2021 Season Preview: Nation Ford Falcons

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Nation Ford split the four games they were able to get in last year, one of which included a thriller against Gaffney, coming up short in a high-scoring shootout in overtime last year. But coach Mike Allen's squad has the opportunity to go even deeper in Class 5A this year with a full regular season.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The high-flying passing attack for the Falcons averaged 37 points per game in 2020 and junior quarterback </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="91150" first="Carson" last="Black"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">is the kickstarter to their system as he went on a tear and has the velocity to make all the throws – short, long and intermediate. College coaches are well aware as he has offers from South Carolina and Virginia Tech, just to name a few. Two of Black’s primary targets in 2021 will be a duo of seniors in tight end </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="103788" first="Callan" last="Sobas"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">and one of the top receivers in PRZ SC’s rankings in </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="59496" first="Jerrick" last="Foster"]. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Senior wideout </span><b>TJ Hailstock </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">will be involved as well. Keep an eye on senior running back </span><b>Eli Whitner</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and offensive lineman </span><b>Marcus Romec.</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Senior outside linebacker and strong safety </span><b>Jackson Sims </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">will lead the way for the Falcons on defense with his instinctiveness and quick play recognition. </span><b>Clayton Rygol </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">will also be involved in the mix at linebacker.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> Senior cornerback and strong safety </span><b>Chase Gerber </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">will back Sims and Rygol up this fall with his ability to come up in run support.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">2021 Schedule (home games in </span><b>BOLD, </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">region games in </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">italics</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">)</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Aug. 20 – at Indian Land</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Aug. 27 – </span><b>Catawba Ridge</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Sept. 3 – </span><b>River Bluff</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Sept. 10 – at Northwestern</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Sept. 17 – </span><b>George Washington (Va.)</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Sept. 24 – BYE</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Oct. 1 – </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">at Fort Mill</span></i> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Oct. 8 –</span> <b><i>Boiling Springs</i></b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Oct. 15 – </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">at Gaffney</span></i> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Oct. 22 – </span><b><i>Aiken</i></b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Oct. 29 – </span><b><i>Clover</i></b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Non-region games for the Falcons against Catawba Ridge and Northwestern will be fun to watch before they get into region play, headlined by mid October against Gaffney with a chance to avenge the overtime loss in 2020 – this time with a trip down I-85 to the Upstate and the Reservation.</span>