We’ve scrounged the area looking for as many storylines, athletes to watch and trends to keep an eye on for the season as time would allow, and here, we’ll break down the particulars, who’s returning, who’s gone, a few transfers, coaches’ quotes and some analysis of each team’s outlook.
So, settle in. It’s a monster read, but I think you’ll like it.
Returning Offensive Players: Aiken returners 11 major contributors from last year’s offense.
Returning Defensive Players: Aiken welcomes back 8 starters from 2024’s defense.
The Overview: If there was an offseason award given to the program that’s generated the most preseason buzz and excitement, Aiken might be the CSRA champion. We knew coach Steve Hibbitts was excited to get back to his old stomping grounds as head coach of the Fighting Green Hornets. That much was evident from his introductory announcement of arrival during an Aiken-South Aiken basketball game. But the excitement has continued and has been extended through creative and traditional ways. From impromptu kicking tryouts to fun times captured playfully on video in between the sweltering work of spring and summer ball, Hibbitts has worked tirelessly to pump life back into Aiken football. One of South Carolina’s oldest schools and a once-proud and fairly successful program, Aiken has fallen on hard times over the last 20 years with just two winning records and three playoff appearances to speak of since 2008. That trend may not turn around immediately. But if the buzz generated by Hibbitts’ presence is any indication, things could start getting good around Aiken real soon.
The Outlook: The road to rebuild will be tough just because the SCHSL’s Region 4-AAAA is one of the toughest in Class AAAA with North Augusta, Grey Collegiate and an emerging Midland Valley. But, contrary to popular belief, there’s not a major shortage of talent in green and gold. Junior RB Jamarey Bonaparte led the team in yards-per-carry average last year (4.5) and rushing touchdowns (4). WR Caleb Griffin returns and will be catching passes from a more mature QB in Tanner Padgett. Senior Cole Gunnels’ 64 total tackles last season was best on the team, and he returns. And Hibbitts is anxious to see how newcomers Jeremiah Childs, Jayden Merriwether, Malik Culyer and Jayden Moore perform.
Coach Says: “This program, this school and this side of town are hungry to be an elite program once again. The last six months of preparation and work have shown that the players are really committed to being on top again. The sky is the limit for this program, and I’m extremely excited to see it grow.”
Returning Offensive Players: Aquinas will return six starters on offense, including standout wide receiver Jack Rhodes and sophomore RB Eli Hutchinson.
Returning Defensive Players: Aquinas has five starters returning on defense, including Hutchinson who was second on the team in tackles as a linebacker and Zion Allen.
The Overview: Lots of talent from last year’s state quarterfinals appearance has departed, including quarterback Jim Franklin who’s now a freshman at Davidson and center Will Parrish. Jaden Wuerth’s transfer to Dutch Fork (S.C.) definitely hurt, but he left Aquinas on good terms and due to a family move. Coach Leonard has been around long enough to know what it means to build and rebuild after such losses, and he’s got a solid nucleus of young pieces to do just that, including the aforementioned Hutchinson. Also keep an eye on freshmen Mason Nixon (WR) and Colin Nixon (ATH). And, perhaps, the quarterback for the future, sophomore Turner Stevenson.
The Outlook: Some of the most entertaining football we saw from Aquinas last year — or from anyone in the CSRA, really — came from their matchups with Athens Academy. The Irish bounced back from a Week 1 loss to the Spartans to hand them their only loss in the second round of the GHSA Class AAA playoffs. They’ll meet again this year to open the season, this time with Athens Academy making the trip to Augusta. Building early 2025 momentum for a “young-ish” squad breaking in some new faces begins with a solid performance against one of the more consistently solid programs in Georgia over the last 20 years.
Coach Says: “We graduated some great players and lost some key guys to transfers, but we are very happy about where we are at with this team. It’s much smaller roster size than usual, but a very committed, hard-working team. I’ve been very proud of the amount of guys that have stepped up this camp. Our cupboard is not bare.”
Returning Offensive Players: Augusta Prep returns 5 starters on offense.
Returning Defensive Players: The Cavaliers will return 7 starters on defense.
The Overview: Not that last year no longer matters, but in a sense, it doesn’t. All things have become new at Augusta Prep with new head coach Phelps Hunnicutt. Hunnicutt may be the youngest head coach in the CSRA now, but age aside, he represents part of the massive influx of new head coaches across the area. And often with new head coaches comes new energy and new ideology. Prep needs both, as the program hasn’t enjoyed a winning record since 2017 and have gone 5-16 the last two seasons combined.
The Outlook: There’s a lot to like about Hunnicutt’s first roster, given that more players are returning than leaving. QB Carter Chavous showed promise as a sophomore last year and was the team’s leading rusher behind Eli McFadgen whom the Cavs will have to replace after his graduation. Hunnicutt likes what he sees from transfer RB/DB Austin Luke and freshman TE/OLB Grayson Randolph. But in this season, it’s not about wins and losses or even playoff appearances as much as it is establishing a new precedent and culture for the program’s future.
Coach Says: “We’re excited to establish a new standard for Augusta Prep football. Since we’re returning a junior-heavy group, we’ve got great expectations of growth over the next two seasons. If we can stay healthy, energetic and mentally tough, our 2025 team will experience success that they’ve not seen in their time at A.P.”
