Lowcountry Midseason Report: 10 Teams That Impressed

We have reached the midpoint of the season and region play has already started or will start up this week. Weather has been disruptive to several teams in the western part of the state, so we wanted to step back, reset and look at 10 teams from the Lowcountry that have really impressed during the first half of the season.   Ashley Ridge (4-1)   The Swamp Foxes were gifted a victory after they lost to Berkeley in the season-opener but that was later determined to be a forfeit for a self-reported violation by the Stags. They head into Region VIII-5A with an explosive offense and enough defense to be a playoff contender. QB [player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz'] and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1181027' first='Jaiden' last='Deweese'] have proven to be an explosive combination. Kalisz has thrown for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns but will need to cut down on his seven interceptions in the second half of the season. Deweese is his top target with 38 receptions for 535 yards and six touchdowns. Jaylen Drayton (19 catches, 217 yards) and [player_tooltip player_id='1036782' first='Jagger' last='Spivey'] (23 catches, 275 yards) are also huge contributors. [player_tooltip player_id='1157992' first='Jayden' last='Acosta'] handles the bulk of the running game with 768 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Kalisz has added six rushing scores. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1012625' first='Dylan' last='Polansky'] is averaging over 10 tackles per game and has 43 stops on the season. Luca Sciannamea is right behind him with 41 tackles. Mario Pringle, Ja'kwan Simmons and Markial Moore also provide proven depth on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='402491' first='Gabriel' last='Ridgeway'] has added two sacks while Cole Anderson is a key contributor in the secondary.    Berkeley (2-3)   The Stags have a losing record but have only lost to Summerville by six points and Winter Park (FL) by five points on the field. They have the one game they had to forfeit to Ashley Ridge. [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] is enough of the conversation to think Berkeley can be a factor in the second half of the season. The talented sophomore has 950 yards passing with 11 touchdowns and one interception with another 402 yards rushing and three scores. [player_tooltip player_id='1158021' first='Kevin' last='Boone'] (14 catches, 366 yards and five touchdowns), [player_tooltip player_id='683478' first='Kayden' last='Bash'] (18 catches, 277 yards and four TDs) and Jvaariez Sumpter (13 catches, 18 yards) are an impressive trio. [player_tooltip player_id='1271259' first='Jessie' last='Brown'] has been getting more comfortable in the lead running back role. [player_tooltip player_id='1359180' first='Hunter' last='Drawdy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1267220' first='Zion' last='Britt'] lead the offensive line. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1165076' first='Marcus' last='Henderson'] (49 tackles), [player_tooltip player_id='1267216' first='Kevin' last='Rivers'] and Gehad Snead are the centerpiece of the defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1426798' first='Cameron' last='McCue'] and [player_tooltip player_id='464891' first='Johoava' last='Williams'] lead from the secondary.   James Island (4-1)   The Trojans have quietly won four in a row after dropping their season-opener to Gray Collegiate. Since that 17=14 loss, James Island had allowed just 10 points in the four victories. That defensive push starts with [player_tooltip player_id='1012698' first='Hendrix' last='Beran'] and [player_tooltip player_id='272709' first='Malachi' last='Jefferson'] on the defensive line. Beran has 32 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and four sacks with Jefferson adding 32 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and four sacks. Linebacker Coleman Jones also has been solid in his play with 31 tackles. Savion Small and Luke Thomas also can bring pressure on the quarterback. Jamari Rivers, Christian Heyward and Ben McQueen help hold things together in the secondary. [player_tooltip player_id='1592342' first='Connor' last='Dantzler'] has become a strong game-manager on offense. The junior quarterback has 698 passing yards and four touchdowns. Jalen Brown-Singleton is the leading rusher and receiver despite only playing in four games. DJ Wright, James Hurteau and [player_tooltip player_id='605524' first='Amor' last='Scott'] will need to become more involved to help James Island to keep up with the high scoring teams in the region.    Summerville (5-0)   There is one thing that has become very apparent in the first part of the season. The Green Wave are going to score points and score them in bunches. They haven't finished a game with less than 41 points and are averaging 45.6 points per game. It starts with QB [player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings'] and his vast array of weapons. Summerville will use [player_tooltip player_id='1249768' first='Keshon' last='Washington'] in a variety of ways, handing the ball off to him in the backfield and matching him up with linebackers in the passing game. Then on the outside, Cummings has [player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray'] and Carson Guinn to throw too. Add in running back [player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams'] and that is a potent attack. Defensively, Summerville must get better. They are allowing an average of 27 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id='1359137' first='Yasir' last='Smith'] and Nickolas Lincoln can control the line of scrimmage and that will allow linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1267285' first='JT' last='Williams'] to make more plays with his speed and aggressiveness. Jacquez Walker is a good-looking cornerback that should be able to cover a team's top wide receiver.   Bishop England (4-1)   The Bishops are another team that has surprised many this season. One of the big reasons for the four wins in the first five games has come from the play of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1592310' first='Quinn' last='Mahoney'] who transferred in this offseason. The junior has 916 passing yards with nine touchdowns with 196 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Mahoney has a strong arm and can make all the throws. It helps to have the tandem of Zachary Balong and Nick Brunetti at wide receiver. Balog has 23 receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns with Brunetti chipping in with 139 yards on 12 catches. Jacob Mackara has two TD receptions and Jack Lavelle is another big target. Nate Anderson is the leading ground gainer with 332 yards.    