2022 Preview: Loris Lions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If last season was the introduction, 2022 will be the getting-to-know you.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third version of the Loris football team under coach Greg Mance has a chance to go from good to great in a big hurry. And the reason is pretty clear.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I think if you look at us defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='336122' first='CJ' last='Cox'] is a guy who didn't play as a sophomore and came out as a first-year player,” Mance said. “The numbers he put up were just amazing. The kid really didn't know what he was doing. … I think we have two of the best corners in the state of South Carolina [[player_tooltip player_id='202744' first='Randall' last='Bellamy'] and <strong>La'Ontray Knox</strong>], without a doubt. Both of those guys are dynamic athletes. Then, I think we have one of the best all-around players in [player_tooltip player_id='202730' first='Cameron' last='Faircloth']. He's big, he's athletic, he's smart.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No matter who you ask - Mance, defensive coordinator Adrain Grady or any of the players themselves - that sort of rattle-off effect is getting to be common since the end of last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions gave up 20 points per game. It was a huge improvement for a team that has allowed considerably more for most of the prior six seasons. But if anything is starting to look like a real possibility, it's that Loris will end its streak of consecutive losing seasons this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All that talent, especially on defense, is ready to start putting it together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cox (80.5 tackles, 28 tackles for loss), Faircloth (74.5 tackles, nine TFL), Bellamy (28 tackles, three pass break-ups), Knox (26 tackles, five PBU, one interception) all had really good seasons. Then, you factor in [player_tooltip player_id='208506' first='Marquavis' last='Johnson'] (49.5 tackles, 9.5 TFL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208345' first='Jordan' last='Vancise']</strong> (31.5 tackles, six TFL) and a slew of others from front to back, and this squad could be potent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Showing it, then, will be as much about resuming a number of rivalry games that have often been missed over the course of the last two seasons. Games against Green Sea Floyds, North Myrtle Beach, South Columbus (N.C.) will be coupled with two more non-region games against Conway and Lake View.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout those first five contests, the Lions will also have a chance to build and offense that is many ways is developed around Knox and Bellamy but is ready to hand the quarterback reins to sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='327302' first='Jackson' last='Huff']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knox led the team with 510 rushing yards last season, and Bellamy went for another 455 on the ground and 201 receiving. His 11 total touchdowns were a team high. In Huff, the Lions have a player who will likely be the centerpiece in 2023 and beyond. They won't need him to be lights out, at least not yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That defense will buy him and and the rest of Mance's offense plenty of time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->