Returning Offensive Players: Batesburg has 6 starters returning on offense for the 2025 season including RB Amadre Wooden and WR KD Whitt
Returning Defensive Players: The Panthers return 7 starters for the 2025 season including DL Travis Gates and LB Tyler Wootton.
The Overview: Some high school football analysts have Batesburg-Leesville checking in as a preseason No. 1 squad. That’s largely based on last year’s 12-1 record and deep playoff run that gave a proud Panthers program a long-awaited taste of what some of its more successful days were like. The 12-win season was the first since the 2013 state championship squad under coach Jerry Brown. It was also the first non-pandemic winning season since 2019. The double-digit wins for the 2024 campaign — along with the first region title since 2016 — have generated a buzz around this program’s loyal fanbase that hasn’t reverberated as loudly as in times past, and it has the community thinking that more “banners” could be on the way.
The Outlook: There’s a lot to like about this Batesburg-Leesville squad, especially with regard to skill position players. RB Amadre Wooden is back after rushing for 1,543 yards and 19 touchdowns while clocking 8.2 yards per carry. The 6-foot 210-pound senior returns as not only one of the CSRA’s best tailbacks, but one of the top performers in all of South Carolina. But wideout KD Whit’s not far off. Lawson calls Whit “one of the best athletes I’ve ever coached.” But with all BL has returning, the biggest void is at arguably the most important position on the field – quarterback. Reliable and efficient three-year starter Tanner Watkins has graduated, leaving Lawson with the arduous task of trying to find his replacement. Currently, three signal callers – Trey Smith, Reese Boehnke and Tyler Kneece — are duking it out for starter status. Smith was last year’s JV starter while Kneece is back after playing as a freshman. Lawson calls Boehnke a “Johnny Manziel type” thanks to his athleticism that allowed him to see the field primarily as a receiver last year. With about 14 out of 22 total starters returning and 23 seniors on this squad, the Panthers could be one competent quarterback away from taking another step toward a state crown this year.
Coach Says: “One of the papers got us ranked No. 1 in the preseason. I’d rather not be No. 1, but since the target’s on our back now, I told them you’d better start acting like it and start practicing like it. Rankings don’t mean anything until the end of the year, so I tell them we’re just going to go out and focus on getting better than we were the day before.”
Returning Offensive Players: Offensively, the Red Raiders are bringing back eight starters from last year’s squad. Running back Marcus Cann was a double-threat as a rusher (721 yards and 9 touchdowns) and receiver (39 catches, 704 yards and 3 touchdowns). Junior place kicker and punter Charles Breland is also back.
Returning Defensive Players: Eight players are also returning on the defensive side, including Garner Webb commit Jalen McGraw at linebacker with his 96 tackles.
The Overview: They say football is a game of inches, and the Raiders represent a team that, in many ways, was just “inches” away from a different outcome in 2024. In each of Bamberg’s three losses to Barnwell, Woodland and Lake View in the playoffs, the Red Raiders either had an early lead or were tied against their opponent. Now, a year older and more experienced, the Raiders have an opportunity to finish what it started last year in terms of making a state championship push.
The Outlook: Maybe the biggest question mark on this year’s team is junior quarterback Brian McMillian who will take over starting duties this season. The good news for him is he’s got a ton to work with around him, including three returning starts up front and a bevy of experienced skill position talent around him. Getting rival Barnwell at home on Sept. 5 will be fun.
Coach Says: “The linebacker corps is expected to be a strong point with Jalen McGraw leading the way after a solid 2024 season. We’ll have a strong rushing attack with Marcus Cann Jr. being back in the offensive backfield. He’ll help us defensively too. The defensive backfield is a major strength with Charles Williams and Brian McMillian Jr. along with transfer Christopher Washington.”
Returning Offensive/Defensive Players: Many of Barnwell’s players will play both offense and defense. Nine total will return, with senior RB/DB Nehemiah Brown among the top performers coming back. Four offensive linemen from last year’s Class AA state runner-up squad are back as well.
The Overview: There’s enough talent returning to make it not a complete shock to see the Warhorses run it back in 2025. The defending 2024 region champs are still smarting a bit from a 35-6 loss to Clinton in the SCHSL Class AA state title game. Most teams had trouble solving coach Smith’s 3-4 defensive attack as the Warhorses pitched four shutouts and held four other opponents to single-digit scoring last year.
The Outlook: This year’s schedule won’t be much different than last year’s slate, save for some of the venues. The August 21 home opener against Blackville-Hilda will be a solid test. Of course, everyone’s going to circle Sept. 5 when bitter rival Bamberg-Ehrhardt comes calling. Some of the team’s newer pieces will need to gel, but it’s seldom wise to underestimate the will of a team scorned by a near-miss state title. Barnwell will lack no motivation in trying to win its first state crown since the Mac Weir-led 1987-88 squads claimed them back-to-back.
Coach Says: “It’s an honor and privilege to coach the 107th team in Barnwell Warhorse history. This team lacks some of the experience last year’s team had, so from a coaching standpoint, the scrimmages, jamboree and non-region games will be critical to developing depth and determining starters who can help us reach our season goals. These battles will allow us to coach a ton more than we did with last year’s more experienced group.”
Returning Offensive Players: Burke County brings back 7 offensive players from last season’s Class AA state runner-up squad, including quarterback Sean Vandiver.
Returning Defensive Players: The Bears return three defensive starters from last season, including LB Chris Flournoy, the team’s second-leading tackler from 2024.
