Top Spring Football Storylines For Midlands Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On May 1, soccer teams will find themselves sharing the field full time once again with its football breathen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The start of spring practice provides an early glance of what to expect in the fall. Teams will hold as many as 15 practices before the spring football game where fans can begin answering questions about their respective teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some storylines to follow among Midlands teams this May:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Dutch Fork looks to continue dynasty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silver Foxes head coach Tom Knotts does not believe in taking a long "break" following another championship season. Just a week after reclaiming the Class 5A title, the junior varsity and varsity players were back in the weight room working on their quest for the program's seventh state title in eight years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest challenge will be replacing top contributors from a senior class which posted a 50-2-1 record in four seasons. This group includes some of the top 2023 players as ranked by South Carolina Prep Redzone:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Running back<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='91136' first='Jarvis' last='Green']</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Defensive back<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='262550' first='Landon' last='Danley']</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='132398' first='Chandler' last='Perry']</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='44974' first='Aliam' last='Appler']</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The group of returning seniors include defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492672' first='Tyler' last='Jones'],</strong> defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771217' first='Terrance' last='Wells']</strong> and wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448992' first='Jacob' last='Hamilton'].</strong> As seen at the recent Palmetto Combines held in April, the Silver Foxes have players ready to take up the leadership mantle. Rising juniors <strong>Elijah Sessions,</strong> defensive lineman <strong>Josh Smith </strong>and running back<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith']</strong> were among the award winners at the underclassmen combine held at Woodland High School. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The one area which remains a question mark is at quarterback with only two players listed on the roster</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. New coaches with proven talent</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Midlands saw its share of coaching changes during the off-season. Lexington (Dustin Curtis), Blythewood (James Martin), Spring Valley (Nygel Pearson) and Airport (Shane Fidler) get an opportunity to put their offensive and defensive schemes in place.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fortunately for the Wildcats and Bengals, each returns two rising senior quarterbacks. Lexington's <strong>Taiden Mine</strong>s threw for 2,240 yards and 23 touchdowns, but will look for new targets with the graduation of <strong>Jarrod Mewborn </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443508' first='Kamadi' last='Maxwell'].</strong> The same is true for Blythewood's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='440461' first='Harrison' last='Collins']</strong> who led his team to the region title last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Junior quarterbacks on display</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong> of Richland Northeast and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> are already receiving national offers. Wilson has offers from Arkansas, Cincinnati, Duke, N.C. State, Penn State and Virginia Tech and will participate in a workout April 27 on campus before Wake Forest scouts. Fresh off winning a state title in boys basketball, Brand already has offers from Charlotte and the University of South Carolina. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another rising junior quarterback who looks to improve his stock is White Knoll's [player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe']. He threw for 2,208 yards and 25 touchdowns last season in leading White Knoll to a 7-4 record, which including a school-record 6-0 start. In the same region, River Bluff's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray']</strong> threw for 1,178 yards and 14 touchdowns last season in leading the Gators back to the post-season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Ridge View motivated after abrupt end to season</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blazers appeared headed to a Region 4-4A title and possible long playoff run. Instead, a ruling by the S.C. High School League resulting in the forfeiture of eight wins and exclusion from the post-season crushed those hopes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The pain of missing the playoffs have been replaced by a deep hunger to take care of unfinished business in 2023. This is especially true for the returning seniors, including quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997121' first='Breylon' last='Boyd'],</strong> tight end <strong>Kenneth Boyd</strong> and linebacker <strong>Myles Brown</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I think our kids are excited about having the opportunity to start back again playing the game that they love,” head coach Derek Howard said. “But, we're extremely patient. Half the team is participating in spring sports, be it soccer or baseball or track. So, we're going to allow those young men to finish their season on a high note and whenever we get them, we'll get them as we make our move into spring ball.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Running backs to watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Midlands produced some of the leading rushers in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202726' first='Markel' last='Townsend']</strong> (A.C. Flora),<strong> Jonah Norri</strong>s (Lexington), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443497' first='Cooper' last='Johns']</strong> (River Bluff) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262635' first='Alias' last='Graham-Woodberry']</strong> (both of Gilbert). This year, only Allen-Hendrix returns and he's expected to provide an even more explosive dimension at Irmo. The Falcons' backfield is one to watch with <strong>Noah Kelson</strong>, who rushed for 351 yards in the first four games before suffering a season-ending fractured thumb, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272714' first='Aiden' last='Mosley']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Allen-Hendrix is out of Region 5-3A, <strong>De'Shaun Washington</strong> of Brookland-Cayce makes his return. He was part of a potent Bearcats' rushing attack which returns three seniors on the offensive line. There's also Lower Richland's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771221' first='Lamarion' last='Pearson']</strong>, who had six 100-yard games in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray Collegiate Academy also has a potential 1,000-yard backfield with the due of <strong>B.J. Montgomery</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272707' first='Caleb' last='Ford']</strong>. They both rushed for over 700 yards and combined for 16 touchdowns and will be leaned upon as the War Eagles look for a starter to replace quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119009' first='Riley' last='Staton']</strong> (now at Greenville).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. Midlands' Linemen to Watch: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Airport - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771066' first='Dylan' last='Barbrey']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blythewood - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771091' first='Edward' last='Robinson'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brookland-Cayce - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771089' first='Kamden' last='Sox'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chapin -<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='771240' first='Hayden' last='Burriss']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gilbert - <strong>Kelvin Blackwell and [player_tooltip player_id='1142731' first='Caleb' last='Strese']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irmo - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771219' first='Elijah' last='Williams'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lexington - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997334' first='Montrell' last='Byrd'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lower Richland - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771036' first='Dakarai' last='Sumter'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River Bluff - <strong>Kaleb Long</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->