In this 2021 high school football season filled with uncertainty, nobody will be taking Friday nights under the lights for granted. BJ Payne, Jaylen Sneed, and the Hilton Head Island Seahawks certainly won’t.
The start of this season was all too familiar for Payne and a Seahawk side itching to get back on the field. After getting in just three games last year due to a pair of COVID-19 quarantines, the virus struck again to push the Seahawks’ kickoff back. But on Friday night, a hungry and motivated Hilton Head High squad will make its long-awaited return to the gridiron.
When the Seahawks break the huddle at Lower Richland for their first offensive series, a new signal caller will step in for the first time. Sophomore quarterback Jackson Bibee enters the fold, and he has already impressed his head coach with his football IQ and his ability in the pocket. But we also could see superstar Notre Dame commit Sneed in a wildcat setup when looking for short yardage or an opportunity to mix up the team’s offensive looks. The Seahawks have the makings of a dangerous offensive nucleus, led by reliable senior wideout Evan Elliot, who improved his frame over the offseason and should become the go-to target in the passing game with the departure of Adam Clark.
After a sensational three-game showing in 2020, Jayden Gilliam should be an impact player again on both sides. With his quickness and exceptional hands, the senior will be an integral part of the passing game and can be a threat to take a kickoff back, too. Hilton Head’s ground attack will be headed by powerful senior runner Chase McCracken. We only got to see a little of the 200-pound beast last year, but he’s more than capable of plowing through defensive lines to pick up important yards throughout a game. The line will rely on the experience of Ryan Clark and Anders Kennedy alongside a big year from Chris Marable to protect Bibee and let a dynamic offense thrive.
The best defensive player in the Lowco is back for the Seahawks, and that’s linebacker Jaylen Sneed. Among the most prestigious recruits in the program’s history alongside Seattle Seahawk star Poona Ford, Sneed will be on his way to South Bend next year to join the Fighting Irish. But first, we get to see him put on an encore in front of his home fans on the island this fall. Sneed’s prolific speed, playmaking, and pass coverage skills make him dangerous all over the field, but expect the standout to slot in mainly at linebacker with the occasional move to safety. He’ll hope to use his leadership to help elevate a group of young and exciting Seahawks including junior Carter Saleeby, who will double as the team’s placekicker.
Matthew Larkby and Jourdin Nelson-Davis will provide a veteran presence on a defensive line that should complement Sneed’s dynamic abilities, The secondary may have some growing pains with the loss of Nashaun Green, but Payne expects a rookie-filled group alongside Gilliam to step up by the time region play comes along.
The beginning of this year’s schedule will be a gauntlet, as the Seahawks will play their first five games on the road due to ongoing renovations on their home field. It will be a lot to ask from a new quarterback whose development process was hampered by several quarantine interruptions over the past year, but Payne’s unit has a versatile array of talent that will help Bibee and company move the ball alongside a promising defensive group led by one of the top-ranked linebackers in the entire nation. If the offense can find its rhythm down the stretch and the defensive core around Sneed can deliver, the Seahawks could be an interesting factor in the region race.
HILTON HEAD HIGH SEAHAWKS FOOTBALL
Coach: BJ Payne
Record at HHIHS: 54-39 (10th season)
2020 record: 2-1, 2-1 region
Top returners: LB Jaylen Sneed, WR Evan Elliot, WR/DB Jayden Gilliam, RB/LB Chase McCracken, OL/DL Ryan Clark, OL/DL Anders Kennedy
Notable losses: QB Sam Summa, WR Adam Clark, DB Nashaun Green
Breakout candidates: WR/DB Riley McCracken, QB Jackson Bibee, RB/LB/K Carter Saleeby, DL Jourdin Nelson-Davis, DL Matthew Larkby, OL/DL Chris Marable
BURNING QUESTION
Can an inexperienced offense find consistent success and hold onto the ball?
It’s incredibly important for the key pieces of your offense to have game experience under their belt going into a new season, but after playing just three games all of last year and with the addition of a new quarterback, BJ Payne’s Seahawks will have to learn on the fly as they embark on a new campaign. Bibee will be trusted to manage the game and minimize unforced errors while distributing the football to proven playmakers like McCracken and Gilliam. A team’s miscues at the high school level have a way of quickly changing the game’s momentum, making it imperative for this new group to play smart football. If the veterans on the line provide running lanes for the Seahawks’ explosive playmakers and the sophomore quarterback plays mistake-free ball, Hilton Head’s offense could spark the squad to some key victories this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jaylen Sneed, LB: We’ve got some extraordinary gridiron talent all across the Lowco this season, but there’s no star brighter right now than Sneed. The Notre Dame-bound linebacker is primed for a monster senior year on both sides of the ball for a Seahawk team looking to compete with the top squads in a top-heavy Region 7-4A. Sneed’s play will be crucial to Hilton Head’s success this season, and it starts with his dominant skills at linebacker. His explosive motor and vicious run-stopping abilities allow him to fly all over the field and make plays, while his coverage skills, footwork, and agility make him an incredibly versatile asset to his defense. Expect the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Seahawk superstar to play both ways this year, just like Payne did with Poona. Whether it’s lining up behind the center in a wildcat look, standing alongside Chase McCracken in a split-back formation, or even hiding out wide for a quick screen, Sneed will be heavily involved on the offensive side, providing Bibee with another dangerous weapon on a unit with incredibly high potential this year.
Jayden Gilliam, WR/DB: When the Seahawks needed a big play last year, Jayden Gilliam was the one to step up. In just three games, Gilliam piled up a full season’s worth of highlights, intercepting three passes including a pick-6 while taking a pair of fumbles to the house. It’s hard to expect anyone to come up with a defensive touchdown each game, but Gilliam will be a thorn to the side of quarterbacks all year long and will certainly come up with his fair share of turnovers thanks to his tremendous closing speed and terrific hands. He’s a dynamite impact player that can burst his way to the end zone any time he gets the ball, as evidenced by receiving and kick return touchdowns on top of his defensive heroics last year. Payne will look for as many ways as possible to get the ball in his hands on the offensive side, and the senior should continue to showcase his electric abilities while leading the way as a potent defender with the special knack for game-changing moments.
REGION AND BEYOND
With two Region 7-4A opponents ranked in the Class 4A top 10, the Seahawks’ road to the postseason will be far from easy. After Hilton Head (hopefully) takes on four straight non-region opponents on the road, the ‘Hawks will make their way to Beaufort High where a dangerous Eagle defense awaits. But after the brutal five-game road stretch comes to an end, they’ll return home to a beautiful new turf field with three of the final four at the Nest. Taking care of Colleton County and Bluffton will be critical to securing a trip back to the postseason. If the team can jell together over the early-season road trip and stay healthy, the Seahawks will have the playmakers to give the region’s best a strong fight and should have a solid shot to earn a ticket into the dance.
SCHEDULE
9/3 — at Lower Richland
9/10 — at Georgetown
9/18 — at Jenkins
9/24 — at Wade Hampton
10/1 — at Beaufort*
10/8 — vs. Colleton County*
10/15 — vs. Bluffton*
10/22 — at James Island*
10/29 — vs. May River*
By Wes Kerr / Photo by Brooke Simons
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