Class 4A Contenders? Start With These Teams
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South Pointe’s championship run in 2021 will probably grow in status as people start to truly understand just how loaded Class 4A was last fall. Whomever walks away with some hardware in 2022 will be able to say the same.…
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Continue ReadingSouth Pointe’s championship run in 2021 will probably grow in status as people start to truly understand just how loaded Class 4A was last fall.
Whomever walks away with some hardware in 2022 will be able to say the same.
A huge crop of proven and talent-laded teams will enter the season with a legitimate claim to the title. We fully believe South Pointe is again capable. But after the Stallions, here are six teams who we could easily see make a run of their own.
A.C. FLORA (Last year: 9-2)
The high-powered offensive combo of receiver Chris Lofton Chris Lofton 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR AC Flora | 2023 State SC and Markel Townsend Markel Townsend 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2023 State SC are by no means the Falcons’ only weapons. Lineman Kendarius Kinard Kendarius Kinard 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL AC Flora | 2023 State SC , receiver Adonis McDaniel Adonis McDaniel 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Ridge View | 2023 State SC , defensive back Carew Bates Carew Bates 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH AC Flora | 2023 State SC and defensive lineman Braxton Burton are just some of the names new coach (and former offensive coordinator) Ken Floyd will be relying up to re-charge the 2020 state champs.
GREENVILLE (Last year: 10-3)
The team that unseated A.C. Flora in the second round this past season (before losing to South Pointe in the Lower State finals) should be among the last remaining teams again thanks to a stacked group of upperclassmen. Linebackers Luke Schuller Luke Schuller 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Greenville | 2023 State SC and Thomas Edmonson, receiver Tyler Brown Tyler Brown 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Greenville | 2023 State SC , punter Rush Sheppard, Mazio Bennett Jr, Bruce Knauber Bruce Knauber 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Greenville | 2024 State SC and Thomas Guerrero form one heck of a core for a team that is constantly drawing new faces.
HARTSVILLE (Last year: 6-6)
Take two of the best running backs in the state in senior J’Shawn Anderson J’Shawn Anderson 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2023 State SC and junior Carmello McDaniel Carmello McDaniel 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2024 State SC , quarterback McKendrie Douglas McKendrie Douglas 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Hartsville | 2024 State SC , offensive lineman Slayton Stokes Slayton Stokes 6'5" | 325 lbs | OL Hartsville | 2024 State SC and receiver and return man Da’Marion Coe Da’Marion Coe 5'9" | 175 lbs | DB Hartsville | 2025 State SC and coach Jeff Calabrese’s squad could easily be standing not only atop the Region VI-4A standings, but also in Columbia after the state championship.
NORTHWESTERN (Last year: 11-2)
The Trojans will be replacing all-state quarterback Will Mattison Will Mattison 6'4" | 190 lbs | QB Northwestern | 2022 State SC (Gardner-Webb). Otherwise, this is a team with about as much talent as anyone in the state. Offensive lineman Jordan Knox Jordan Knox 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Northwestern | 2023 State SC has been a steamroller of college offers the past few months. Receiver Elijah Caldwell Elijah Caldwell 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Northwestern | 2023 State SC will be among the best receivers in the state after hauling in 1,247 yards and 15 touchdowns. Running back Turbo Richard Turbo Richard 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Northwestern | 2024 State SC , ditto at that position after eclipsing 1,000 yards. Tack on lineman Ben Acus Ben Acus 6'3" | 305 lbs | OL Northwestern | 2023 State SC and opposing defenses will be struggling to slow down this bunch.
RIDGE VIEW (Last year: 6-5)
Dropping back down after a two-year stint in Class 5A isn’t going to hurt the Blazers’ chances. Neither is having another year for rising seniors Zion Agnew Zion Agnew 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Ridge View | 2023 State SC , Tracy Stephens Tracy Stephens 6'4" | 240 lbs | TE Ridge View | 2023 State SC , Chris Lawson Chris Lawson 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Ridge View | 2023 State SC , Josh Sadler Josh Sadler 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Ridge View | 2023 State SC and Marcus Kelly Marcus Kelly 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Ridge View | 2023 State SC . Ridge View will be sharing a region with A.C. Flora, but the chances of either team making a run are quite high.
SOUTH FLORENCE (Last year: 7-4)
The Bruins fizzled out some last season after quarterback LaNorris Sellers LaNorris Sellers 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB South Florence | 2023 State SC went down at the midway point of the season with a broken collarbone. But the truth to the matter was that South Florence was actually a year ahead of schedule anyway. This season is the one coach Drew Marlowe has been building toward, with not only Sellers but also linebackers Trokel Prew Trokel Prew 5'8" | 185 lbs | LB South Florence | 2023 State SC and Jaylin William Davis Jaylin William Davis 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB South Florence | 2023 State SC , lineman Chantwan Harkless Chantwan Harkless 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL South Florence | 2024 State SC and defensive back Quincy Rhodes Quincy Rhodes 5'11" | 155 lbs | DB South Florence | 2024 State SC .