If his mantra is any indication, Rodney Barr is the right man for a difficult rebuilding job at Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School. “Keep chopping every day,” Barr has said since taking over the Jaguars’ program, and he knows he has a challenge ahead as he tries to turn around a struggling program that is reeling after sitting out last season.
The chopping resumes Friday, when the Jaguars host rival Estill at Hardeeville’s Richard Gray Stadium. It might not be pretty, but Barr and the Jags have to start hammering away at the foundation for a program that is fighting to get back on its feet.
RHHS stayed on the sidelines last season as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged Jasper County, and that move unfortunately resulted in several key players transferring to other area schools. A talented sophomore class in 2019 had the Jaguars dreaming of a brighter future, but standouts Brandon Howard, James Townsend, and Jordan Mikell landed at Thomas Heyward Academy last season, and star running back Joseph Robinson transferred to Hilton Head Christian Academy this fall.
That left Barr to pick up the pieces and try to make the best of his first season at the helm. He’s a qualified and successful coach with an impressive track record, but he’s bound to hit some bumps in the road in year 1 in Jasper County. The Jags are not devoid of talent — versatile athletes Hamid Brown and Maurice Brown are capable of making big plays on offense, and Ogurian Simmons and Danien King will anchor a promising crew in the trenches — but with limited depth, RHHS could struggle to keep pace in the second half of games as fatigue takes its toll.
The Jaguars’ success this season will not be measured in wins and losses, but simply in getting back on the field, staying on the field, and making positive progress toward next season and beyond. In other words, keep chopping every day.
RIDGELAND-HARDEEVILLE JAGUARS FOOTBALL
Coach: Rodney Barr
Record at RHHS: 0-0 (1st season)
2020 record: N/A
Top returners: ATH Hamid Brown, QB/WR Maurice Brown, OL/DL Ogurian Simmons, DL/OL Danien King, DB/WR Joshua Ferguson, LB/RB Xavier Plowdeniz, DL/OL Jaliel Barnes, WR Anthony Grant, OL/DL Jonathan Orr
Notable losses: WR/LB Brandon Howard, RB/LB Joseph Robinson, WR/DB James Townsend, WR/DB Jordan Mikell
Breakout candidates: ATH Hamid Brown, QB/WR Maurice Brown
BURNING QUESTION
What can we expect from the Jaguars this season?
Yes, that’s awfully vague, but that’s where we are after not seeing the Jags on the field for nearly two years. The promising core that wore the red and black in 2019 has been busted to pieces by graduation and transfer, making way for a new group to try to put it back together. Barr is an excellent coach and motivator who will get the most out of what he has at his disposal, but this is a long-range rebuilding project. Getting on and staying on the field in another unusual and worrisome season will be a win, and any actual wins will be gravy, but if the Jags can get off to a good start Friday against Estill, they’ll have a chance to build some positive energy and momentum and perhaps coax more players out of the hallways to begin building a foundation for the future.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hamid Brown, ATH: Brown did a little of everything for the Jaguars in limited action in 2019, running the ball, catching passes, and even lining up at quarterback, and you can expect to see more of the same this season. He was also a solid contributor on defense and is an impressive athlete who RHHS will count on to emerge as a leader under a new coaching staff.
Danien King, DL/OL: King is one of the handful of seniors the Jaguars will rely on for leadership, and he’s one of Barr’s top prospects to anchor the line on both sides of the ball. He was a solid contributor as an outside linebacker in 2019 and makes the move down to the defensive line for his senior campaign. A big, strong presence, King will be relied upon to open holes for some talented backs and shut down opposing ground games.
REGION AND BEYOND
The top half of Region 6-2A will be tough to crack with perennial powerhouse Timberland and a strong Woodland squad atop the region pecking order and upstart Philip Simmons building momentum heading into its fourth season of varsity football, but the remaining region opponents are beatable. The Jaguars’ hopes of sneaking into the postseason will likely come down to back-to-back games at Burke (Oct. 15) and at home against Lake Marion (Oct. 22), so if they can continue to improve as the season progresses, they’ll have a good shot at snagging a playoff spot.
SCHEDULE
8/20 — vs. Estill
8/27 — vs. Kingstree
9/17 — at St. Joseph’s Catholic
9/24 — at Pelion
10/1 — at Timberland*
10/8 — at Woodland*
10/15 — at Burke*
10/22 — vs. Lake Marion*
10/29 — at Philip Simmons*
By Justin Jarrett