After a long summer in anticipation of kickoff, the first week of the 2021 football season was certainly worth the wait. We were treated to a large helping of highlight-reel plays and thrilling finishes with several Lowco teams making a strong statement to begin the new year.
Although it’s never the smartest to overreact after one week of football, there were several teams and players that impressed and caught my eye under the lights. In the spirit of LowcoSports.com founder and president Justin Jarrett’s prior column on the site, here are five things that I learned from the first week of high school football.
- The May River Sharks are reloaded and ready to contend for a region title.
Rodney Summers and the Sharks went into their opener with a number of questions on both sides of the ball, and they passed a heck of a test on their home field against a strong Orangeburg-Wilkinson side. There was no bigger hole than the loss of Ahmad Green, and senior Garvin Douglas stepped into the May River legend’s shadow and delivered a spectacular performance. In his first game as the top man on the depth chart, Douglas ran for three touchdowns and added another through the air. But the biggest takeaway with Douglas was his maturity and his desire to get the job done. It was a tense battle from start to finish, and the moment wasn’t too big for the new Shark signal-caller. He may not have the supreme electricity that Green brought to the team, but his ability to run hard, manage the game, and come through in the clutch was extraordinary. An unproven defense grew in a big way on Friday night, making a pair of massive stops in the fourth quarter to preserve an impressive victory over the Bruins. This group lost Eli Hall, Steffin Gadson, and several other key playmakers, but defensive lineman Caleb Tkaczyk and linebacker Thomas Raisch were up for the challenge and got the job done. It’s a heck of a start for a team that had a number of glaring holes to begin the season, and it will have the Sharks well in the conversation for a top-10 spot in Class 4A.
- Joseph Hicks has reached superstar status at Whale Branch.
In one of the wildest games we’ve ever seen in the Lowco, senior running back sensation Joseph Hicks pulled off a fourth quarter for the ages. He only got four opportunities in the final period as the Warriors were looking to claw their way back against a dialed-in Calhoun County squad. He found the end zone on every single one: from 50, 25, 8, and then 66 yards out on a kickoff return to complete the comeback. Four touches, four touchdowns, fourth quarter, a victory, and a fore-gone conclusion: this kid is the real deal. Taking over as the lead back with the departure of Jaylen Reeves and Jadon Grant, Hicks should have a prominent role in the backfield for the rest of the season and has put the area on notice as a speedster with the ability to make quick movements, break tackles, and take it all the way any time he gets the ball.
- Hilton Head Prep has some stellar talent on both sides of the ball and should be a factor in Region 1-2A.
There may only be 20 players on the roster, but this Hilton Head Prep team is full of speed, athleticism, and max effort on every play. They put together a heck of a performance in the season opener on Friday, downing John Paul II in a convincing 22-point win. The star of the show was defensive end and now running back Loncelle Daley, who broke out for 237 yards and two touchdowns capped off by a ridiculous stiff-arm en route to a 67-yard score. He also dominated on the defensive line, forcing two fumbles and recovering one while shutting down a strong Golden Warrior attack. Atlanta transfer Jake Rodney-Brown made his mark quickly on his new team, finding the end zone twice and excelling at linebacker. One of the weaknesses of last year’s team was the pass defense, but an improved Gunnar Askeland and the emergence of transfer AJ Barger has strengthened a defense that held John Paul II to just 16 points. The thin depth is a concern, but if senior quarterback Tristan Bonomo manages the game and a new group of defenders continue to step up, the Dolphins could be a tough out going forward and should pick up a playoff spot.
- New faces on several teams have made a big splash in the opening week.
Landing a talented transfer can make a major impact on your team, and we’ve already seen some new additions deliver in just the first week. Hilton Head Prep enjoyed a phenomenal debut for Rodney-Brown, who takes on the Carson King role on both sides and provides needed senior leadership after losing several valuable cornerstones from last season. The Dolphins also debuted defensive backs Sean Graham and AJ Barger, and both came up huge in the opener. Barger led the secondary with a massive interception, and Graham made plays all over the field with six tackles. After playing for Ridgeland-Hardeeville two years ago, Joseph “Speedy” Robinson put together a stunning debut for a Hilton Head Christian Academy squad in need of another playmaker on offense, scoring three touchdowns including on a punt return. And Jaeon Allen took his explosive talents from Battery Creek to May River and hit the ground running with a 32-yard touchdown scamper, propelling the Sharks to a huge Week 0 win. Allen should be a go-to weapon all year long for Douglas and will replace some of the defensive talent that was lost from last season. It’s only been one week, and a couple of new faces have made monster impacts for several new teams. Their big seasons should only be getting started.
- Teams will have to be even more vigilant this season to lessen the risk of a COVID outbreak.
After a summer that looked to be turning into a normal fall, the Delta variant has made a dent in our plans, just like the memes have said. Unfortunately, we’ve already seen the impact for high school football hit right here at home in the Lowco. In just one week, three games featuring area teams were cancelled due to virus issues. With students returning for in-person school this fall, the chances of exposure will only heighten. It will be up to coaches, student-athletes, and fellow students to all mask up, distance when possible, and get vaccinated to minimize the risk of a COVID outbreak. The virus is here to stay again this fall, and it will be another season of stop-and-go while trying to beat the visible and invisible opponent.
We’ve had quite a start to the 2021 season on the gridiron, and we should be in store for an exciting fall in the weeks and months to come. Be sure to check out the Lowco Pigskin Podcast each week for previews and recaps of all the action.
By Wes Kerr
