2023 Preview: Hilton Head Christian Academy Eagles

Ron Peduzzi has built an enviable standard of success at Hilton Head Christian Academy. And after tasting the sting of defeat in the postseason last November, his Eagles are hungry to retake their place atop the mountain of SCISA football. With a wide-open Class 3A and a number of motivated veterans coming back, the Eagles will have talent and grit on defense and major upside with the return of quarterback Dylan Clark and playmaking wideout Isaiah Anderson. If Peduzzi's group starts to find its groove late in October, Hilton Head Christian will undoubtedly have its shot to claim a third SCISA title in four years.   2022 RECAP   7-4, 5-2 region   Quarterfinal: L 43-36 vs. Florence Christian   STARS SET TO SHINE   Isaiah Anderson,  WR/TE 2024- A potent weapon for the last three years at Hilton Head Christian Academy, Isaiah Anderson is ready to bring his best for his senior year under Peduzzi. At 6-foot-5, Anderson has the height to dominate on 50-50 balls and can stretch out for a big grab in the end zone. He's also a hard-working blocker and knows when to put the team first in important spots in a ballgame. Learning a lot from specializing in multiple sports, especially basketball, Anderson has the classic WR/TE build to go up and get the deep pass.    Tyshon Mansell,  WR 2024- It's always nice to grab a new addition for your offense, and the Eagles did that this offseason with former Thomas Heyward standout Tyshon Mansell. A threat to take it to the house every time he gets the ball in his hands, Mansell has showcased excellent speed and explosiveness out wide. He'll bring in a lot more speed to the offensive unit, and should give HHCA lots of more different looks to run the offense. The Eagles needed another potent playmaker to complement Anderson, and Mansell might be exactly who they needed to put them back over the top.   [player_tooltip player_id='589061' first='Tucker' last='Tevepaugh'], DB/P 2024- A sensation in the punting game who doubles as an excellent defensive back, [player_tooltip player_id='589061' first='Tucker' last='Tevepaugh'] will return excellent leadership and skill to multiple phases of the game for the Eagles. Rated as one of the top punters in the nation thanks to several dominant performances in national Kohl's Kicking Camps, Tevepaugh will bring a coveted skillset to his squad again this year. He's also a hard-working free safety, putting himself in the right spot to make big plays in passing coverage. He fits Peduzzi's hard-nosed mentality perfectly and will be one to watch both defensively and on special teams this season.   FILM REVIEW   Dylan Clark, QB 2024 - It's safe to say that Dylan Clark had lots to live up to after the careers of Hayden Shinn and Jace Blackshear at HHCA. But Clark embraced the challenge well, and quickly impressed in front of his fans in Bluffton. A wizard in the pocket with his escapability, Clark can weave his way out of pressure to find positive yardage and first downs. He can also make strong and accurate throws on the run while exhibiting excellent decisions on his reads. Clark may not have the arm strength and accuracy like Shinn or the quickness of Blackshear, but he's got both while being a sponge and quickly picking up Peduzzi's air raid offense. With a year under his belt, the upside is even higher for what we could see from Clark in his senior year, especially with an added weapon in Mansell.   KEY LOSSES   Brady Bagenstose, OL-One of the most motivated and hard-working guys in the locker room, Bagenstose will be missed tremendously in the blocking game.    Matthew Scarpa, OL/DL- Scarpa set the tone on the line for the Eagles and was hard to contain from escaping into the backfield or making big plays on special teams too.   UP AND COMING POTENTIAL   Joseph Houpt- WR 2027 Already showing his dedication in the weight room and on the field during practices, Joseph Houpt is an excellent competitor who will run good routes and haul in catches when he gets the chance. He'll have more opportunities to learn and improve as he prepares for his freshman season. Ethan Foster - WR/DB 2027 A multi-sport athlete with an impressive vertical, Ethan Foster has the height and the reach to make some eye-popping plays in the coming years. It wouldn't be surprising to see him get some looks as the year progresses on both sides of the ball.

Ron Peduzzi has built an enviable standard of success at Hilton Head Christian Academy. And after tasting the sting of defeat in the postseason last November, his Eagles are hungry to retake their place atop the mountain of SCISA football. With a wide-open Class 3A and a number of motivated veterans coming back, the Eagles will have talent and grit on defense and major upside with the return of quarterback Dylan Clark and playmaking wideout Isaiah Anderson. If Peduzzi's group starts to find its groove late in October, Hilton Head Christian will undoubtedly have its shot to claim a third SCISA title in four years.