2024 Preview: Berkeley Stags

One season ago, there were a lot of unknowns about Berkeley. The Stags were coming off a 3-9 season and replaced a legendary coach in Jerry Brown with Eric Lodge, a newcomer from coaching high school football in Florida.   Fast forward nearly 15 months later and the pieces are things starting to fall into place. The Stags went 6-6 last season with a second-round playoff loss to Summerville. But it came with starting a 14-year-old freshman on the Class AAAAA level along with a host of other young players that basically were in a baptism by fire situation.   Now a lot of those players are seasoned veterans and Berkeley might be ready to make the jump back among the state's elite after a few down years.   Lodge said it's hard to compare things from just 12 months ago.     “It's obviously not even comparing two things that are similar,” Lodge said. “This time last year, we were just now learning the schemes, the operations and the language for the first time. After 14 or 15 months, it's not as mechanical as I would like yet, but we're starting to roll and become a machine in a good direction.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] started at quarterback, and he's gotten stronger and learned the system even better than he did last season when he threw for 2,302 yards and rushed for another 557 yards. He accounted for 33 touchdowns.   He has more than capable receivers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1158021' first='Kevin' last='Boone'] (43 catches, 797 yards, 12 touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='683478' first='Kayden' last='Bash'] (45 catches, 756 yards, 5 touchdowns). [player_tooltip player_id='1271259' first='Jessie' last='Brown'] is back at running back with [player_tooltip player_id='1359180' first='Hunter' last='Drawdy'], [player_tooltip player_id='1267220' first='Zion' last='Britt'] and Denzel Reid back on the offensive line.   Defensively, the Stags return seven starters with junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1165076' first='Marcus' last='Henderson'] being the best of the bunch. He had 125 total tackles with three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1267216' first='Kevin' last='Rivers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1639678' first='Gehad' last='Sneed'] are a couple of big-time hitters at linebacker as well.   The defensive front will have starters Landon Jackson, Andrew Williams and Ray'Quan Benekin returning. Denzel Reid will be one of the leaders in the secondary.   The Stags also have a weapon returning in kicker [player_tooltip player_id='1254117' first='Preston' last='Short'].   “We have a young quarterback and he's going to be even better this year,” Bash said. “Our entire defense is young so having so many pieces back is good for us. We know the language better this year and we want to bring that Berkeley tradition back.”   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] QB, 2027 – You keep hearing the same thing when “pundits” talk about Rivers – “if he were just two or three inches taller.” People might want to stop worrying about that and look at the numbers. Rivers threw for over 2,300 yards and rushed for over 500 more yards when he started the season on the Class AAAAA level as a 14-year-old. He's a tad bigger but he's much more comfortable in the offense that was brand new to him a season ago. His stock could skyrocket this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1359180' first='Hunter' last='Drawdy'] OL, 2025 – Drawdy (pictured) has taken on a huge leadership role with the offensive line. It helps that he was a key member last season, and the younger guys look up to him. He runs blocks well and is better in pass protection.     [player_tooltip player_id='1158021' first='Kevin' last='Boone'] WR, 2025 – Boone is more of the home run hitter among the Stags receivers. He had 12 touchdown receptions a season ago and averaged nearly 20 yards per reception. He can catch the deep ball well but is also capable of taking a short pass the distance. He and Bash form one of the better 1-2 punches in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='683478' first='Kayden' last='Bash'] WR, 2025 – You could say Bash was more of the possession receiver, but he also can take a short pass for a long gain. Bash has improved his route running and will be a vital part of the passing attack. He led the team with 45 receptions, but that number could go beyond 60 this season with Boone on the other side and a more experienced Rivers at quarterback.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1165076' first='Marcus' last='Henderson'] LB, 2026 – Henderson was a tackling machine in 2023. He was placed into a starting role as a sophomore, and you could see his confidence grow by the week. He mostly played in the middle but had no problem going sideline-to-sideline in making plays. He fights off blockers well and his read and react time usually gives him a quick first step.    BIGGEST LOSS(es)   Jove Rouse DT – Rouse was a force in the middle and a lot of times required a double team that helped free up other players. As one of the few seniors on defense, he was a true leader as well.   Austin Bridges OL – Bridges helped solidify a young offensive line and set of skill position players. He helped guide a group of young players to a six-win season.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1271259' first='Jessie' last='Brown'] RB, 2027 – Brown only played in five varsity games last season but still managed over 217 yards with two seniors playing in front of him. He might be in line to be the featured running back this season and could easily flirt with a 1,000-yard campaign.   [player_tooltip player_id='1426798' first='Cameron' last='McCue'] DB, 2027 – McCue spent most of the season on junior varsity last season where he turned into a player-maker if it was on offense or defense. He's likely to be the starting safety this season and will bring a needed element to a young secondary.