The Overview: Coach Stephens says he doesn’t get too rattled about returning players and departing players because it’s always a reset from year to year. Making it to Atlanta was good but now the goal is making it through the first half of the 2025 season which features Friday’s opener against a much-improved Richmond Academy squad and that state power from Savannah, Benedictine. Of course, the annual clash with rival Thomson looms on October 3. Stephens likely won’t know his roster’s full potential until region play. But having a three-year starter behind center in QB Sean Vandiver will help quell some anxieties about the offense, anyway.
The Outlook: With just three starters returning on defense and additional questions particularly with the offensive line, it would be supremely unfair to automatically hoist onto this team expectations of a repeat trip to Mercedes Benz Stadium for the last game of the season of the season. But Burke County is still Burke County, meaning the Bears have had just one losing season since 2003, and Stephens has only coached three teams to losing records in his entire 19-year career. So the odds say Burke County will likely be a team that’s in every possible championship conversation yet again. Having Vandiver at the controls of the offense for a third straight year definitely helps. Success will be determined by how quickly the newer faces adjust to the Friday night lights. That can only be discovered during the course of the season.
Coach Says: “You don’t approach this year any differently than any other. You approach it as, hey, you’re starting over every year because these guys are totally different. Even some of the guys who did a great job for you last year, they’re different this year. Some have matured more. Some haven’t. Only thing about it is, everybody’s gunning for you now because of what you accomplished last year. But last year’s group can’t help this year’s group. They’re gonna have to find a way to tread their own path and make their own way.”
Returning Offensive Players: Cross Creek returns 5 starters from last season, including leading rusher Karmani Bell.
Returning Defensive Players: The Razorbacks return 4 starters from last year, including leading returning tackler Ronaldo Jones.
The Overview: There is nothing easy about the Cross Creek football job, which is why it was commendable for coach Ezzard Horn to not just take it back in 2022 when the Razorbacks came dangerously close to starting that season without a coach, but he took it on enthusiastically. The Razorbacks regressed a bit in the win column last year, going from a 3-6 2023 season back to a 1-9 finish. The program’s got just three playoff appearances to its name — one in 2005, one in 2007 and the most recent in 2016. But one place of pride for Horn — not to mention a sure sign of progress — is the three seniors the program graduated and placed into college football programs last year. WR Cam Nixon (Georgia Military College), DL Nasan Houston (Benedict College) and OL Barry Story (Cisco College). All three of these players were among the best at their respective positions in the entire CSRA in 2024.
The Outlook: Horn has brought consistency and some stability to the program. He’s the first coach since Robert McCarty (2013-2016) to stay in his position for more than two years. He’s brought college attention to the school with the aforementioned trio of signees from last year. Now, Horn and company want to see an increase in the win column. Cross Creek’s had just three winning seasons since opening in 1999. Horn is looking forward to the addition of Leon Pierre-Louis, a talented strong safety transferring in from Ramstein High School in Germany. Amaud Atkins, a sophomore, has shown flashes of next-level potential at WR. Horn will be hoping to turn some of the close losses — like a two-point defeat to Hephzibah and a 23-14 setback at Richmond Academy — into wins this year which should build more momentum for his program. Priority No. 1 will be establishing a new quarterback as junior Brandon Wallace now resides at Fox Creek.
Coach Says: “We’ve had a lot of our young guys step up and fill roles that our senior class of 2025 left open. My [offensive coordinator] coach Antoine Nabors and [defensive coordinator] coach Melvin Adams have really done a great job this summer getting our new guys up to speed on our play concepts. We’ll step on the field each Friday night competing to give our community and school something to be proud of.”
Returning Offensive Players: After graduation and a few transfers, the Knights will return four players on offense including quarterback Tripp Furgeison.
Returning Defensive Players: The Knights will welcome back three players on defense with Bryson Crewe anchoring the front seven at middle linebacker.
The Overview: Evans football is turning a page in a major way with a new head coach in former Westside program leader Lee Hutto and more newcomers than returning starters on both sides of the football. Hutto is no stranger to CSRA football. His other two head coaching stops before Westside were at Washington-Wilkes and Warren County. It’s hard to say what his first Knights squad will be as Evans is in full program rebuild mode after the departure of four-year coach Barrett Davis and graduating players such as now-Georgia freshmen Mason Short along with BuddyRow Garrer and Tyler Wallace who are playing college ball at Kent State and North Alabama respectively.
The Outlook: New faces abound, both on the sidelines and the between the hashes. Furgeison will hopefully bring some stability to the quarterback position, and Hutto is also high on offensive lineman Jayden Campbell and outside linebacker Lewis Boykin. They’ll start the season at the Brickyard against a revenge-minded Thomson squad. Then at in-county rivals Grovetown and Lakeside. The biggest question here will be how fast a new team will buy into a new coach’s philosophy.
Coach Says: “It’s definitely a very young and inexperienced team. We’ll play several former JV players and even some freshmen, and our biggest holes to fill are along both lines of scrimmage. We’ve got some good depth at the skill positions like running back, receiver and linebacker. Extremely young and inexperienced secondary. We’re also replacing an outstanding kicker and long snapper, so we’ve got a lot of work to do, but I like the way our guys are competing and growing.”
Returning Offensive Players: Grovetown will bring back 6 starters from last year including senior QB Jowell Jackson-Henriquez.
