10 story lines for Midlands high school football season
After SCISA football teams from around the Midlands held their first practice Thursday, public schools will follow suit today.
Here are some of the top story lines as we get ready for the season, which begins Aug. 20:
Realignment to be announced
One of the biggest stories for the season won’t happen on the field as teams wait to see a proposal for 2016-18 realignment.
In April, the South Carolina High School League executive committee voted to move to a five-class system beginning next season. The SCHSL is expected to release the initial proposal to schools on Monday. From there, schools can appeal. The finalized version is expected sometime in late August or September.
Realignment is based on 135-day enrollment numbers. The big unknown is if the SCHSL divides schools evenly with about 42 per class. There are other scenarios being talked about with either the top 24 or 32 teams going into Class 5A and the bottom 24 or 32 making up Class A.
Seven schools from the Midlands are in the top 32 in the state – Dutch Fork (11th), Spring Valley (14th), White Knoll (17th), Blythewood (23rd), River Bluff (29th), Irmo (31st) and Lexington (32nd).
New faces on the sidelines
Nine Midlands high schools have new coaches this season, with the biggest change coming at Pelion as Dann Holland takes over for Ben Freeman, who retired after 25 years at the school and was inducted in the South Carolina Coaches Hall of Fame over the weekend.
Holland led Hunter-Kinard-Tyler to back-to-back Class A Division II state title appearances.
Other new faces include Robin Bacon (Spring Valley), Greg Wright (Eau Claire), Perry Parks (Ridge View), Demond Logan (C.A. Johnson), Doug Dutton (Cardinal Newman), Matthew Campbell (Lugoff-Elgin), Steve Victory (Heathwood Hall) and Jason Bush (Columbia).
Dutch Fork eyes another title run
After back-to-back Class 4A Division I state championship appearances, Dutch Fork must replace key components to make a third straight trip to the title game.
Running back Matt Colburn and quarterback Tate Fant both graduated, with Colburn headed to Wake Forest. Colburn’s brother Chris will be one of those looking to fill the void at running back.
At quarterback it will be either Cole Douglas or Caleb Clark. Austin Connor, the team’s leading receiver from last season, is back.
On defense, the Silvers Foxes return Auburn commit and defensive back Stephen Davis Jr. He will miss the early part of practice after surgery on his wrist this week.
High-profile talent
Speaking of Davis, he is one of several high-profile recruits in the Midlands this season. 247Sports ranks the senior defensive back as No. 6 in the state for his class. He is joined in the top 10 by Heathwood Hall’s Brandon Hill (No. 7) and Lower Richland receiver Larry Collins (No. 9). Hill has committed to Duke, while Collins has yet to commit.
Richland Northeast linebacker T.J. Brunson, a Louisville commit, is ranked No. 18 in the state, and Camden’s Tyrone Kelly is No. 22.
Hammond looks for terrific 10
After a two-year absence, Hammond was back on top of SCISA 3A by defeating Laurence Manning 17-0 in the state title game.
The Skyhawks look to repeat as champs this season and make their 10th consecutive state title appearance. Hammond will have a new quarterback in Graham Smith and must replace running back T.J. Brady.
River Bluff looks to build on playoff run
River Bluff surprised many in its first season when it knocked off top-seeded Goose Creek in the first round of the Class 4A Division II playoffs.
Now, the challenge will be to keep it going as they begin year two. River Bluff lost a lot from last season but boasts one of the Midlands’ top athletes in quarterback and Liberty commit Brandon Tillmon.
Keenan tries to keep momentum going
It was a record-setting year for the Keenan football team last season.
The Raiders won a school-record 10 games and became the first Richland One school since 1991 to play for a state championship.
After the season, coach Quinn McCollum was let go and replaced on an interim basis by Charlie Richards, who was the team’s defensive coordinator. Keenan also must replace quarterback D’Marco Zeigler, who transferred.
Airport looks to air it out
Airport made it back to the playoffs last season and is hoping for better things this season.
The Eagles return quarterback Bret Burnett and receiver CJ Wright and will be one of the top offenses in Region 5-3A.
A.C. Flora eyes another region crown
A.C. Flora has won region titles three of the past four seasons and looks to add another this season.
The Falcons lost two-way standout Denzel Johnson to graduation but have quarterback Brandon Greene in the mix. Flora should get strong competition in Region 4-3A from Chapin, Dreher and Lower Richland.
Lexington on the rise
After winning playoff games in his first two seasons, Lexington Josh Stepp hopes to make a deeper playoff run this season.
The Wildcats got plenty of firepower on offense with running back Slade Carroll and quarterbacks Donny Baker and Brandon Blake. Jayson Hopper was the team’s leading receiver from last season.
This story was originally published July 30, 2015 at 11:11 PM.