One season ago, there were a lot of unknowns about Berkeley. The Stags were coming off a 3-9 season and replaced a legendary coach in Jerry Brown with Eric Lodge, a newcomer from coaching high school football in Florida.

Fast forward nearly 15 months later and the pieces are things starting to fall into place. The Stags went 6-6 last season with a second-round playoff loss to Summerville. But it came with starting a 14-year-old freshman on the Class AAAAA level along with a host of other young players that basically were in a baptism by fire situation.

Now a lot of those players are seasoned veterans and Berkeley might be ready to make the jump back among the state's elite after a few down years.

Lodge said it's hard to compare things from just 12 months ago.

“It's obviously not even comparing two things that are similar,” Lodge said. “This time last year, we were just now learning the schemes, the operations and the language for the first time. After 14 or 15 months, it's not as mechanical as I would like yet, but we're starting to roll and become a machine in a good direction.”

Henry Rivers Henry Rivers 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB Berkeley | 2027 State SC started at quarterback, and he's gotten stronger and learned the system even better than he did last season when he threw for 2,302 yards and rushed for another 557 yards. He accounted for 33 touchdowns.

Defensively, the Stags return seven starters with junior linebacker Marcus Henderson Marcus Henderson 5'9" | 180 lbs | LB Berkeley | 2026 State SC being the best of the bunch. He had 125 total tackles with three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Juniors Kevin Rivers Kevin Rivers 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Berkeley | 2026 State SC and Gehad Sneed Gehad Sneed 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Berkeley | 2026 State SC are a couple of big-time hitters at linebacker as well.

The defensive front will have starters Landon Jackson, Andrew Williams and Ray'Quan Benekin returning. Denzel Reid will be one of the leaders in the secondary.

The Stags also have a weapon returning in kicker Preston Short Preston Short 5'9" | 150 lbs | K Berkeley | 2025 State SC .

“We have a young quarterback and he's going to be even better this year,” Bash said. “Our entire defense is young so having so many pieces back is good for us. We know the language better this year and we want to bring that Berkeley tradition back.”

STARS SET TO SHINE

Henry Rivers Henry Rivers 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB Berkeley | 2027 State SC QB, 2027 – You keep hearing the same thing when “pundits” talk about Rivers – “if he were just two or three inches taller.” People might want to stop worrying about that and look at the numbers. Rivers threw for over 2,300 yards and rushed for over 500 more yards when he started the season on the Class AAAAA level as a 14-year-old. He's a tad bigger but he's much more comfortable in the offense that was brand new to him a season ago. His stock could skyrocket this season.

Hunter Drawdy Hunter Drawdy 6'0" | 280 lbs | OL Berkeley | 2025 State SC OL, 2025 – Drawdy (pictured) has taken on a huge leadership role with the offensive line. It helps that he was a key member last season, and the younger guys look up to him. He runs blocks well and is better in pass protection.

Kevin Boone Kevin Boone 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Berkeley | 2025 State SC WR, 2025 – Boone is more of the home run hitter among the Stags receivers. He had 12 touchdown receptions a season ago and averaged nearly 20 yards per reception. He can catch the deep ball well but is also capable of taking a short pass the distance. He and Bash form one of the better 1-2 punches in the state.

Kayden Bash Kayden Bash 5'11" | 150 lbs | WR Berkeley | 2025 State SC WR, 2025 – You could say Bash was more of the possession receiver, but he also can take a short pass for a long gain. Bash has improved his route running and will be a vital part of the passing attack. He led the team with 45 receptions, but that number could go beyond 60 this season with Boone on the other side and a more experienced Rivers at quarterback.

FILM REVIEW

Marcus Henderson Marcus Henderson 5'9" | 180 lbs | LB Berkeley | 2026 State SC LB, 2026 – Henderson was a tackling machine in 2023. He was placed into a starting role as a sophomore, and you could see his confidence grow by the week. He mostly played in the middle but had no problem going sideline-to-sideline in making plays. He fights off blockers well and his read and react time usually gives him a quick first step.

BIGGEST LOSS(es)

Jove Rouse DT – Rouse was a force in the middle and a lot of times required a double team that helped free up other players. As one of the few seniors on defense, he was a true leader as well.

Austin Bridges OL – Bridges helped solidify a young offensive line and set of skill position players. He helped guide a group of young players to a six-win season.

UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL

Jessie Brown Jessie Brown 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB Berkeley | 2027 State SC RB, 2027 – Brown only played in five varsity games last season but still managed over 217 yards with two seniors playing in front of him. He might be in line to be the featured running back this season and could easily flirt with a 1,000-yard campaign.

Cameron McCue Cameron McCue 5'8" | 165 lbs | DB Berkeley | 2027 State SC DB, 2027 – McCue spent most of the season on junior varsity last season where he turned into a player-maker if it was on offense or defense. He's likely to be the starting safety this season and will bring a needed element to a young secondary.