Offseason efforts tested at Battle on the Bluff

Dann Holland knows it wasn’t going to be a quick fix when he took over the Pelion football program.

Holland said he is trying to changing the culture of the Panthers’ program, which has seen ups and downs over the past few years and is coming off a 5-5 season in Ben Freeman’s final year. Pelion’s last winning season came in 2007 when it was 8-4.

So far, Holland’s message has been met with mixed results as it heads to its season opener Aug. 22 against Cardinal Newman in the Battle on the Bluff at River Bluff High.

“We have some that are unsure and still on the fence. It is going to take some time,” Holland said Friday at a news conference promoting next week’s event. “We are trying to preach toughness, a conditioning level, competitiveness and all the things people take for granted in the program. We are trying to create a better atmosphere of that in the program.

“So far, our numbers aren’t where we want them to be or need to be. But we’ve got 26 pretty salty guys out there ready to go.”

Holland led Hunter-Kinard-Tyler to back-to-back Class A Division II titles the past two years. One of the staples of those teams was Holland’s offseason program, which involved his football players playing different sports in the winter and spring. He said he hopes to have all of his offensive linemen wrestle in the winter and the others take part in the Panthers’ track program in the spring.

“I’m a big believer in track and football together. It is very conducive to turning out fast and well-conditioned athletes,” Holland said.

Cardinal Newman also begins the season with a new coach in Doug Dutton, who spent last season as defensive coordinator at Richland Northeast. Cardinal Newman went 3-7 last year and has 11 seniors on its 30-player roster.

“It is going to be great challenge for us, but we are excited to be a part of this,” Dutton said. “Like (River Bluff coach) David Bennett said, it is a great experience for our kids to be part of this environment.”

The Battle of the Bluff is in its second year. It will feature five games spread over three days beginning with Thursday’s White Knoll-Fort Mill matchup. On Friday, it will be Gilbert taking on Gray Collegiate, and 4A powers Greenwood and Dutch Fork meeting in the nightcap.

Gray Collegiate is in its second season of football and will be competing as an independent again before moving to Region 3-2A next season. The War Eagles will be playing their home games at Benedict College, and their numbers are up with 34 players out for the team this season.

On Saturday, it will be Pelion-Cardinal Newman followed by host River Bluff taking on Westwood to close the event.

River Bluff, which became the first school to win a playoff game as a No. 16 seed last year, looks to avenge its 46-0 loss to Westwood from a year ago. Gators quarterback Brandon Tillmon missed that game with an injury but will ready to go in the first game of his senior season.

Still, River Bluff coach David Bennett knows it won’t be easy trying to stop the Redhawks’ massive offensive line and running attack.

“They beat us a like a drum last year,” Bennett said. “We just hope we can slow them down. I have been reading about their offensive line in the paper. They look like Newberry College’s offensive line. They are a good football team and great program.”

Bennett is happy with the quality of teams playing the Battle of the Bluff and hopes to keep it going in the future. He is waiting to see how things will shake out with realignment for next year to decide on which teams can take part.

“It is a great environment, and these kids get to be part of something special,” Bennett said. “We hope to keep this thing going.”

This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 9:25 PM.