Young White Knoll squad will build around Smith in hopes of turnaround
With one of his youngest teams in recent memory, White Knoll coach Dean Howell is preaching patience and knows his team is a work in progress.
The Timberwolves return only six starters and will play only a handful of seniors this season on a team coming off a 5-6 season last year.
“Right now, it is a struggle but they keep showing up. We got a bunch of good kids and good working kids,” Howell said. “That is going to be the fun part, three or four months from now seeing a good football team. We aren’t right now but we are going to get there.”
Howell will be depending a lot on junior dual-threat quarterback Aveon Smith, who split time last year with Caleb Sheldon. But with Sheldon graduated, Smith will be the centerpiece of the offense.
As a sophomore last year, Smith accounted for 1,223 total yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior Nick Taiste is the Timberwolves’ top returning lineman, was an all-region selection last year and MVP at Aun & McKay Kickoff Classic.
Defensively, Jamias Holloway is the team’s top returner in interceptions and David Kinard had 36 tackles and two interceptions.
“We got some good individual players on both side of the ball but we got to get some other guys ready,” Howell said. “Our quarterback is dynamic and they are going to have to defend that when the season starts. We are going to be different team when we start the season at Brookland-Cayce.”
About White Knoll
Coach: Dean Howell (6th year, 34-24, 71-36 overall)
Last year’s record: 5-6
Number of starters returning: 6
Key returning players: QB Aveon Smith, DL David Kinard, OL Nick Taiste, DB Jamias Holloway
Newcomers to watch: WR: Darius Derrick- Jones, DB Emori Mills
Schedule
Aug. 17: at Brookland-Cayce
Aug. 24: vs. Colleton County
Aug. 31: vs. Keenan
Sept. 7: vs. Aiken
Sept. 14: vs. Gray Collegiate
Sept. 28: vs. Lexington
Oct. 5: at Chapin
Oct. 12: at Spring Valley
Oct. 19: vs. River Bluff
Oct. 26: at Dutch Fork
This story was originally published August 15, 2018 at 3:44 PM.