2023 Preview: St. James Sharks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The new life in the St. James football program is, not so coincidentally, stemming from the familiar faces associated with the football program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's giving a perennially struggling team substantial optimism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Those guys know the system,” head coach Norwood said. “There for so many years, they changed coaches like brushing your teeth; it was about every day. They know what we're doing. Everybody's back, so it's a whole lot better. And, of course, when you've got Connor back, it makes things a whole lot easier, too. … Everybody knows who our leader is.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not that St. James fans need clarification on who the coach was talking about.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91513' first='Connor' last='Schwalm']</strong> moved into the area as a sophomore, took over the starting job last year as a junior and almost immediately put his skill set to good use. He threw for 1,481 yards and 11 touchdowns and led the team with 444 rushing yards and another eight scores on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Built like a fullback but with the flexibility to change arm angles on the fly, Schwalm's creativity extends plays that in past years would have been blown dead much earlier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And while a first-round playoff loss to Berkeley was sloppy all the way around (Schwalm threw two picks and the defense couldn't stop the Stags' running game when it mattered), it couldn't take away from what the Sharks had already accomplished. By finishing third in the region, St. James ended a six-year playoff hiatus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Getting over the hump was important, of course. What's bigger is that Norwood's team returns the majority of its production on both sides of the ball. <strong>Ja'Saan Faulker</strong> and <strong>Issiah Brown</strong> (pictured) will each see huge minutes on offense and defense. Receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1312432' first='Jace' last='Shropshire']</strong>, who caught the game-winner against Socastee that punched the team's playoff ticket, jumps into the top spot on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All those pieces and more have the Sharks thinking they could chalk up not only another playoff berth. But a second winning season in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The optimism is there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And so is the opportunity.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91513' first='Connor' last='Schwalm']</strong> QB, 2024 - Schwalm's numbers slowed considerably toward the end of last season. However, if he can maintain throughout the entire year, he could flirt with some school records while propelling the team to one of its best win totals in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Issiah Brown</strong> LB/RB, 2024 - Brown is among the most physically imposing players on the entire roster. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he bounces back and forth from the middle of the defense to carrying the ball out of the backfield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1312432' first='Jace' last='Shropshire']</strong> WR, 2024 - Stepping into absence left by 700-yard receiver Ben Sandt, Shropshire will undoubtedly improve upon his 180-yard, two-touchdowns 2022 season. The 6-foot, 150-pound receiver excels at breaking free with or without contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997347' first='Josh' last='Sterling']</strong> DL, 2024 - Fresh off his state championship in the Class 5A discus, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound tackle can more than hold his own in the middle of the line. He ended his junior season with 59 total tackles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stevens Moore</strong> LB, 2024 - Last fall, Moore was only used slightly, thanks in large part to the presence of Markey Faulkner, the now-graduated outside backer who finished fifth on the team in tackles. Even if Moore isn't starting every game, he will end up being a mainstay on the defense. His speed is much improved and should be able to contribute early and often.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15136204/635362b24210100870c133d4' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c3e95a90fdc"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grayson Gollie</strong> OL/LB - A two-year starter on offense and defense, Gollie spent the vast majority of his career on the field in high-impact positions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Daniel Deneen</strong> K/P - The Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas selection was at times the most important weapon the Sharks had in terms of field goals but also field position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1146273' first='Ryan' last='Largin']</strong> DB, 2024 - The Sharks' safety was second on the team as a junior with 61.5 total tackles to go along with a pair of interceptions. He's also getting much more vocal directing his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hayes Cochrane</strong> OL/DL, 2026 - The Sharks aren't trying to rush Cochrane, but he's already competing for playing time on both lines and is expected to be in the mix more often than not as the season progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kiondre Haynes</strong> DB/RB, 2024 - Another of St. James' more flexible athletes, Haynes will be charged with covering top opposing receivers while also filling in as part of a rotation of tailbacks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->