2024 Preview: North Myrtle Beach Chiefs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360115' first='Sawyer' last='Averitt']</strong> (pictured) believes things are looking up for North Myrtle Beach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After back-to-back seasons of posting just two victories and having lost nine straight Region VI-4A games during that span, the senior offensive lineman believes the Chiefs can make a dramatic turnaround as they move up in classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I feel like we can be very dominant coming from the last region we played in,” Averitt said. “Coming into this region, I think we can take it. Number one in the region. That's the goal.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For that to occur, the Chiefs will need to get improvement from their returning players. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='985097' first='Landon' last='Cloninger']</strong> is back for his senior season and will play behind a veteran offensive line with tackles Averitt and <strong>Koleton Turner</strong> and guard <strong>JacQari Richardson</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cloninger has experienced targets in wide receivers [player_tooltip player_id='929482' first='Kaden' last='Gore'], who led the team in receiving yards, and <strong>Andrew Kreider</strong> and tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157957' first='Brown' last='Reaves']</strong>. Running backs <strong>Stephen Vereen</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574055' first='Drew' last='Prince']</strong>, <strong>Jaquell Davis</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664629' first='Jaden' last='Chestnut']</strong> will all share in the responsibility of improving the rushing game.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense also returns seven starters with defensive ends <strong>Jayden Springirth</strong> and <strong>Sloan McIntyre</strong>, Turner at tackle, linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025820' first='Lamontae' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>Tanner Pietila</strong>, and safeties <strong>Campbell Kingston</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738840' first='Bricey' last='Gore']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Myrtle Beach head coach Greg Hill has stressed urgency in having a winning start. All five non-region games to open the season are against opponents who posted losing records in 2023. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We need to have success early,” he said. “Kids have worked hard. We've got to make plays and the coaches have to do a good job of putting kids in position to make plays.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='985097' first='Landon' last='Cloninger'] </strong>QB 2025 – He threw for 1,713 yards and 13 touchdowns last season in his third year as a starter. He has a quick release and displays a soft touch throwing the deep ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360115' first='Sawyer' last='Averitt']</strong> OL 2025 – The 6-foot-5, 255-pound tackle possesses a 76-inch wingspan, has increased his weight and strength, and takes well to coaching instructions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='929482' first='Kaden' last='Gore']</strong> WR 2025 –The Chiefs' “Mr. Everything” as he's utilized at running back, wide receiver and kick returns. He led the team with eight touchdown receptions last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809755' first='DJ' last='Gause'] </strong>DL 2025 –At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, he can play at either defensive end or linebacker. His constant pressure on the quarterback led to a team-high six sacks to go with 31.5 tackles, 9.5 for loss. One of the strongest players on the team with a 535-pound squat and 435-pound deadlift. He was named the top defensive lineman at the 2023 Palmetto Combine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16136240/65414a659a90f20524ef1622' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b3bc67063d8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS (es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trenton Fredricks </strong>RB – Only Cloninger at quarterback accounted for more touchdowns as he finished with nine last season. He also led the team with 45.6 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jahsan Grace </strong>DB 2026 – The 5-foot-8, 141-pound junior will take on an expanded role in the secondary this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025820' first='Lamontae' last='Smith'] </strong>LB 2026 – He serves as a “field general” in the middle linebacker role. Looks to increase his tackles total from last year.</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1738840' first='Bricey' last='Gore']","_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":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_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":"North Myrtle Beach","_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-66b3bc6708501"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As a sophomore, he tallied 19 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception last season. He's a read and react safety who always keeps his eyes up field and is willing to get physical with his 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame. Gore also shows quick catch-up speed during instances a wide receiver gets behind him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18125578/651a12068cddd80abce35153' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b3bc670854c"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->