Bouncing Back? 2026 Catawba River Region Teams Eyeing More Wins

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the calendar turns to April, teams around the Palmetto State are looking toward the 2026 season with optimism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While there are numerous programs throughout the state believing they can build off a strong 2025 campaign, countless others are looking to break through and get back to winning ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are six teams from the Catawba River Region who posted losing records in 2025 but could fair better this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHESTERFIELD GOLDEN RAMS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chesterfield got off to a promising 3-1 last season before the wheels fell off. The Rams were shut out in each of their final four losses, all by at least 40 points, and limped to a 4-7 finish. Despite the graduation of quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821336' first='Bryce' last='Adams']</strong> and several key defensive pieces, there is reason for optimism in 2026. Chesterfield boasts two of the top sophomores in the state as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606964' first='Greg' last='Rushing']</strong> returns for his second season at running back and linebacker. Rushing led the Rams with 720 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns last season and should be bigger and stronger this fall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824687' first='Wallace' last='Herring']</strong> (pictured) made 28 stops last year as a freshman linebacker and also emerged as a reliable target at wide receiver. Speaking of the passing game, Chesterfield returns its top five receivers from last season, led by rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817676' first='Holden' last='Lowery']</strong> and his 504 receiving yards and five touchdown grabs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/27117710/69227833776090401ccdee9d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69ce82a33d4a7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLOVER EAGLES </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three losses, each by a single point, turned a possible eight-win campaign into a 5-6 mark last season for Clover. The Blue Eagles have the veteran leadership to turn their record around in 2026.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1404968' first='Jackson' last='Hill']</strong>&nbsp;tallied 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks last season on the defensive line and was named the Region III-5A Defensive Player of the Year. Running back&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824427' first='Grady' last='Stone']</strong>&nbsp;is a physical force inside the red zone who has anchored Clover's ground game for the past two seasons, while athletic quarterback&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1407416' first='Aaron' last='Shealey']</strong>&nbsp;returns to orchestrate the offense. New head coach Bennett Swygert will count on the senior triumvirate to lead the Blue Eagles this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20447335/68c5878ca517800e3f214be5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69ce82a33d4f9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FORT MILL YELLOW JACKETS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After managing just six wins in its previous six seasons, Fort Mill exploded out of the gate in 2025 with four consecutive wins for the Yellow Jackets' best start since 1983. Despite winning just one of its final seven games, Fort Mill still posted its best record in 10 years. The Yellow Jackets must fill some key spots due to graduation but senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266099' first='Broden' last='Mitcheson']</strong> returns after accounting for 1,475 all-purpose yards as Fort Mill's leading rusher and second-most targeted receiver, as well as moonlighting as a wildcat quarterback. Leading wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820446' first='Jameson' last='Terrell']</strong> is back for his senior campaign and will be a key target for [player_tooltip player_id='1149056' first='Quinn' last='Kelly']'s replacement under center. Terrell led Fort Mill with 42 catches for 666 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. Defensively, rising seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820448' first='Andrew' last='Kowalski']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821816' first='Smith' last='Stapleton']</strong> will be counted on to pace the Yellow Jackets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19427828/68f535923d533836b9a7b14c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69ce82a33d53a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GREAT FALLS RED DEVILS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great Falls finished 2-9 but showed signs of life offensively with its most points scored in four seasons. The Red Devils are led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816245' first='Kendrick' last='Patterson']</strong> and his playmaking ability on both sides of the ball. Patterson shone as a triple-threat offensive weapon and defensive back in his freshman season and should have even more opportunities to have the ball in his hands this fall. Patterson will have senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821805' first='Jaxson' last='Brantley']</strong> on the perimeter to throw to and rising junior <strong>Demais Stevens</strong> showed some promise at tailback last season. If the Red Devil defense, which gave up 43 points per game over the final six games of last fall, can improve, Great Falls might have a shot at its best season since 2021.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/24463865/68d54ce00f5aa350d2c6d065' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69ce82a33d579"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NATION FORD FALCONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 3-1 start devolved into a 4-7 season in head coach Jake Bentley's first season with the Falcons. Hard-hitting safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672904' first='Logan' last='Thames']</strong> leads Nation Ford's defense after racking up 109 tackles as a sophomore. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824008' first='Anderson' last='Corbett']</strong> joins Thames in the secondary and will also need to produce. Corbett intercepted three passes and tallied 44 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups during his junior season. The Falcons were decimated by graduation, particularly on the offensive side, and the development of second-leading receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824012' first='Asher' last='Beck']</strong> into Nation Ford's probable starting quarterback in 2026 will be critical to an offense that posted 35 points in each of the final two games last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22250844/690f970074301bea69fa25f0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69ce82a33d5b4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>YORK COUGARS</strong>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>York improved from a two-win 2024 campaign to a 4-7 mark in 2025. While the Cougars must replace several key losses from last season, there are still pieces in place that could help York boost its win total for the second straight year. The Cougars possess a deep senior class that&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819733' first='Jah'Maud' last='Moore']</strong>&nbsp;leads on the defensive side. Moore led the team with 116 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss, earning a spot on the Class 4A all-state first team.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379090' first='Ryan' last='Brochu']</strong>&nbsp;is poised to take over at quarterback after limited reps during his sophomore season behind&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592333' first='Tayshon' last='Freeman']</strong>. Rising sophomore&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1881803' first='Ta'Mir' last='Thrower']</strong>&nbsp;flashed on tape as a freshman, finishing the season as the Cougars' second-leading receiver with 23 catches for 249 yards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18395030/69476778d44564ced130d8ae' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69ce82a33d5f0"} /-->