Bouncing Back? CSRA Teams Poised To Improve

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With April underway, high school football teams across South Carolina are looking forward to the 2026 season with high hopes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While some teams aim to replicate a strong 2025 campaign, many others are eager to rewrite their story.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are seven teams from the CSRA that, despite a losing record in 2025, could be poised for a better performance this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AIKEN FIGHTING GREEN HORNETS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aiken has improved its win total in each of the last two seasons and burst out of the gates last year with wins over Aynor and Airport to start 2-0 for the first time in 15 years. The Fighting Green Hornets didn't win again in 2025, but showed promise in a 44-0 win over Airport, the program's largest margin of victory in nearly two decades. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1054957' first='Gray' last='Kitchings']</strong> returns to lead the defense after posting 66 tackles and three interceptions last season, while all-region selections <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1840750' first='Jayden' last='Merriweather']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467819' first='Brandon' last='Poston']</strong> are both fast-twitch threats up front who lived in the backfield last fall, tallying 36 combined tackles for loss. Rising sophomore linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1840741' first='Johnny' last='Dobbs']</strong> could burst onto the scene behind Aiken's talented front four. Offensively, quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1853105' first='Tanner' last='Padgett']</strong> is back for his third year as a starter and will be relying on versatile lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1840771' first='Darrenton' last='Jones']</strong> to provide protection. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1840730' first='Michael' last='Francis']</strong> is another rising sophomore who should see his touches increase at running back. With multiple talented pieces on both sides of the ball, don't be surprised if the Fighting Green Hornets turn some heads this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23078475/695eaf42e1383701c227bee9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69d65c5858a60"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BARNWELL WAR HORSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A year after playing for the Class AA state championship game, Barnwell suffered its worst season since 2013, finishing 4-7 as injuries decimated the roster. If the War Horses want to return to their winning ways, they'll need <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603960' first='Damahjai' last='Devoe']</strong> to make plays on both sides of the ball. Although most comfortable at cornerback, Devoe's athleticism makes him a threat at any position on the field. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819832' first='Jayden' last='Peeples']</strong> was slowed by injury during his sophomore season, but still put up impressive numbers on the ground and will likely be called on to carry the ball early and often for the War Horse run game. Barnwell hasn't suffered back-to-back losing seasons in over a decade and, if they can avoid another plague of injuries, there's no reason to think that trend won't continue.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22727331/67d76a418807102384b90ead' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69d65c5858aa0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BETHUNE-BOWMAN MOHAWKS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bethune-Bowman had won just five games in five years and appeared to be heading towards another underwhelming campaign after an 0-5 start. However, the Mohawks caught fire in the second half of the season, reeling off three consecutive wins in Region I-5A play and knocking off Ridgeland for their first playoff win in seven seasons. Dual-threat quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1691963' first='Jaedon' last='Bell']</strong> returns after earning second-team all-region honors as a a sophomore. The Mohawks also boast one of the area's top young defensive backs as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106793' first='Jordan' last='Mack']</strong> picked off three passes in the first six games of his freshman season. Bethune-Bowman showed signs of life after a half-decade of dormancy and the Mohawks have young pieces in place to potentially make a run at their first winning season since 2018.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/24280724/68f95f945877e9adb3c64bb9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69d65c5858ac8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CALHOUN FALLS BLUE FLASHES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calhoun Falls raced out to its best start in 15 years with a 3-1 record and its first three-game winning streak since October of 2012, but ended the year with seven consecutive losses. Despite this, the Blue Flashes possess two of the finest athletes in the 2028 class. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1865444' first='Braylon' last='Patterson']</strong> (pictured) can be deployed multiple ways and his game-breaking potential makes him instant offense every time he touches the ball. Calhoun Falls quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825569' first='Preston' last='Thomas-Smalls']</strong> accounted for over 2,000 yards of offense last season and possesses phenomenal improvisational skills, as well as knack for causing disruption on defense. The Blue Flashes will have two of the better athletes on the field every game and that might be enough to produce a winning season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23374269/67016cb40d70d6a671a0dd57' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69d65c5858aef"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FOX CREEK PREDATORS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a tale of two seasons for Fox Creek in 2025. The Predators won their first five games by an average of 43 points and scored at least 40 in every contest until October. In their final six games, they failed to top 21 points and ended the year with a 5-6 mark. Fox Creek brings back several standouts from last season that could help it compile its first winning season since 2017. Running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824044' first='Bryson' last='Crawford']</strong> rushed for 1,391 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822476' first='Mekhi' last='Quiller']</strong> returns for his senior season after leading the Predators with 348 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 18 catches. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822490' first='Char'tavious' last='Weaver']</strong> is another threat at wide receiver who should see an uptick in receptions after catching a pair of touchdowns last season. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821681' first='Brandon' last='Wallace']</strong> accounted for over 1,300 total yards and 14 touchdowns while splitting time last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19357848/68f4fde5787a0734ba7f8333' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69d65c5858b15"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RIDGE SPRING-MONETTA TROJANS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensive struggles contributed mightily to Ridge Spring-Monetta's 4-7 record last season. The Trojans averaged six points per game in their losses and will have to find ways to score if they hope to improve in 2026. One surefire way to help their chances of finding the end zone is making sure <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604020' first='Jaiden' last='Holloway']</strong> has the ball in his hands. Holloway spent time at every skill position on offense last year while also playing defensive back. The rising senior will likely be the Trojans' starter at quarterback, so he should have plenty of opportunities to put points on the board. Defensively, Ridge Spring-Monetta will be led by <strong>Jamarcus Bosket</strong> at linebacker. Bosket tallied 44 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss last fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/27166274/6928d603804979f842c1b21e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69d65c5858b3a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SOUTH AIKEN THOROUGHBREDS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Aiken fell one win shy of posting back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in eight years, finishing with a 5-6 mark. The Thoroughbreds are graced with a deep and talented senior class, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820078' first='Nick' last='Starlings']</strong> at linebacker. Starlings led the team with 86 tackles as a junior and added 5.0 tackles for loss, while fellow rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822589' first='Connor' last='Hamilton']</strong> was second on the team with 81 tackles from his defensive back position. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172344' first='Ray' last='Harris']</strong> leads the defensive line after registering 80 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks as a junior. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036785' first='Kyson' last='McLeod']</strong> returns as South Aiken's leading receiver, catching 42 passes for 657 yards and six touchdowns during his junior season. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1654810' first='Drelyn' last='Brown']</strong> should boost the ground game after transferring in from Silver Bluff, where he rushed for 1,196 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. There is also talent in the junior class, where <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615072' first='Levar' last='Gilchrist']</strong> returns at cornerback after posting 81 tackles and two interceptions and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1704301' first='Tommy' last='Burns']</strong> looks to improve on his 13-touchdown campaign. Rising sophomore defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1840728' first='Jaydon' last='Moore']</strong> rounds out a loaded defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19432477/6955c4aa573b8c863c07e460' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69d65c5858b62"} /-->