The Thomas Heyward Rebels have become a fixture in the SCISA 1A state championship game, winning three consecutive state titles and earning a shot at a fourth on Saturday. But this group hasn’t won a ring together, and that’s plenty of motivation for the Rebels to treat their fourth straight state championship game like it’s the biggest one they’ve ever played.
While some of the stars of last year’s 46-14 win over Lee Academy are the same who will take the field against the Cavaliers for Saturday’s rematch, plenty of players in key roles for this year’s THA squad are still seeking their first ring.
“Nothing really changes from year to year,” THA head coach Nic Shuford said. “The goal is still the same, and they’re going after it.”
And, boy, do they get after it.
The Rebels have outscored opponents 403-82 this season, and the only time they allowed more than nine points was in a 29-22 overtime loss at Class 4A Bluffton in Week 3. They’ve won nine straight since and haven’t been remotely challenged.
As usual, THA’s dominance starts with a powerful ground game and a nasty defense. Junior Anthony Fripp (879 yards, 6 TDs) and eighth-grader Tony O’Banner (848 yards, 10 TDs) provide an excellent 1-2 punch behind a perennially strong offensive line.
The Cavaliers boast a strong defensive line, but if they load up to stop the inside run, the Rebels can hurt them on the edges or down the field. Despite starting the season as the third-string quarterback, sophomore Tyshon Mansell has been effective since taking over as the starter, passing for 306 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception. Cutter Williams (6), Cody Parker (5), and Brandon Howard (4) each have at least four touchdown grabs this season, so the Rebels are perfectly capable of making plays through the air.
“A lot of it depends on what they try to do defensively,” Shuford said. “I think we’ll have an answer.”
The Rebels also have an impenetrable defense on their side. THA hasn’t allowed more than one touchdown in a game against a SCISA opponent, and many of the scores the Rebels have surrendered have come late in lopsided games with reserves in the game. Seniors Howard (123 tackles, 19 TFL), Cameron VanGeison (91 tackles, 12 TFL), and Preston Hamilton (67 tackles, 21 TFL) lead a ferocious front seven, and fellow seniors Cody Parker (39 tackles, 6 INTs), James Townsend (34 tackles, 5 INTs), and Jordan Mikell (29 tackles, 5 INTs) anchor a ball-hawking secondary.
A rematch seemed unlikely when Lee lost four of its first five games against a brutal early-season schedule, but they’ve played great football since then, winning six straight on the field with a forfeit to Thomas Sumter mixed in to close out the regular-season. The Cavs have easily dispatched two members of Region 1-1A in the playoffs, beating Dorchester Academy 34-14 and topping St. John’s Christian Academy 27-6.
And despite the lopsided result a year ago, the Rebels are not taking Lee for granted. After all, they understand that this is a different team, just like they are.
“If we have an advantage, it’s team speed,” Shuford said. “I think they’re better and more physical up front than they were last year. I don’t know that they have the team speed that they had last year. It will be a little different than what we went up against last year.”
By Justin Jarrett
PREDICTIONS
Wes Kerr (4-1 last week, 92-15 overall): Thomas Heyward 36, Lee Academy 14
Justin Jarrett (5-0 last week, 88-19 overall): Thomas Heyward 42, Lee Academy 20
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