It’s not quite starting over, but for a young program that just completed a rapid climb to state championship contender, this season feels like a new beginning of sorts for the John Paul II football team.
With as many new starters as returners expected to take the field Friday night, and with new coach Chris Myers at the helm, the Golden Warriors aren’t feeling the part of a team that is coming off a state runner-up performance — they’re relishing the role of the underdog.
“Nobody’s looking for us to win the region,” senior Reco Anderson said. “And we like that.”
That’s at least in part because no one knows quite what to expect from the Golden Warriors, especially on offense. Of the team’s 43 offensive touchdowns last season, players lost to graduation or transfer played a part in all of them and returning players accounted for only three.
The Golden Warriors recognize that they’ll have to make up for all those losses in other ways, many of which don’t show up on the stat sheet.
“We’re going to be very conditioned,” junior Malone Kinard-Huisinger said. “We may not be the strongest or maybe the fastest or most intimidating, but we’re definitely going to go all four quarters. We’re going to give some teams a run.”
JOHN PAUL II GOLDEN WARRIORS FOOTBALL (click for team page)
Coach: Chris Myers
Record at JPII: 0-0 (1st season)
2018 record: 7-5 overall, 3-1 region (SCISA 2A runner-up)
Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 defense
Offensive scheme: Multiple
Defensive scheme: 3-4
Top returners: WR/DB Reco Anderson, QB/DE Austin McIntosh, WR/DE Malone Kinard-Huisinger, WR/DB Jeremiah Young
Notable losses: RB/DE Zach Doe, RB/LB Freddie Aiken, RB/LB Melik Frost, QB Sam Summa
PLAYER TO WATCH
Reco Anderson, WR/DB: Anderson is a standout athlete who will be called upon to take on a bigger role on both sides of the ball. Look for the Golden Warriors to try to get him the ball in the open field and see what he can do with it.
BURNING QUESTION
Can the offense score enough to keep pace?
The Golden Warriors could put up points last year, but most of them came on long runs from Zach Doe or Melik Frost, both of whom are gone. JPII will show some different looks on offense this year and will probably be more balanced by default, but it’s unclear whether the Golden Warriors will be able to put up points at the clip necessary to compete in a region loaded with offensive talent.
REGION AND BEYOND
The Golden Warriors made a run to the state championship game last season as a No. 3 seed, which gives an idea of how competitive the region was. Expect more of the same, except this time JPII will be hoping to play the role of spoiler.
SCHEDULE
8/23 — at Cardinal Newman
8/30 — vs. Thomas Heyward
9/6 — vs. St. Andrew’s
9/13 — vs. Carolina Academy
9/20 — at Bethesda Academy
9/27 — vs. Hilton Head Prep*
10/4 — at Orangeburg Prep*
10/11 — at Northwood Academy*
10/18 — Open
10/25 — vs. Hilton Head Christian*
11/1 — at Colleton Prep
*region opponent
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