Hilton Head (4-1)   The Seahawks caught the state's attention with a resounding 35-14 victory over Hampton County. They've played excellent defense, and the offense is shaping into gear. [player_tooltip player_id='1013024' first='Troy' last='Timko'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki'] have carried the offensive load with a combined 694 yards rushing and nine touchdowns between them. Czarnecki also has 22 tackles. [player_tooltip player_id='1664222' first='Derrick' last='Raniszewski'] and Jeremiah Walters have both put up decent numbers at quarterback but there is no question that [player_tooltip player_id='1360333' first='Carson' last='Haines'] is the top wide receiver. Haines has 20 catches for 426 yards and six of the eight receiving touchdowns. Thristian Simmons is the leading tackler with 30 stops. Caleb Spangler has a team-best seven tackles for loss and five sacks. [player_tooltip player_id='1172368' first='Andrew' last='Massey'] has missed the last two games but has 23 tackles and will be a huge blow if he can't return.   May River (4-0)   There is little doubt the Sharks want to beat you with the run game. They have 1,339 yards rushing and just 170 passing yards in their four victories. Four players have at least 185 yards on the ground and three of those are over 327 yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1592214' first='Andrew' last='Johnson'] (364 yards, six touchdowns), [player_tooltip player_id='1592230' first='Sean' last='Mitchell'] (351 yards, one TD) and [player_tooltip player_id='1574079' first='Asa' last='Haskins'] (327 yards and three touchdowns) lead the pack with Gage Duncan adding 185 yards rushing and [player_tooltip player_id='1360121' first='Tanner' last='Macy'] has six rushing touchdowns and has 145 yards passing. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1575340' first='Hudson' last='Flanagan'] has 39 tackles to pace the defense while Peter Nodelman and [player_tooltip player_id='1575350' first='Ethan' last='Sprinkle'] also play key roles. [player_tooltip player_id='1422598' first='Zavier' last='Polite'], [player_tooltip player_id='1575332' first='AJ' last='Hamilton'] and Will Bostick each have at least 27 tackles and Polite leads the way with three sacks.    North Charleston (4-1)   One of the bigger surprises coming out of the Lowcountry has been the success coming from the Cougars. One day before the start of preseason practice, head coach Curtis Walker resigned, and Adrian Grady was named the interim head coach for the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1467813' first='Raymond' last='Middleton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1346277' first='Lorenzo' last='Kitching'] have been at the forefront on the offensive side of things. Middleton, a freshman, has 414 yards rushing and three touchdowns with Kitching adding 187 yards and three touchdowns. Richard Hazel has thrown for 483 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 35 completions. Kitching has been the top target with 20 catches for 283 yards and five touchdowns. Kitching also has four interceptions. Freshman lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1467808' first='Anthony' last='Simmons'] is 6-foot, 345 pounds and has been key on both sides of the ball. Jakhi Ladson has two receiving touchdowns. Zaiden Holmes leads the defensive charge with 34 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks. Jakrie Chisolm has eight tackles for loss. Chico Vaughn has caused two fumbles.   Hampton County (4-1)   [player_tooltip player_id='1165165' first='Jaylen' last='Singletary'] does a little bit of everything for the Hurricanes. He's the leading rusher with 559 yards and five touchdowns, he has 21 tackles on defense to go along with two interceptions and he returns punts. But he has plenty of help around him. Chris Terry has commanded the offense from his quarterback position and has 459 passing yards and seven touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1422535' first='Jayvin' last='Risher'] has accounted for 375 rushing yards and five touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1036756' first='Jordan' last='Bovain'] is the leading receiver with seven receptions for 173 yards and he plays in the secondary as well. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='809743' first='Mandrell' last='Sanders'] leads the defense with 34 tackles and Malik Terry right behind him with 32 tackles. Sanders also has a team-best 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Defensive lineman Braydon Blake has added 27 tackles. [player_tooltip player_id='1656629' first='Tyler' last='Davis'] leads the secondary with two interceptions and Javon Holmes has caused two fumbles.    Cross (4-2)   The Trojans continue to thrive on defense that is as good as any in the Lowcountry. In five of their six games, they've allowed 28 points but the 43-14 loss to Timberland was an abnormality. Two defensive linemen, [player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1360087' first='David' last='Wigfall'], lead the way but don't count out the play of [player_tooltip player_id='1012859' first='Karmello' last='Jones'] at linebacker. Jones is not only the leading rusher on offense with 714 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he has 44 tackles on defense with 12 tackles for loss. Broughton and Wigfall are next with 33 and 32 tackles respectively. [player_tooltip player_id='1172364' first='Mah'ky' last='Green'] helps hold down the secondary and is the second leading rusher with 365 yards and five touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] is also a threat on both sides of the ball. Lavell Joyner can be a threat at receiver as well.

We have reached the midpoint of the season and region play has already started or will start up this week. Weather has been disruptive to several teams in the western part of the state, so we wanted to step back, reset and look at 10 teams from the Lowcountry that have really impressed during the first half of the season.