Returning Defensive Players: Grovetown will return 5 starters from last year, including LB Dallas Johnson who tallied 114 total tackles, including 14 for losses.
The Overview: Coach Dedrick Mayo has generated excitement and infused a heightened sense of expectation into Grovetown’s program, given his track record for program rebuilds and his experiences that span both high school and college football. He’s got a big task ahead of him for a couple of reasons. One, being he inherits a program that went 3-17 combined in the last two seasons. Secondly, Grovetown competes in the largest classification in GHSA football and in a region that includes a nationally ranked program in Grayson and solid squads such as Newton, South Gwinnett and Archer that have a tradition of turning out college talent. And finally, trying to build Grovetown into a football program that consistently competes for championships will be something that hasn’t been done there yet. Since opening in 2009, the Warriors have won more than six games just once — a 7-5 mark in 2018 — and have only five non-losing seasons to their credit with a grand total of five state playoff appearances.
The Outlook: The speed in which things turn around at Grovetown will depend largely on how quickly current players buy in to the culture shift Mayo is presenting. Believe it or not, there’s talent present. Mayo sees increased roles for players like Pat Denson and CJ Wilkerson. Augusta Christian transfer Kenny Mathis has shown flashes of athleticism at WR and DB. The 2025 slate begins with a Lakeside squad that many also consider to be a program rebuild with a new coach and coaching staff and an exodus of solid talent from last year’s playoff bunch. Grovetown lost decently competitive games against Lakeside and Greenbrier to begin the season and fell to Thomson by just one score, so there is promise. Early wins against in-county rivals can build momentum.
Coach Says: “In year one, our goal is just to establish a culture of discipline and accountability. We can’t achieve the success we want on the field until those things are in place. And we have to learn to compete against the well-coached, well-established programs in our area as well as the most difficult region schedule in the CSRA.”
Returning Offensive Players: Harlem will return 9 starters from last year, including quarterback Mercer Barton and leading rusher Malik Tyler.
Returning Defensive Players: The Bulldogs bring back 4 starters on defense, including returning leading tackler Levi Rickerson.
The Overview: Coach Mark Boiter’s program has seemingly found its stride as he approaches season six at the helm. Last year’s 10-2 mark and Region 4-AAA championship is a repeat performance from the 2022 team that finished with the same record and region title hardware. The four straight state playoff appearances under Boiter is the longest postseason streak in school history. Aside from Boiter’s two region titles, the only other time Harlem won its region was back in 1974.
The Outlook: Part of Harlem’s success under Boiter has come through his insistence on build a program from the ground up, starting with underclassmen and fostering the middle school feeder connection. Several players who were either once backups or were freshmen last year will be expected to emerge for bigger roles this year, including Jordan Lott, Eric Beddingfield and Austin Waldon. Sophomores Keaton Tillery, Jax Stadler, Aiden Peloquin and Lucas Rockefeller could be poised for breakout seasons.
Coach Says: “We want to build and be a better team. That’s always the goal. This group’s really gotta step up. We had a lot of seniors graduated that played big roles for us on Friday nights and from a leadership role in practice, so we’ve gotta have guys that step up and fill those shoes. But our rising senior class is a large group, and really of those guys from that class have stepped up and they’re taking a leadership role and they’re making sure everybody else is doing what they’re supposed to be doing. If guys keep working and keep practicing hard, we’ll hopefully surpass what we did last year.
Returning Offensive Players: The Rebels welcome back seven players on offense from last year. One of them being junior running back Reante Byrd, the CSRA’s leading returning rusher.
Returning Defensive Players: Hephzibah will see eight players return on defense, including Dextavion Reese who was one of the team’s leading tacklers last season.
The Overview: To say 2024 was a disappointment may be an understatement for coach Dorsey. Entering his sixth year at the program’s helm, Dorsey has seen at least a one-game increase in the win column each year since he’s been at the school — except last year. Following a 7-4 2023 campaign, Hephzibah struggled to finish 2-8 last year despite winning its season opener against Washington-Wilkes. While several losses were blowouts, others were close, including the 30-21 setback to Laney and then an 8-point setback to Aquinas two weeks after. Defense was a particular sore spot last year as the 2024 Rebels surrendered 35 points per game.
The Outlook: In the midst of the bleakness, though, was a bright spot named Reante Byrd. Byrd rushed for 1,648 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, averaging 7.5 yards per pop. He also had 36 tackles on defense has a linebacker. With his return, Dorsey has reasons to be excited about the potential his squad brings to a new year. Watch for WR/DB DeVaughn Patterson and senior defensive lineman Kingston Rainey to add something fresh to the roster. Freshman Tyler McGahee is also one to watch.
Coach Says: “We really believe that the 2025 Hephzibah Rebels will be much improved and be a team that will compete for the region title this year. Our guys are all in.”
Returning Offensive Players: Jefferson County returns 5 offensive starters from last year.
Returning Defensive Players: The Warriors bring back 4 defensive starters from 2024.
The Overview: Jefferson County saved the best for last in 2024, defeating Central 33-0 for its first and only win of the season on the last game of the season. Now, just in case you’re new to the CSRA and think this is typical for Jefferson County, it’s not. Jefferson County has been a consistent 7-to-10-win program for most of its existence. And, believe it or not, coach East’s 1-9 season is a one-win improvement from his first year which was an 0-10 campaign. A far cry from the J.B. Arnold squads that ripped off three straight region championships from 2018-2020 just before he retired, but progress is progress.
