The wait is finally over. The 2021 high school football season is upon us. There’s no better feeling than the start of football in the Lowco, and this year is looking like one of the most memorable yet. With several state title contenders and extraordinary talent throughout the area’s public and private school ranks, we should be treated to a heck of a show this fall. Here are some storylines to look out for as we get things underway on Friday.
Beaufort High seeks its third straight Region 7-4A title
The class of the SCHSL’s “Region Lowco” still appears to be Beaufort High, and the Eagles should have the inside track to clinch their third straight crown in Bryce Lybrand’s third season. Tyler Haley is back for his senior year, and he’ll look to replicate his phenomenal 2020 campaign both through the air and on the ground. This might be the most dangerous Beaufort High offense we’ve ever seen, as versatile senior running back Amariee Morris and athletic junior wide receiver Kacy Fields lead a loaded group of weapons. They’ll be joined by up-and-coming wideout McLeod Reichel and 6-foot-3 basketball star Zyrin Odom, who will make the jump over to the gridiron and provide Haley with a massive target to complement a loaded group. The defense is looking scary as well. Eamon Smalls will be a monster lurking in the middle of the line alongside Alvin Wilson, and the secondary should take a step up with the return of Colton Phares and Daryl DePass. We should be in store for a very interesting Region 7-4A, as May River looks to replace legendary quarterback Ahmad Green and Hilton Head High hopes to surprise with some talented skill-position athletes. Bluffton and Colleton County both look to be trending upward, and James Island should give a difficult test to every school the Trojans face. But this Beaufort roster is loaded with skill from front to back, and if the Eagles can plug in some young talent at linebacker, Lybrand’s squad will be a clear favorite for the region title and should have a great chance at a deep postseason run.
Local SCISA powers Hilton Head Christian Academy and Thomas Heyward look to run it back
With their third straight SCISA 1A title last fall, the Thomas Heyward Rebels have officially reached dynasty territory. Meanwhile, Hilton Head Christian Academy will vie for back-to-back SCISA 2A championships in its inaugural season on its new Bluffton campus. The Rebels certainly lost some phenomenal talent on both sides of the ball, but Nic Shuford’s group has several pieces that should quickly step into the main roles. Speedy running back Anthony Fripp will be a major part of the new offense, and senior Preston Hamilton should thrive as the captain of an offensive line that lost Therion Cannon to UAB. Freshman Dietrich Shuford is the quarterback of the future, but we could see several others step in and lead the charge as well. Over in Bluffton, the incredible Jace Blackshear is back for his senior season under center for
HHCA, and should wow us again with more brilliant performances running, passing, or even catching the ball. Riley Shinn has the potential for a breakout season at wide receiver with JP Peduzzi moving on to Lenoir-Rhyne, and Isaiah Anderson’s vertical ability at 6-foot-4 should be a major factor to the offfense’s success. It’s senior year for the Bulldog, and Jackson Lanier will be in for his most versatile role yet. He’ll lead a young defensive group at linebacker, and should also be a major factor in the run game for a group needing another veteran playmaker in the backfield. Thomas Heyward’s defense should be exceptional once again, as Cameron VanGeison, Brandon Smith, Brandon Howard, and Jordan Mikell will lead a talented group looking to continue what John Hampton Hewlett’s bunch did a season ago. The defense is a bit more of a question mark at HHCA, but Lanier’s leadership should go a long way in helping some talented young athletes step up their game. Despite several key changes across both sides of the ball at Thomas Heyward, I think the Rebels’ returnees and up-and-coming stars should give them a strong shot at a fourth straight title. Blackshear and HHCA’s explosive offense will keep the Eagles in the top tier of 2A competition, but the defense will need to step up in order to earn a back-to-back crown.
We’re seeing some future college stars shine right here in the Lowco
Poona Ford was the first to make it big, but he may not be the last. Over the past few years, several defensive stars in the area have shown they also have what it takes to follow in the Seahawk’s footsteps. At Ford’s old stomping grounds of Hilton Head High, senior linebacker Jaylen Sneed has developed into arguably the most prestigious recruit in school history. Now, he’s ready to put together a memorable final year on the island before beginning his college career at Notre Dame. Sneed has been one of the most explosive high school linebackers I’ve ever seen, displaying his unbelievable motor to make plays all over the field while doubling as a terrific component in pass coverage. I cannot wait for Sneed to begin what should be a monster season. And then there’s Eamon Smalls, who has already received some big-time offers including South Carolina going into his junior year. A 280-pound beast on the line, Smalls will serve as the leader of what should be a menacing Beaufort High defense and will use his elite strength and leverage at the line to shut down the opponent’s run game: just like he did against Ahmad Green and May River last season. Ford was just the start, and the Lowco has begun to grow some incredible defensive talent primed for the Division I college level and possibly beyond.
COVID-19 will still play a big role in the trajectory of this season
I certainly had optimism about the 2021 season being one where COVID was a non-issue, but the spread of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates across the state will have the pandemic once again playing a major part of this year’s football schedule. But things do certainly look a lot better than they did last year. We’ll be starting on time with full schedules, and the SCHSL playoff format will return to the normal 32 teams. Plus, with vaccines available to everyone 12 and older, the hope is that we won’t see any major outbreaks this time around. But with personnel in the area already quarantining as classes begin, we’re definitely not out of the woods quite yet, and game postponements or cancellations are still very much possible. We’ll also see a team make its return after missing the 2020 season due to COVID precautions. Rodney Barr will lead a new-look Ridgeland-Hardeeville Jaguar squad after leading Lower Richland to a pair of region titles. Hilton Head played just three games a season ago due to a pair of quarantine periods, and Payne’s squad is excited for what should be smoother sailing this time around. We’re a lot closer to normal than we were a year ago, but we still need to all do our part (mask up in public indoor spaces, get the vaccine), so we can slow the spread and help ensure a full and successful football season. The last thing we’d want to see is one of our teams forfeit a playoff run due to a preventable outbreak.
We’re just five days away from high school football action, and we’re getting ready to give you another season full of gridiron coverage starting with our team previews this week. You can catch recaps of every game on LowcoSports.com, and we’ll have pregame and postgame analysis each week on the LowcoSports Lowdown podcast. The countdown is almost complete, and we can’t wait to kick things off on Friday night.
By Wes Kerr
