2024 Preview: Spartanburg Vikings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spartanburg might have been the best 6-6 team in the state last year. They also might have been the unluckiest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The injury bug and a handful of weird plays impacted the Vikings' record, while a stellar defense carried the weight for an offense that was finding its way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That might look a little different in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We've told these guys all summer that once we get rolling, we'll be hard to stop," Vikings assistant coach Nate Harris said. "Our goal this year is to keep it even-keeled, or to be the better side."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That offense returns two guys who played QB in <strong>Tamijai Johnson </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592374' first='Trey' last='Burke']</strong>. There's a wealth of talent at WR with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359184' first='Justin' last='Rice']</strong>, <strong>Zy Williams</strong> <strong>Bond</strong>, and <strong>Zeke Bell-Boyd</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346191' first='Calvin' last='Choice']</strong> returns at ATH and <strong>Joshua Hodge</strong> is back at H-Back, freshman RB sensation <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch'] </strong>will anchor the backfield, while <strong>John Hammond</strong>, <strong>Trey Weathers</strong>, and <strong>Travis Miller</strong> are all back up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings' defense lost some key pieces, but they've got some outstanding returners. Choice will play on that side of the ball as well, typically lining up at DB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624354' first='Cam'Rich' last='Smith']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249806' first='Peyton' last='Jones']</strong>, <strong>CJ Woodruff</strong>, and <strong>Quez Smith </strong>will all be back at LB, while <strong>Don Kinard</strong>, <strong>Quincy Haywood</strong>, and <strong>Elijah Roseburg</strong> will patrol the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings will also be battle-tested, both through their schedule and through their practice habits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Coach Hodge has us super-prepared for every scenario," Harris said. "A lot of times we think he's making them up, and then they happen. Our guys are prepared for anything."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Realignment has impacted everybody across the state, but it might be most welcome in Region II-5A. The region has grown from five teams to eight, and no longer does one loss put a team in a nearly insurmountable spot in the standings. Harris said that's not the Vikings' approach, though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We take them one at a time and just try to get better every week," Harris said. "We try not to worry about other teams. We worry about us. We know if we can move the chains, we're going to have a good chance."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359184' first='Justin' last='Rice']</strong> WR, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rice is a big-time playmaker for the Vikings. He was far-and-away Spartanburg's leader in receptions, receiving yards, yards per game, and touchdowns a year ago, and that was on an offense dealing with a staggering number of injuries. Rice is the guy for the Vikings, whether it's a possession situation or a downfield shot, and he should be in line for a breakout year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch'] RB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lynch was a revelation for Spartanburg last season. Forced into heavy rotation as a freshman, he ended up second on the team in carries and first in rushing with more than 800 yards, scoring five times on the ground. He runs with patience beyond his years, has plenty of speed, and finishes runs angry with plenty of power.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='346191' first='Calvin' last='Choice'] ATH, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Choice is a weapon for the Vikings on both sides of the ball, but his focus shifted to offense last season. He was a big factor in the rushing game as well as the Vikings' aerial attack last season, and his speed and athleticism mean he'll likely be at the center of what Spartanburg wants to do again this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249806' first='Peyton' last='Jones'] LB, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones (pictured) is a very good player on a very good Vikings' defense. His 83 total tackles led the team last season, and he contributed 13.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He looks unblockable at times, and he's able to shed guys and get to where he needs to be in a hurry. Jones is one of those guys who just always seems to be around the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='624354' first='Cam'Rich' last='Smith'] LB, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is special. There's just not any other way to put it. He's able to play a bunch of different places for the Vikings, and can plug just about any hole on the defensive side of the ball. He had 79 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks last season, and made plays all over the field. The best way to tell you how crucial Smith is to Spartanburg's defense is to show you. Take a look.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16137153/65511c20da50b80a305b39f6' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66971acc2d00c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zeke Bell-Boyd</strong> WR, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bell-Boyd had limited touches a year ago, but did play in eight games for the Vikings. His speed and elusiveness are going to make him a threat from the slot, particularly on pop-passes and reverses in Spartanburg's offensive scheme.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1732598' first='Brooks' last='Vaughn']</strong> QB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings have a pair of returners at QB, where Vaughn played last year for the JV squad. He's got a big arm and he's capable of making tough throws in traffic, and he's athletic enough to play some DB for the Vikings as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["816749"],"_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-66971acc2e770"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Davis is a guy with tremendous upside for the Vikings. He's a big target, and he does a good job of using his body to create the space to make plays, particularly in tight coverage. He's capable of turning into a a possession guy or a downfield threat for Spartanburg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17807207/650442a36e81cb0a34293d5e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66971acc2e79e"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->