2024 Preview: Fort Dorchester Patriots

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's new leadership both over and within Fort Dorchester football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a 7-4 season under interim head coach Joshua Smith, the Patriots hired Shaun Lorenzano out of Florida as its permanent head coach. This marks a true changing of the guard following the retirement of longtime head coach Steve LaPrad prior to the 2023 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year marked only the second region runner-up finish in the past 10 years for Fort Dorchester. The second-round loss to Class 5A runner-up White Knoll was also not acceptable for a program which holds itself to a high standard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Expectations are high,” offensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575301' first='Marquis' last='Wilson'] </strong>said. “We're going to try to beat everybody that we play.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In keeping with that high standard, Lorenzano has focused his team on taking those small steps to reach a bigger goal of a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We don't want a consolation prize,” he said. “We want to be in the final game. It's not a feat that we don't want to obtain. That's a step we have to take and we're going to take. It's going to take us time. We're young right now. We're very talented and these guys are going to get after it, and they know that's the ultimate goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“But you've got to go through steps. We've got to win the region. We've got to win the playoff games. We've got to get up there and win the Lower State. And then, when we get up there, we've got finish and that's the biggest thing is working on our finish at that level.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575301' first='Marquis' last='Wilson']</strong>&nbsp;OL, 2025 - The 6-foot-2 rising senior is an imposing force at right tackle. He sets a leadership tone with his words and action and has quickly impressed his new head coach to where he's declared him the best lineman in the Lowcountry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473024' first='Ryan' last='Campbell'] </strong>RB, 2026 – University of North Carolina-Pembroke did not hesitate to offer the 5-foot-9, 160-pound junior following his timed 4.31 second 40-yard time. He was the Patriots' second-leading rusher with 708 yards and 11 touchdowns and demonstrated his explosive play in wins over Ashley Ridge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Malquan Pimentel </strong>ATH 2026 – The Patriots' ironman is expected to play a lead role on both sides of the football. He saw time at linebacker, running back and even quarterback last season. Lorenzano sees him as a tight end/flex receiver along with remaining a mainstay at linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1320686' first='Lamareon' last='Thompson'] </strong>OL 2026 – Nicknamed “Big Bronco”, the 6-foot-4, 330-pound right guard forms a devastating blocking tandem with Wilson. His quick feat and strong arms helps spearhead the Patriots' running game and Lorenzano expects the college offers to start picking up this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131146' first='Malachi' last='Watson']</strong> DE 2025 - Watson is a tenacious, persistent lineman who possesses a single-minded goal of taking down any ball carrier. He is lightning quick off the line of scrimmage and at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds moves like a linebacker. On film, he covers a vast amount of field and overpowers any blockers who attempt to impede his progress.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16826783/66423a224f7f6a1eca352f24' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6680e5ba26425"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS (es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charles Watson </strong>QB – He provided offensive leadership with 1,200 passing yards and 19 touchdowns last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mul-ty Snider </strong>WR – His 700 receiving yards and seven touchdowns provided the Patriots the ability to stretch the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321105' first='Mason' last='Rock']</strong>&nbsp;LS, 2025 – A one-man special teams player who not only snaps the football but Is utilized as a punter and kicker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Romaun Parson</strong>&nbsp;LB, 2026 – A hustling outside linebacker who when he's not blitzing, makes a quick transition into a tackler and pass defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jalen White","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"160","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fort Dorchester ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6680e5ba27c49"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-9, 160-pound safety covers the field with intensity and often disrupts plays by quickly tackling the ball carrier in the backfield or disrupting a pass play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15180951/653ca8a3b53f17089884dc89' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6680e5ba27c7b"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->