After winning three consecutive state titles, you might think Thomas Heyward football would find itself at a crossroads — will the dynasty continue, or is it time to rebuild?
The Rebels haven’t taken the field yet, but every indication is they have the pieces in place to continue their dominance over SCISA 1A, and they’ll test the waters with a couple of early-season games against larger public school programs, including Friday’s opener at Class 3A Battery Creek.
THA is raring to get started and build on the recent success, especially after dominating two scrimmages in the preseason and sitting at home last Friday.
“They’re ready to play. This was one of the first times in recent history we didn’t have a Week Zero game, and they’re itching to get after it,” Rebels coach Nic Shuford said. “We had two really good scrimmages, which we usually don’t. We can usually pick them apart after scrimmages. We still found a lot of mistakes and stuff we needed to clean up, but overall we got after it really well.”
The Rebels’ strength during the three-peat has been a dominant ground game led by a big, physical offensive line and a hard-nosed defense. Despite losing star lineman Therion Cannon (UAB), running back JR Patterson, and quarterback Peyton Bennett, the Rebels should still be able to run the ball effectively. Senior Symir Mitchell steps into a starting role on the line alongside returners Max Hickey, Quillan White, Preston Hamilton, and Dylan Boyles, and freshman Dietrich Shuford takes over at quarterback with Anthony Fripp and eighth-grade phenom Troy O’Banner flanking him in the backfield.
The offensive line will be put to the test early against Battery Creek and Class 4A Bluffton, but Shuford expects his crew to compete in the trenches, even against public school foes.
“I don’t think we’ll have the size that those two teams have, but we feel pretty good about their ability,” Shuford said.
There are also massive holes to fill on defense, most notably one on the defensive line created by the graduation of LowcoSports SCISA Defensive Player of the Year John Hampton Hewlett, who is now on the roster at The Citadel, and versatile superstar Bruzza Pusha (Savannah State). The Rebels will need returners Cameron VanGeison, Carter Zareva, Cody Parker, and Brandon Smith to step up and lead the defense, and they’re counting on defensive backs Jordan Mikell and Cutter Williams helping to solidify the secondary.
Shuford and THA have plenty of talent to roll through SCISA 1A again in 2021, and they’ll have a chance to make an early statement about how they stack up against the area’s larger public schools. The effort won’t be a question for a team that has grown unaccustomed to losing, and if they can clean up their execution and limit mistakes, it should be another special season in Ridgeland.
THOMAS HEYWARD ACADEMY REBELS FOOTBALL
Coach: Nic Shuford
Record at THA: 97-43 (13th season)
2020 record: 12-1, SCISA 1A state champions
Top returners: LB/WR Brandon Howard, OL/DL Preston Hamilton, WR/DB Cody Parker, DE Cameron VanGeison, OL/DL Quillan White, RB/LB Anthony Fripp, WR/DB Jordan Mikell, TE/LB Brandon Smith
Notable losses: OL/DL Therion Cannon, DL/OL John Hampton Hewlett, ATH Bruzza Pusha, WR/DE Zack Black, RB/DB JR Patterson, QB/DB Peyton Bennett
Breakout candidates: RB Anthony Fripp, WR/DB Cody Parker, WR/DB Cutter Williams
BURNING QUESTION
Will the Rebels win a fourth straight SCISA 1A title?
That’s the only real question facing THA this season. We know the Rebels will be good — very good — but a lot has to go right to be in a position to play on the final day of the season, and even more has to fall in your favor to be the last team standing. A number of factors will go into the ultimate answer, including Dietrich Shuford’s development at quarterback, the Rebels’ ability to stay healthy — avoiding injury and COVID-19 quarantines — and their ability to execute late in close games. But much more will have to break in favor of the challengers for anyone to knock THA off its pedestal.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Anthony Fripp, RB: Fripp has waited his turn to be the featured back at THA, and his time has come. The powerful, speedy junior has been overshadowed somewhat by Patterson and John Clark Tilton the past two seasons, but he is more than capable of carrying the load. He averaged 10.7 yards per carry a year ago, racking up 855 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, and he will get a chance to take on a bigger share of the workload in 2021.
Brandon Howard, LB: Howard was a huge pickup when he transferred over from Ridgeland-Hardeeville last season, ranking second on the team in tackles (69), tackles for loss (12), and sacks (3) while forcing three fumbles and recovering two. The senior linebacker has put in the work in the offseason, building speed and strength and showing his skills at camps throughout the Southeast, and he should be poised for a massive senior campaign that solidifies his spot on college coaches’ radars.
REGION AND BEYOND
Bethesda Academy has been THA’s biggest foil during the title run, but the Blazers saw a ton of turnover in the offseason, so the challenge could come from elsewhere this season. St. John’s Christian seems like the most likely team to trip up the Rebels, thanks to an influx of talented skill position players from Berkeley High School, including quarterback Trent Short and versatile athlete Shy’Juan Grant. The Rebels don’t face the Cavaliers until Oct. 15, so they’ll have plenty of time to scout the newcomers and prepare a game plan for what could amount to a region title game.
SCHEDULE
8/27 — at Battery Creek
9/3 — vs. Dorchester Academy*
9/10 — at Bluffton
9/17 — at Hilton Head Prep
9/24 — vs. Beaufort Academy
10/1 — vs. John Paul II
10/8 — at Colleton Prep*
10/15 — vs. St. John’s Christian*
10/22 — at Bethesda Academy*
10/29 — vs. Greenwood Christian*
By Justin Jarrett
