2024 Preview: Ridge View Blazers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After spending back to back offseasons wondering what could have been, nobody needs to remind Ridge View of what's transpired.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the Blazers, the reminders are everywhere.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're trying to carry it with us for the whole season,” sophomore receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson'] said. “We are trying to do what we know we can do. We've got a lot to prove. I know there are a lot of people counting us out. But we know we can come together and show off our skills and show what we can do.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the team was ruled to have used an ineligible player and removed from the 2022 playoffs, a promising 2023 postseason run came to a thudding halt with an opening-round loss to Lancaster, a team that had only won one game during the regular season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Motivation? Yeah, it's safe to say that fire is burning red hot.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To make it count - as Jackson put it, for the entirety of the year - that's where some significant talent comes into play, too. Coach Derek Howard's team lost a good number of starters from last year's team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, most of the biggest pieces are back, and some incoming faces are going to adding to the Blazers' star power.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're replacing a lot of moving parts. But we've also [added] a bunch of new players, transfers who have come in and are learning our system,” defensive coordinator Ryan Kendall said. “Out of 26 years coaching high school football in South Carolina as an assistant coach and coordinator, we are, from top to bottom, one of the best teams I've seen in athleticism and depth.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That attitude is fueling plenty of excitement for a team desperate to fulfill some big expectations. After all, this is a team that boasts [player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron'] - one of the top 2026s in the entire country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And all the while, the memories of that loss to Lancaster, as well as the 2022 playoff ban, aren't going anywhere any time soon.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We need to face adversity better,” Jackson said. “Sometimes the record doesn't matter. People can play their best at any time.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That goes for Ridge View, too.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron']</strong> WR, 2026 - Gidron's final 12 colleges he's deciding between are a who's who of the next level. And he's earned every bit of the interest. He's an athletic freak who's physical talents often mask how good of a route runner he is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157942' first='Cleve' last='Tellery']</strong> DL, 2025 - Many of the Blazers' 2024 opponents go with run-first schemes in an attempt to wear down opposing defenses. That's where Tellery comes in. The big nose guard chews up a bunch of space and allows Ridge View to incorporate even more of its edge speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1283827' first='Aidan' last='Keeffe']</strong> RB, 2026 - The team's top returning running back runs toward contact and isn't afraid to initiate it. On a team full of deep threats and a ton of speed, his strengths add some balance to the offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson']</strong> WR, 2027 (pictured) - In limited action as a freshman, Jackson caught nine passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns. The fact that one in three receptions went for a score or that he averaged 21.6 yards per catch should show why the staff is so excited about his long-term potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris']</strong> WR, 2026 - The Indian Land transfer was an all-state selection as a sophomore, already had four NCAA Division-I offers in his pocket by the end of March, blew up at the Carolinas Coaches Combines in April and then transferred to Ridge View at the end of last school year. He takes an already dangerous receiving corps to downright scary.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17771539/64fdfaf519a6860448c308d0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a2728007f88"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breylon Boyd</strong> QB - Boyd threw for 1,756 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for another seven touchdowns. He was dangerous in goal line situations and was a quality decision maker.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Myles Brown</strong> LB - The outside backer tied for the team lead in total tackles (74) and was in the top spot in tackles for loss (16).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quency Grant</strong> DB, 2026 - After spending last year at Cardinal Newman, Grant made the quick jump to Ridge View. Thanks to some graduations in the secondary, he's going to get plenty of playing time. He's got great coverage instincts and - surprise, surprise - some wheels.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267280' first='Jordyn' last='Best']</strong> DB, 2026 - Similar to Grant, Best was also at another Midlands school last year. And while at Lower Richland, he not only proved he was a potent downhill safety, he finished fourth in the Class 3A state meet in the 100 during the track season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["840548"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a2728009496"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After splitting time with Boyd last fall, the job is now Howard's full-time. And if he's a true rhythm player, the next three years could get really interesting. Howard has a quick release and loves the deep ball. Considering he's got a bunch of burners, it could lead to some very fast drives time and again this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16204109/6548e1932352620a404e3ca9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a27280094c8"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->