2023 Rankings Update: Seniors Key Hot Starts Across State

Jed Blackwell September 15, 2022 @ 09:03 AM

The top teams in the state have more than a few things in common. One of those is an abundance of seniors with a spot in the PRZ rankings. Here's a look at some teams across the state who are off to a scorching start thanks to those seniors.   The rankings are full of players from Oceanside Collegiate, and the Landsharks have backed up those rankings with a hot start. They've got a win over 5A Carolina Forest, and a one-point loss to 4A South Florence. All-everything OL [player_tooltip player_id='89337' first='Monroe' last='Freeling'] leads our rankings, and leads the Landsharks up front, blocking for a squad that has racked up 866 rushing yards in four games. The bulk of that has come from [player_tooltip player_id='89344' first='Vaughn' last='Blue'], who's racked up 691 yards and six touchdowns early in the season. The offense is bolstered by [player_tooltip player_id='91359' first='Cole' last='Strickler'], with eight catches for 111 yards, and [player_tooltip player_id='202746' first='Jace' last='Kraftchick'], who's got six catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. Kraftchick plays on the defensive side of the ball, too, leading the team with 36 tackles. [player_tooltip player_id='146357' first='Tim' last='Castain'] has 32 stops, and DB [player_tooltip player_id='146381' first='Zach' last='Hagedon'] has 27 tackles and four tackles for loss.   When you've got two OL in the top 25 of the rankings like Dorman, it stands to reason you'll be able to put up some big offensive numbers. The Cavaliers have done just that. Behind guards [player_tooltip player_id='91355' first='Markee' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='202774' first='DJ' last='Geth'], Dorman is off to a 3-0 start with a bye week behind them. Anderson and Geth have paved the way for nearly 800 rushing yards in those three games, with [player_tooltip player_id='262701' first='Demarius' last='Foster'] picking up 533 of those. He averages 10.7 yards per carry, with backfield mate Kendell Lewis going for 8 yards an attempt. [player_tooltip player_id='443501' first='Will' last='White'] helps to lead a hard-hitting defense, with 13 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pair of pass break-ups.   South Florence is one of the best teams in the Pee Dee, and the Bruins are on the edge of a rugged schedule stretch in the next several weeks. A lot of the reason for South Florence's success lies with QB [player_tooltip player_id='146356' first='LaNorris' last='Sellers']. The Syracuse commit has more than 700 yards of offense this season, with 11 total touchdowns. Dynamic receiver [player_tooltip player_id='336150' first='Evin' last='Singletary'] has been a big target, with 127 receiving yards, a yards-per-catch average of nearly 26, and three scores. [player_tooltip player_id='443498' first='Nate' last='McGee'] leads a big, talented offensive line. Defensively, standouts [player_tooltip player_id='263156' first='Trokel' last='Prew'] and Jaylin Davis have headed up a defense that surrenders 14 points per game. Prew has 33 tackles and a sack, while Davis has notched 20 tackles and five sacks.   Dutch Fork is off to another hot start, thanks in large part to RB [player_tooltip player_id='91136' first='Jarvis' last='Green']. He's rushed for 552 yards on 58 carries, with five TDs and an average of 184 rushing yards per game. But this season, the Silver Foxes' strength has been a stout defense that's bowed up to win them a couple of close games. The LB group is stellar. [player_tooltip player_id='132398' first='Chandler' last='Perry'] has 18 tackles, nine assists, two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery; [player_tooltip player_id='262678' first='Jaylen' last='Hinton'] has 18 tackles, 22 assists, a tackle for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble; and [player_tooltip player_id='336148' first='John' last='Buetow'] has 14 tackles, 16 assists, and five tackles for loss in four games this season. On the back end, [player_tooltip player_id='262550' first='Landon' last='Danley'] has been a wrecking crew. He's got 11 tackles, an assist, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries for Dutch Fork.   New year, new QB, same old Daniel. The Lions are again putting up huge offensive numbers, and a dynamic group of receivers is a lot of the reason why. We've got [player_tooltip player_id='91144' first='Misun' last='Kelley'] ranked as a DB, and he's plenty good there, with eight tackles, three pass break-ups, and a fumble recovery. But he's also got 151 kick return yards, and has been a bright spot on offense as well, with 13 catches for 221 yards. He's one of three Lions with at least that many receiving yards, as [player_tooltip player_id='91140' first='Eli' last='Merck'] leads the team with 16 catches for 279 yards and four TDs, while [player_tooltip player_id='204866' first='Jaylen' last='Brown-Wallace'] has 21 catches for 246 yards and four scores. [player_tooltip player_id='443510' first='Gavin' last='Batt'] has added 11 catches for 145 yards. Up front, [player_tooltip player_id='146355' first='Bryce' last='Smith'] leads the way with eight pancake blocks for the Lions.   Powdersville recorded the first undefeated regular season in school history last season, and is right back in the ranks of the unbeaten this year, with a 4-0 start that includes a win over 2A powerhouse Abbeville and 5A Woodmont. [player_tooltip player_id='89333' first='Jalen' last='Rambert'] has been a standout for the Patriots, with eight tackles, nine assists, four tackles for loss, a sack, three QB hurries, an interception, and a defensive touchdown. Offensively, Virginia Tech commit [player_tooltip player_id='91152' first='Thomas' last='Williams'] has made it go on the ground. He's averaging more than 10 yards per carry, with 392 yards on 38 attempts. He's rushed for six TDs, with 138 receiving yards and two more scores.   Hillcrest is another team on a hot streak, largely behind the play of QB [player_tooltip player_id='262574' first='Bennett' last='Judy'] and an explosive offense. Judy has already thrown for 1,120 yards, averaging 280 yards per game and tossing 13 touchdown passes. RB [player_tooltip player_id='156630' first='Logan' last='Coldren'] has rushed for 282 yards and three scores, and [player_tooltip player_id='443518' first='Matthew' last='Gongora'] helps lead an offensive line that has paved the way for 1,495 yards and 383 yards per game. [player_tooltip player_id='443522' first='Jeb' last='Robinson'] has been a major factor defensively, with 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and six hurries for the Rams.   Northwestern has risen to the No. 2 spot in 4A behind three ranked offensive linemen. [player_tooltip player_id='89343' first='Jordan' last='Knox'], [player_tooltip player_id='202763' first='Ben' last='Acus'], and [player_tooltip player_id='202764' first='Marcus' last='Macon'] have helped pace an offense that has racked up 2,618 yards this season, averaging 654 yards per game. [player_tooltip player_id='146372' first='Elijah' last='Caldwell'] has hauled in 15 balls for 351 yards and six touchdowns, while [player_tooltip player_id='202757' first='William' last='Brooks'] has added 13 catches for 160 yards and two more scores. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='202765' first='Curtis' last='Wilmore'] has been outstanding, with 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks for the Trojans.

The top teams in the state have more than a few things in common. One of those is an abundance of seniors with a spot in the PRZ rankings. Here's a look at some teams across the state who are off to a scorching start thanks to those seniors.