The Outlook: Jefferson will start off with a pair of matchups with CSRA schools, Screven County and Washington County. It will give the Warriors a chance to snag some early momentum for the rest of the season. Aside from finding a replacement for kicker Tristan Solis, East will be watching for the progress of newcomers such as SS Lamar Holman, CB Bryce Brown and DL Eli Harmon. He’s hoping the infusion of “new blood” into the program can bring it back to life in year three of his tenure.
Coach Says: “We are approaching this season with the same old school coaching lingo we’ve always had — one week at a time. I’m just excited to see what we have in this team for this year.”
Returning Offensive Players: Jenkins County will welcome 8 returning starters back in 2025, including QB Justin Wright and RBs Marion Young, Calvin Adams and Marquavious Roberson.
Returning Defensive Players: Seven defensive starters will return for the War Eagles, including DL Ford Detwiler and DBs Calvin Adams and Barther Taylor.
The Overview: After a stint of unprecedented success under former head coach Jason Cameron that included a pair of region championships and the first 12-win seasons in school history, times got a little tougher for Jenkins. But a streak of four straight losing seasons finally broke with last year’s 10-3 campaign. It’s only the fourth double-digit wins season Jenkins has had in 68 years of football. Naturally, it has coach Waters and his squad wanting more, especially given the fact that 15 returning starters on both sides of the ball return from last year’s 10-win squad.
The Outlook: For Waters and Jenkins County, the strategy is simple — pound the rock. Last year’s team only threw 59 passes. 57 of them came from quarterback Justin Wright who’s back as a senior. It’s a big-play-or-bust passing game, averaging 20 yards per completion. But Adams, Roberson and Young make up the three-headed tailback monster that gives the War Eagle offense its juice. All three of them rushed for over 500 yards apiece, not including Wright’s 477 rushing yards and graduated senior Kendrick Thomas who led the team with 885 yards on the ground and 12 touchdowns. Coach Waters is high on B-Back Jayden White along with A-Back Rod Burke as well as a trio of young linemen in Desmond Mincey, Chandler Muns and Maison Mozee.
Coach Says: “Our expectations this year are the same as always. We play Jenkins County football. That means, run the ball and eat up the clock. Play tough defense. Limit mistakes, be solid on special teams and have fun.”
Returning Offensive Players: Lakeside returns 6 offensive starters including SaQuan Marshall and Tristen Jones.
Returning Defensive Players: Lakeside returns 6 defensive starters including Andrew Pye and Marshall.
The Overview: Although Lakeside’s 10-win season and second round advancement to the playoffs was more an exception than the rule over the last few years, it felt good to the Panthers. And although that success from last season is now met with new faces from the sidelines to the field of play, Lakeside hasn’t been shy about wanting more. Coach Steve Hibbitts ended his 11-year tenure at the school in style with a 10-2 record in 2024 and a first-round playoff win. That squad also boasted some of the top players in the CSRA as well as the state. Players such as Ty Jones who was the WJBF NewsChannel 6 overall Player of the Year in 2024. Jones has graduated along with Mykeal and BJ Grissom and Jack Thexton. And new head coach Brett Johnson is ready to prove that 2025 will not be a rebuilding year.
The Outlook: In addition to Lakeside welcoming a new head coach, there will also be a few new faces as far as talent goes. Look for a handful of transfers to figure into the playmaking mix this year. LB Cameron Farrer and QB John Allen Williamson have come over from Augusta Christian. Williamson threw for 1,390 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior for the Lions last year. Also, junior Lucas Inman has come over from Aquinas. He tallied 72 tackles and five sacks last year as a sophomore. Lakeside also returns place kicker Will Brandenburg and punter Joey Curkovic, so the cupboard isn’t bare. The Panthers will get a shot at some early-season momentum with home games against Grovetown and Evans and a trip to South Aiken during the first three weeks of the season.
Coach Says: “This Lakeside team graduated a lot of talent, but they are young, hungry and want to win. Our players and coaching staff are not treating this as a rebuilding year. We have set a new standard and our goal is to raise the bar to a new level each year. We will not back down from a challenge. We’ll play anyone, anywhere anytime.
Returning Offensive Players: Lincoln County returns eight players on offense WB Kelby Glaze and WB John Norman. Quarterback Mikhai Wade also returns.
Returning Defensive Players: Eight Red Devils will also return on defense with senior Christian Elam returning as the team’s leading tackler with 111 stops last year.
The Overview: Larry Campbell isn’t walking back through the doors to coach Lincoln County, but Lee Chomskis is — for his sixth season. No coach other than Campbell has led the program longer than Chomskis, and last year’s Red Devil squad looked alot more like those vintage championship teams the folks in Lincolnton are used to. Chomskis loses CJ Crite to the Cincinnati Bearcats. Crite was one of the area’s most dynamic talents last season. But his senior-heavy squad may ensure that one or two talented players won’t cause much drop off. Chomskis is proud of the fact that his Red Devil bunch is homegrown. “All of our kids are from Lincolnton,” he said in an earlier interview. “It’s a senior-heavy group which is how it should be.”
