Season Recap: South Aiken Thoroughbreds

Ian Guerin December 18, 2022 @ 01:55 PM

The 4-7 record didn't turn heads.   Anyone who was paying attention to what was happening in the CSRA knew what South Aiken's won-loss mark in 2022 actually meant. The Thoroughbreds' non-region schedule was brutal, including games against Class 5A playoff programs Lexington, River Bluff and White Knoll, as well as Class 3A powerhouses Gilbert and Clinton. The first-round loss to Greenwood was also an “upset” in seeding only.   And, while those six losses (and another to region foe North Augusta) prevented a winning record, the writing was on the wall.   What South Aiken has, and what it is bringing back next year, will keep things interesting for the foreseeable future for head coach Chris Hamilton's bunch.   South Aiken's Top Performers   Everyone knew [player_tooltip player_id='272702' first='Jevon' last='Edwards'] was coming. As a freshman, his 1,071 yards and 11 scores queued up more than a few college recruiting boards. As a sophomore, he made his first go-around look pedestrian. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound tailback finished with 1,702 yards and 23 scores. He rushed for 100 yards in 10 of South Aiken's 11 games (he had 98 yards against White Knoll) and he got into the end zone at least once in all 11 contests.   Now, here's the crazy part. Edwards didn't lead the team in rushing yards.   That's where 2024 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='340388' first='Terrence' last='Smith'] entered the conversation. Although he was an effective dual-threat guy as a sophomore, nobody could have seen a 2,083-yard, 28-touchdown season coming. Yet, that's what he did. In averaging 12 yards per carry this year, Smith (like Edwards) reached the end zone at least one time every game and used his 4.4 speed as a constant inroads to big-time run after big-time run. The fact that Smith (pictured) completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 921 yards and five more touchdowns was only more icing on the cake.   For Edwards and Smith, the equation was simple.    As offensive coordinator Bowen Smith put it, those two had lanes to run through “that were wider than I-20.”   Seniors On Their Way Out   Smith and Edwards will be the first to tell you that their production this fall was a credit to the guys in the trenches. Specifically, the Triplets Jenison and Ashley Yaughn all made their mark in one of the school's most impressive seasons to date. Left tackle [player_tooltip player_id='443517' first='Will' last='Jenison'], left guard Brooks Jenison, right guard Reece Jenison and Yaughn, the right tackle, were a gelled unit (we'll get to the fifth part of that line in a moment) that average 38.4 points and 448 yards of offense per game. Replacing those four becomes priority Nos. 1-4 for the Thoroughbreds in the next eight months, especially with the Jenison brothers heading to Anderson University while Yaughn is still weighing his own options.   Breakout Performers   Those four aforementioned linemen were all crucial to South Aiken's season. They had some help, namely 2024 center John Fogle. While calling the blocking schemes at the line, Fogle was just as important as a reliable snapper.   Do-it-all type Tylan Creech definitely found a way to make the most of his senior season. He had 10 carries for 131 yards and caught 16 passes for 207 yards. As a safety, he notched 87 total tackles, three interceptions and forced a couple fumbles.   And, not to be forgotten is the guy who accounted for roughly 15 percent of the team's scoring. Junior place kicker James Etheridge was perfect on 48 extra points and added a chip-shot field goal.   Underclassmen To Keep An Eye On   The tight end position has become a bit of a lost art form, at least when considering its more traditional role. However, sophomore Ryan Lubeck became an extension of that powerful line this year. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder had no issue starting with his hand in the dirt. What's more, in just seven games at the varsity level, he caught 10 passes for 89 yards. It was only the beginning, and his ability to block and be an effective target upon release could be huge in 2023.   And if you're looking for a potential breakout star for next year, look no further than 2025 safety/linebacker Jaquel Holman. His sophomore year resulted in 63 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a sack and an interception.

The 4-7 record didn't turn heads.