrier? And, finally, who will be this year’s breakout stud, a la Traevon Dunbar from a year ago? Jaquel Holman? Jevon Edwards? Tre Jeffrey?
I, for one, cannot wait to see the season unfold and these questions answered. Again this year I will, throughout the season, release the Huddle CSRA High School Football Top 12 Poll. This year’s pre-season poll might have been the most difficult to assemble in my 30 years of covering prep football. However, I have pored over as much info as I could gather and here is the 2024 The Huddle Pre-Season Top 12.
- North Augusta 0-0 (Last Year: 7-4)
Do not let the four losses a year ago fool you. The Jackets played a brutally tough non-region schedule that included losses to perennial powers Dutch Fork and Dorman. Their other two losses were heartbreaking close calls to Midland Valley (49-48) and Greenwood (17-16). They are also bringing back dual threat QB Corey Tillman, who is on the South Carolina Mr. Football pre-season watchlist.
- Burke County 1-0 (Last Year: 8-3)
The Bears will have to replace tackle machine Brandon Lively, who graduated, but remain a tough matchup for anyone on their schedule. The Bears are bringing back talented young QB Sean Vandiver and shifty running back A’merre Williams. Also, they have one of the best coaches in Georgia in Franklin Stephens. They are off to a good start with a 44-9 win over ARC.
- Evans 1-0 (Last Year: 4-7)
The Knights made the playoffs a year ago, but struggled at times with young, inexperienced players in key roles. They should be improved this year with a big, experienced offensive line led by University of Georgia commit Mason Short. Speedy newcomer Buddy Garrer will play a big role on both sides of the ball. Evans surprised many with a 35-28 win over perennial power Thomson in their opener.
- Blackville-Hilda 0-0 (Last Year: 12-2)
Blackville-Hilda has speed all over the field, but the King of the Mountain is South Carolina commit Jaquel Holman. Last season, he rushed for over 1,600 yards and had 79 tackles on defense. He spent the spring winning the state title in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, despite it being his first season running track.
- Thomson 0-1 (Last Year: 10-2)
Thomson has to replace several key contributors from a year ago, but they do still have a big time running back in Tre Jeffrey and standout defensive lineman Qua Cummings. They also have some great young players. That group has to prove themselves, but the talent is there. The Bulldogs lost to Evans on the road in their season opener.
- Aquinas 0-1 (Last Year: 9-3)
Aquinas is always well-coached by James Leonard and his staff. They also still have senior QB and Davidson commit Jim Franklin. Franklin threw 31 TDs last season, 16 of them found talented young WR Jack Rhodes, who enters his junior season. Also, keep an eye on sophomore defensive end Jaden Wuerth, who led the state in sacks last season as a freshman. The Irish dropped their opener to a very good Athens Academy team 45-22.
- Barnwell 0-0 (Last Year: 8-5)
Brian Smith is a solid, experienced coach that has had success everywhere he has been. Last year’s squad got off to a slow start, but heated up as the season went on. They are led by talented dual threat QB Cam Austin. Last season Austin, who is a South Carolina baseball commit, went 144 of 285 passing with 11 TDs. He also rushed for 911 yards and 21 more scores on the ground. He is also getting back favored targets Logan Sturkie (52 receptions for 653 yards and 5 TDs) and Jaquan Peeples (45 receptions for 634 yards and 3 TDs). If Austin can cut down on the turnovers (18 last year), the Warhorses will be a team to watch in the playoffs.
- Strom Thurmond 0-0 (Last Year: 10-3)
The Rebels must replace a trio of key players from one of the area’s top passing offenses. Gone are QB Quan Edmond (2,472 yards passing and 27 TD passes) and the talented WR duo of Demarius Tolen (NC Central) and Braylon Staley (Tennessee). The two combined for an astounding 122 catches, 1,942 yards and 21 TDs a year ago. The cupboard is not completely bare. Jay Sewell is a versatile offensive weapon and athletic pass rusher Josh Merriweather should be a force on defense.
- Bamberg-Ehrhardt 0-0 (Last Year: 12-2)
The Red Raiders are consistent winners in the Palmetto State. You can almost pencil them in for double digit wins and a deep playoff run year-in-year-out. This year should be no different with talented signal caller Chanston Crosby leading the offense. The 6 foot, 2 inch, 190 pound senior has committed to North Carolina Central and guided the team to a 12-2 mark last year. He is rated as one of South Carolina’s Top 25 Players.
- Lakeside 1-0 (Last Year: 3-7)
The Panthers bring back their top four offensive producers from a year ago, led by speedster Ty Jones (WR/QB) and 6 foot, 1 inch, 225 pound Jack Thexton (TE/HB). They also will have plenty of beef up front with a pair of 300 pound college-bound lineman in Evan Scott (Duke) and Ayaan Sharfudeen (Bryant University). Lakeside got off to a nice start with a 30-12 win over Grovetown.
- Lincoln County 1-0 (Last Year: 7-5)
The Red Devils were dealt a blow in the off-season when talented sophomore running back Andrew Beard, who already has offers from UGA and Arkansas, transferred to Prince Avenue Christian. Coach Lee Chomskis does bring back one of the area’s top two-way players in Cincinnati commit CJ Crite. Crite is equally dominant at linebacker or receiver. Lincoln County crushed Augusta Christian in their opener 37-0.
- Harlem 1-0 (Last Year: 7-4)
The Bulldogs must replace the Evangelista brothers, who were incredible a year ago. The QB, Ethan, threw for 24 TDs and ran in another 12 scores while his brother Elijah (WR) hauled in 59 passes for 836 yards and 9 TDs. They do return tackling machine Baylor Davis, who tallied 129 tackles last season. The Bulldogs won an overtime thriller over Greenbrier in their opener.
Other Teams to Watch (In Order)
Midland Valley, Greenbrier, Westside, Washington County, Cross Creek, Hephzibah, Silver Bluff, Fox Creek, Washington-Wilkes, and ARC