The Outlook: There’s nothing fancy about what Lincoln County does. But it doesn’t have to be fancy when it’s efficient. Lincoln County quarterbacks only threw 86 passes in 2024. But they’re 19.3 yards per completion, nine touchdowns to just two interceptions proves the efficiency. Meanwhile, the Red Devils averaged 253 rushing yards per game and 7.5 yards per carry in a rushing attack that saw three ball carriers tally more than 500 yards. Glaze will likely be the bell cow, but there is no lack of depth in Lincoln County’s running back room. It’s been 19 years since a state title has come to Lincolnton, and this year’s bunch may represent the most championship-ready squad yet.
Coach Says: “We will have a very experienced team this season. We have 15 seniors that have played in a lot of games. We’re going to have to stay healthy and get consistent leadership from them if we hope to accomplish our goals this season.”
Returning Offensive Players: McCormick will return 5 offensive starters in 2025.
Returning Defensive Players: The Chiefs will return 4 defensive starters in 2025.
The Overview: One of the biggest blows for coach Collier’s program was losing four-year starter Markese Stevens. Collier called him a “cornerstone of the McCormick football team” while lauding his “remarkable consistency, leadership on and off the field.” Still, the Chiefs finished 2-9 last year while still clinching a playoff berth. Collier’s entering his fourth year at the program’s helm now, and is looking to bring the Chiefs their first non-pandemic winning record (McCormick went 5-2 in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season) since 2017.
The Outlook: Coaches aren’t often fond of using the term “rebuilding year.” But it may be the most accurate thing to say about this year’s McCormick squad. Coach Collier is counting on some athletic newcomers into his program to have immediate impact on the talent that he has returning. Those newcomers include freshmen Markhal Bost and Tylan McGrier. Bost is a versatile athlete who can play skill positions on both sides of the ball while McGrier has already shown some high-level ball skills as a defensive back.
Coach Says: “Our guys, everyone, veterans and newcomers alike, will have to understand one thing: It’s going to take all of us. Success isn’t going to come from a few standout plays or individual effort alone. It will come from consistent growth in the small things — how we practice, the way we communicate and how we hold each other accountable this year.”
Returning Offensive Players: Eight starters return on offensive for the Mustangs, including Preston Smith and linemen Sean Tiedman and Brody Kesselring.
Returning Defensive Players: Eight starters also come back for the defense, including Aaron Adams Jr, Khairi Cook and Quientin Cofer.
The Overview: Given everything Midland Valley had one through over the last year or so, making the playoffs 2024 — even with a losing record — was a big feather in the cap of coach Brent Dorn. Starting 0-3 and then finishing third in region play is impressive no matter the circumstances. And three of those wins were dominant. Midland Valley beat Aiken, Airport and South Aiken by a combined score of 145-28. The “interim” tag was removed from Dorn’s name and title giving him a full offseason, spring and summer to develop the program according to his philosophy.
The Outlook: When you combine the way Valley finished last year, the 16 total starters it has returning and some talented young newcomers like LB Andon Hawkins, DB Brayden Fuller and WR Jaylan Washington, there’s no reason not to expect another playoff appearance at least and maybe a run at a region title, although North Augusta and Gray Collegiate will likely have something to say about that. Starting the year off hosting J.L. Mann on Saturday August 23 will be a solid opening season test.
Coach Says: “We are ready to get back on the field and compete. We let some games slip away last year to simple mistakes and have really been harping on correcting those ever since. Expectations are high around here.”
Returning Offensive Players: North Augusta will return eight on offense, including three-year starter Michael Doe, and 3-star offensive lineman prospect Malcolm Gaston.
Returning Defensive Players: The Jackets return six on defense, anchored by a promising front seven.
The Overview: The Yellow Jackets were one of the area’s most talented teams regardless of which side of the border you’re talking about. The deep dive into the SCHSL’s semifinal round of the Class 4A playoffs where coach Bush’s bunch lost by just a touchdown to eventual state champion South Florence proves that. And while major players such as quarterback Corey Tillman, defensive end Deondre Baskett and wide receiver Connor Brown have departed, North Augusta’s cupboard isn’t bare. Look for guys like Cam’Ron Frazier, last year’s backup quarterback Collin Tillman and RB/DB Jayden Hatcher to emerge. North Augusta looks to continue its tradition of strong special teams play with promising junior place kicker Jacob DeGennaro.
The Outlook: The Jackets won’t be easing into the 2025 campaign as they’ll host arguably the most talented team in the CSRA in Thomson on August 22 at 7:30 p.m. After that, it’s a date with Lexington, a 2024 playoff team that beat the Jackets at home by one point last year.
Coach Says: “This year’s team has worked really hard this offseason. We have a lot of guys who played meaningful snaps last season, and we’re definitely looking forward to, and are excited about, what they can become this season.”
Returning Offensive Players: Eight Gamecocks return to this squad, including Demarko Ward making the switch from safety to full time quarterback this year.
Returning Defensive Players: Ten of Screven County’s starting defenders from last year are back including leading tacklers Antwan Stewart and Kashard Prescott. The duo combined 103 total tackles and combined for 14 tackles for loss.
The Overview: Screven County’s mission begins with getting back to the playoffs. Last year’s 4-6 record ensured that Screven County would finish outside of the playoff picture for only the second time in coach Ron Duncan’s 14-year tenure at the school. Having 10 starters back on defense is huge for a team that struggled at times on that side of the ball last year. Shoring that up has been priority No. 1 for coach Duncan — that as well replacing a couple of big pieces on the offensive line in center Aiden Tillman and Tackle Ayden Allen.
