2026 Preview: Fountain Inn Fury

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Simply head to our subscription page</a> and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.   Rome wasn't built in a day and no football coach may understand that more than Fountain Inn's Brett Nichols. As they prepare for the fifth varsity season in school history, the Fury have made steady progress each year. After a winless opening season in 2022, Fountain Inn won its opener in 2023 and added two more victories that year. In 2024, the win total doubled to six and earned the Fury their first playoff appearance. Last year was another 6-5 season, but this one ended in Fountain Inn's first home playoff game.   If the progress continues this year, it seems that it would have to mean a second-round playoff game for Fountain Inn. After heartbreaking one-score losses in each of those last two first round games, the Fury have plenty of motivation to make that happen.   "We've been taking baby steps. ... We want to keep taking steps, but at some point, it's time to kick the door down," Nichols said. "We've got probably our biggest senior class that we've had up and some very talented players that have been with us through the whole fight. We're really excited about seeing what we can do with them this year."   When it comes to talented players, it would be hard to find many more exciting than Fury senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='429920' first='Sam' last='Holliday'] . Holliday had four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) in that first win in school history in 2023, just 10 days after walking the halls of Fountain Inn as a student for the first time. Over the years, Holliday has kind of progressed from a run-first, dual-threat quarterback to a passing quarterback who runs extremely well.   "A lot of our production on both sides of the ball came from this senior class that's coming back. The experience of playing together (well before and during high school) is something nobody else is going to have," Holliday said. "I think that's what going to help us get over that hump of making a run in the playoffs."   Nichols said all the things you want to see out of a player's development, Holliday has done. He's stronger. He's faster. He's gotten more comfortable running the offense every season. Nichols believes the X-factor for Holliday is what hasn't changed though.   "He's been the same person from day one. He's as even keeled as it gets. He's ice cold," Nichols said. "Obviously, he gets excited when we're having success and frustrated when we don't, but he stays right where he's got to stay from his position to keep those other 10 out there with him together."   Fountain Inn returns its three leading rushers in Holliday, [player_tooltip player_id='1603971' first='Bojack' last='Johnson'] and CJ Thomas-Anderson. The Fury's two leading receivers also are back in All-Region I-4A performers [player_tooltip player_id='1821570' first='Benjamin' last='Ruwe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1339520' first='BJ' last='Curenton'] (35 receptions, 458 yards, two touchdowns in seven games). Curenton suffered a fractured collarbone during a 7-on-7 this summer, but Nichols is hopeful that Curenton will be ready for the season opener.   "Bojack's been a workhorse for us since he was a freshman. ... Ben and BJ are just route runners, who get open and make my job easy," Holliday said. "BJ's more of a twitchy, speedy guy and Ben's more of a 'go up and make a tough catch' type of guy. They're super special."   An offensive line that returns three starters is anchored by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1811084' first='Nathan' last='McSwain'] (pictured), who'll play tackle this season. He's played guard in the past and could also line up at center if need be.   "His athleticism is through the roof," Nichols said. "He's been a starter here since day one and he will have the opportunity to play on Saturdays."   McSwain believes the key to the Fury's offensive success lies within fulfilling a motto his position coach, Justin Ingold, preaches.   "Our motto is 'always win first down.' As an offensive line, we never want to end up with a short gain on first down," McSwain said. "It's all about being physical and getting that extra yardage early."   On a team packed with 25 seniors, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1824280' first='Chase' last='Lundy'] has become one of Fountain Inn's leaders on defense. His flexibility is vitally important as he switches back-and-forth from linebacker to playing with a hand in the ground along the defensive line on any given play based on what the Fury need.   Senior cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1825003' first='EJ' last='Lundy'] is Chase's older brother and leader in the secondary. EJ, who had 41 tackles and five pass breakups last season, is also a leading scorer for Fountain Inn's basketball team. He also ran for a 36-yard touchdown and caught a touchdown pass last year.   "I think the biggest key for us defensively is stopping the run," [player_tooltip player_id='1824280' first='Chase' last='Lundy'] said. "It's really fun and an honor to play with my brother. I feel blessed to be able to."   Another basketball star in the secondary is senior safety [player_tooltip player_id='501897' first='Zavien' last='Broughton'], who's healthy after suffering a knee injury late last season. Other cornerbacks who the Fury will count on in the defensive backfield are senior [player_tooltip player_id='1816721' first='Mekhai' last='Washington'] and junior Kaden Ferguson.   After splashing on the scene as a freshman last season, [player_tooltip player_id='1818034' first='Gavin' last='Pyles'] will look to continue his progression along the defensive line. He will be joined there by [player_tooltip player_id='1816718' first='Cyril' last='McBeth'], who's an All-State shot put thrower in track and field. At 6-foot-2, 318 pounds, McBeth can be problematic for offenses at defensive tackle or noseguard.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='429920' first='Sam' last='Holliday'] QB, 2027 - Holliday is the textbook definition of dual-threat QB. Last season, he completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 2,123 yards, 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He led the Fury in rushing with 897 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 7.4 yards per carry along the way.   [player_tooltip player_id='1811084' first='Nathan' last='McSwain'] OL, 2027 - A leg injury cost McSwain the first half of last season, but he returned and didn't miss a beat. As a 291-pound left tackle, he offers plenty of protection for Holliday's blind side. At the Carolinas Coaches Combine in Spartanburg this year, McSwain raced past the field on the bench press as he had 41 reps of 185 pounds.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824280' first='Chase' last='Lundy'] DL/LB, 2028 - Nichols said Lundy would've played varsity as an eighth-grader if it was allowed. That's how ready Lundy was then and he's only gotten better. Lundy, who also plays lacrosse, finished last season with 49 tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603971' first='Bojack' last='Johnson'] RB, 2027 - Johnson has the speed you'd expect from a 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back, but he looks much bigger in pads and with the ball in his hands and has shown the ability to shed tacklers. He rushed for 861 yards and nine touchdowns last season.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1821570' first='Benjamin' last='Ruwe'] WR, 2027 - Ruwe is the type of player who will go across the middle and catch an eight-yard pass on third-and-seven and make you think he's just a "possession receiver." One or two plays later though, he's beating his corner off the snap and catching a bomb in stride down the sideline. Ruwe's 2025 season, in which he had more than 600 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, was highlighted by a spectacular, one-handed touchdown catch at Wren. He snagged the ball with his right hand while falling to the ground in the back of the end zone with a defender right on top of him.    BIGGEST LOSSES   [player_tooltip player_id='1581469' first='Colby' last='Flood'] DB/WR - Flood transferred to Westside following a junior season in which he had 51 tackles, five interceptions, seven pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Offensively, he had four touchdowns on 12 receptions.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821576' first='Ayden' last='Burton'] DB/RB - Burton transferred to Greenville after posting 97 tackles in eight games as a sophomore last season. He had four tackles-for-loss, including three sacks. Burton also rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Kaden Ferguson DB, 2028 - At 6-foot-3, Ferguson has the size you like to see from a cornerback. He also has the athleticism as he's another basketball standout who also competes in the long jump and triple jump on the track and field team.   CJ Thomas-Anderson RB, 2028 - Like Johnson, Thomas-Anderson is a speed guy who doesn't shy away from contact between the tackles either. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound junior averaged 6.2 yards per carry last season as he rushed for 236 yards and four touchdowns.    Following an All-Region I-4A season as a freshman last year, the sky's the limit for Pyles. He collected 66 tackles, including six tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Pyles also had five quarterback hurries and forced two fumbles.   The speed and power that Pyles possesses has also been on display for the Fury track and field team. He runs the 100 and 200, but also throws the discus and shot put.   Pyles utilizes his quickness - and a devastating spin move - to shed blockers. As his body matures, he should only add more strength to go along with that quickness.

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. Simply head to our subscription page and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.