The Outlook: How good will Ward be behind center? That’s a question that can only be answered on Friday nights. But if Ward can become serviceable fairly fast, it’ll give Screven an opportunity to have a special season. There were some contests coach Duncan will tell you his bunch let get away from them for various. He wants to get away from that this year.
Coach Says: “We’ve got most all of our guys this year. We’ve just gotta learn how to finish games, and we are looking for consistency. Overall, we have had a great offseason and we’re super excited to see how our guys handle another year in a very competitive region.”
Returning Offensive Players: Silver Bluff is bringing back 7 starters on offense, including Drelyn Brown, Zean Dicks and linemen Tariq Williams, Cameron Green and Adrian Gray.
Returning Defensive Players: The Bulldogs will return 4 players on defense, including LB Jordyn Givens and DBs Jessie Shelley and Zykee Williams.
The Overview: Any coaching transition is going to feature some bumps and bruises. Hayes experienced that in his introductory season as head coach at the Aiken school. But after starting out with seven straight losses, there were notable signs that improvement was happening as the season went on, including back-to-back blowout wins against Swansea and Fox Creek followed by a closely contested loss to Newberry. Both Swansea and Newberry were 7-win playoff teams last season. Silver Bluff is a proud program that’s used to contending for region and state titles. In fact, the 2-win season last year was just the third since the program began in 1981.
The Outlook: Things are trending upward for the Bulldogs, given how they finished 2024, who they have returning and the fact that their head coach got his first year — typically the most difficult one — out of the way and under his belt. In addition to the aforementioned returning starters, place kicker JJ Brittain is back as well, and Hayes calls him “a proven kicker who’s added distance and accuracy over the offseason,” so there’s lots of familiarity for coach Hayes on this 2025 team. The front half of the schedule, with games against South Aiken, Strom Thurmond, Blackville-Hilda and Lincoln County, offer no gimmies. But it will give Hayes and Company a chance to prove last year’s tough season was an anomaly.
Coach Says: “The strength of this 2025 team is going to be upfront. We’re returning a lot of experience on the offensive and defensive lines, and both groups will have to play well for this team to be successful. Quarterback Trellis Riley has really grown in the offense and is taking more leadership in the locker room. Drelyn Brown and Dorian Jones can both be 1,000-yard backs, and Zykee Williams will be a big playmaker for us in the secondary.”
Returning Offensive Players: Strom Thurmond returns 6 starters offensively from last season, including senior QB Bri’shaun Lee.
Returning Defensive Players: The Rebels bring back 9 starters definitely, including leading tacklers Wytravious Dugar and Gregory Moore Jr.
The Overview: Thurmond is one of the winningest programs in South Carolina high school football history, seemingly always in the hunt for region and state titles. In fact, last year’s squad is coach Webb’s first to not win a region crown. Still, even with a 6-4 record, the Rebels made life difficult for its opponents. Two of their three regular season losses were by one score, including an 8-7 defensive thriller in defeat against Batesburg-Leesville.
The Outlook: Coach Webb has a junior-and-senior-laden group chocked full of experience under the Friday night lights. They’ve also got a chip on their shoulders from some of those close losses and rare departure from Thurmond-like results. With 16 total returning starters, there’s no reason to think Strom Thurmond won’t be back in the region championship conversation again this season.
Coach Says: “We have a bunch of experience returning, and we’re excited about this group. We want to build off of last season and take the momentum from our offseason to compete for a region and state championship in the Peach Fields.”
Returning Players: Thomas Jefferson will bring back five starters on both sides of the ball, including junior RB Rashad Smith who ran for 365 yards and five scores last year and Jake Hudson who tallied 42 tackles last year as a sophomore.
The Overview: Improvement for the Jaguars begins with finding a replacement for 2024 leading rusher and receiver Jace Brooks. An all-region performer, he also took the most snaps at quarterback last year. Smith and his 6.5 yards per carry last year, seems like a good candidate to fill that feature back void.
The Outlook: Experience and depth. Those two words best describe the way coach Hennessy’s team can be different and better than last year’s squad. Missing three-year OL/DL starter Clayton Gunter will loom large for them as well, and may prompt TJA to get creative with how they attempt to move the ball, especially early on in the season.
Coach Says: “We’ve had a great summer averaging 88% attendance at our June and July workouts. Besides some new faces who are playing this year, we return a great deal of experience at the skill positions on both sides of the ball. I’m hoping our skill guys will give our front time to gel to make us a competitive team.”
Returning Offensive Players: Thomson will see seven players returning on offense, including senior quarterback Markevion Jones and speedster Jaris Sinkfield.
Returning Defensive Players: Eight defenders who started last year will return for the Bulldogs this year. Consensus 3-star prospect Kennedi Bailey anchors a talented defensive secondary.
The Overview: Numbers like “4” aren’t what Thomson football coaches, players and fans like to see in the loss column at the end of a football season. It doesn’t happen often. In fact, those four losses from last year represent only the fifth time in the last 12 years that Thomson has lost more than three games in a season. And an argument could be made that, if not for falling to Burke County in the Class AA quarterfinals, it would’ve been Thomson facing Carver-Columbus for state championship supremacy. Can’t change the past, though. And Youngblood doesn’t need to with the storehouse of talent this year’s team has. Add in transfers like 5-foot-6, 160-pound speedster Noah Merriweather who came over from Warren County, and the mix of new talent and veteran talent is intriguing.
The Outlook: Thomson will be on a bit of a revenger tour, especially early in the season, as the first two games on the 2025 slate are against Evans and North Augusta. Don’t expect to see an encore performance this year of the first 0-2 start to a season since 2013. In addition to Merriweather’s emergence, look for newcomers Dallas Hill and Demetrice Taylor to turn some heads early.
Coach Says: “Expectations are always high in Thomson, Georgia. With 15 returning starters, this looks like a year for the Dogs to make a deep run. Last year, we made it to the Elite 8 and we want to improve on that success in a year where many of our skill kids are returning to the program.”
Returning Offensive Players: The Screaming Eagles will return 6 starters on offense.
Returning Defensive Players: Warren County has 9 defensive starters returning from last year.
The Overview: After taking a two-year hiatus from the GHSA playoffs, coach Simpson guided his squad back to previous winning ways. The 6-5 finish to the 2024 campaign was the first winning record Warren County has posted since 2021. Before that, you’d have to go back to 2017 to find the last time the school had a losing record and missed the playoffs. Replicating last year’s success may be a bit tough with the absence of some key cogs in the operation, especially offensively. RB Noah Merriweather had a solid sophomore season. But the junior now looks like the featured back in Thomson’s offense for the next two years. Also, losing offensive linemen Darius Hill and Keymori Kendrick to graduation stings. Keep your binoculars on newcomers Josiah Lane at RB/LB and defensive back OJ Wynn.
The Outlook: Coach Simpson can’t get too upset about the few he’s lost when he’s got so much coming back, including all of last year’s special teams performers. A defense loaded with skill and experience will likely be the Eagles’ calling card, at least in the beginning, giving the offense time to situate itself with some new key pieces. The Morgan County season opener will be a barometer once again. Snagging wins against Social Circle and Johnson County can provide early-season momentum before making that Sept. 5 trip to Burke County.
Coach Says: “This season, we want to build off the successes of last season, and we think we can as we are returning the majority of our skill players both offensively and defensively. We’re going to have to rely on our defense to keep opponents off the field and give our offense as many chances to score as possible. Depth will be a key issue for us this season as we boast a roster of only 30 players this year, so everyone will be counted on to contribute in order for us to be successful.”
Returning Offensive Players: Westminster returns eight players on offense, including returning leader rusher Jed Auter (365 yards, 49 carries, 5 touchdowns).
Returning Defensive Players: The Wildcats welcome back nine players on defense led by linebacker Porter Grinalds who was second on the team last year with 59 total tackles.
The Overview: Tab this as Westminster’s “Unfinished Business” campaign. And here’s why: The Wildcats only lose three seniors from last year’s state runner-up squad. One of them is the coach’s son, quarterback Levi Murphey, now a freshman at Nebraska Wesleyan. As for the rest of the Wildcats, last year’s 36-26 state title game loss to Sherwood Christian Academy still stings. Breaking in a new quarterback (presumably freshman Julian Lively) to succeed a four-year starter isn’t easy on any level of football. But if Lively can at least be serviceable, the Wildcats have the pieces to make another title run.
The Outlook: Westminster will face another solid 8-man squad from Georgia and the CSRA when it takes on Southern Independent Football Association squad Georgia School for Innovation & Classics. The Patriots from Hephzibah were 8-3 overall last year and finished second in its SIFA region with a 4-1 mark. A strong start to Westminster’s season against a quality opponent will give the kind of momentum needed to make another deep playoff run.
Coach Says: “We’re returning all but three players for 2025, and things are looking good to hopefully return to the playoffs this season. Our boys performed well during 7-on-7 competitions in June at Lakeside, and our new quarterback Julian Lively is showing promise. Our defense has been solid also during the summer. We’re very excited and looking forward to what we know will be a tough home opener against GSIC.”
Returning Offensive Players: Westside will return 2 offensive starters from last year’s squad, including QB Jaylen Stone.
Returning Defensive Players: The Patriots will return 4 defensive starters from 2024, including DB/WR Joshua Crawford. Special Teams standout Tavares “Champ” Gresham returns as well.
The Overview: Between former coach Jon Wiley’s last season and most of the Lee Hutto tenure, Westside football began to get accustomed to playing winning football. Coach Hutto departed for Evans during the offseason but not before leading the program to two 8-plus win seasons and a pair of state playoff appearances and first playoff win since 2002. Enter coach Cedric Mason, former assistant coach at Lakeside under Steve Hibbitts who’s now guiding the Aiken program. He brings an energetic staff with him, including former region championship-winning Midland Valley coach Earl Chaptman. But with coaching change also often comes player transition. Not only did the entire offensive line from last year graduate, but so too did most of Westside’s offensive production. Replacing back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher Jenarion Kamga will be a gargantuan task.
The Outlook: Mason and his staff are high on Stone at quarterback and are expecting him to vastly improve upon his junior season where he threw for 1,082 yards and 8 touchdowns, but also 8 interceptions. Many new faces will populated the Westside sidelines, but J.C. Crawford, leading receiver from last year, is one to watch as more of the offense will likely go through him. Mason has lauded newcomers Tamari Curry, De’Antre Charles and Blake Hilton as promising players, and rebuilding the O-line will be interesting to watch.
Coach Says: “The wins are not only measured on the field, but in the way athletes conduct themselves in the classroom, in the hallways and in the community. Our motto is to be physically and mentally tough and to do all things together.”
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