Hanahan, Timberland and Georgetown overview

HANAHAN HAWKS

2007: 9-3, 4-1 ( Region 6-AA)

COACH: Charlie Patterson (3rd season, 1st at Hanahan)

REGION: 7-AA (Andrews, Kingstree, Manning, Timberland, Waccamaw)

SCHEDULE: Aug. 22 vs. Columbia; Aug. 29 at Cane Bay; Sept. 5 OPEN; Sept. 12 at St. John’s; Sept. 19 at Broome; Sept. 26 vs. Woodland; Oct. 3 vs. Waccamaw; Oct. 10 at Kingstree; Oct. 17 vs. Manning; Oct. 24 vs. Timberland; Oct. 31 at Andrews.

RETURNING STARTERS: 10 (4 offense, 6 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR/DB Nic Carson, CB Elijah Broughton, CB/RB Cardell Lincoln, LB/RB Jamal Lockwood, WR/LB Al Little, OL Nic Pye, DE Cloyd Gaffney, DE Kyle Casey, DL Jellani Ellington, WR/DB Irim Aiken.

OUTLOOK: The Hawks lost a ton of talent on offense, including a three-year starting quarterback and several experienced receivers. The toughest loss, though, might be at head coach. Jeff Cruce, who took over the new program at Cane Bay, had turned Hanahan into a Class AA powerhouse for the past 10 years. The school found Charlie Patterson, Cruce’s replacement, at AAAA football factory Gaffney, where he had been an assistant for the past nine years. So far, he likes the talent base he has to work with, and the Hawks should find themselves in the familiar spot of competing for a region title. "The main difference from here and there is it's a numbers thing," Patterson said. "At Gaffney we didn't play many guys both ways, but here a good many of our guys have to see double duty and get some time on special teams. I feel I've got some players as good as I had at Gaffney, just not as many of them."

NOTES: Junior center Nic Pye is the only returning starter on the offensive line. ... Defensive back Nic Carson had 10 interceptions as a junior. ... The region championship could come down to a showdown with Timberland, which defeated Hanahan, 26-24, last season.

TIMBERLAND WOLVES

2007: 9-3, 5-0 (Region 7-AAA)

COACH: Art Craig (11th season, 8th at Timberland)

REGION: 7-AA (Andrews, Hanahan, Kingstree, Manning, Waccamaw)

SCHEDULE: Aug. 23 vs. Carolina Forest; Aug. 29 at Woodland; Sept. 5 at Scott’s Branch; Sept. 12 vs. Cane Bay; Sept. 19 vs. North Charleston; Sept. 26 OPEN; Oct. 3 at Andrews; Oct. 10 at Manning; Oct. 17 vs. Waccamaw; Oct. 24 at Hanahan; Oct. 31 vs. Kingstree.

RETURNING STARTERS: 17 (7 offense, 10 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Rockarius King, OG Quinten Washington, DE/TE Aldrick Fordham, RB/LB Paul Jefferson, OL Storm Moore, DE Caleb Caddell, FB/CB Rennis Black, WR/CB Denzel Willis, DB R.J. Jefferson, LB Laron Milford, QB Cody Craig, OT Jonas Lampkin, LB Oscar Moultrie, OL/DL Steven Williams.

OUTLOOK: With the experience that the Wolves have coming back, they would be considered a state title contender regardless of what class they play in. However, moving down from Class AAA to AA this season doesn't meant they are a lock to play deep in the playoffs, and coach Art Craig is cautioning his team against overconfidence. "We stressed to these kids that nobody ever cares if you’re preseason No. 1 or 2. Nobody talks about you in December if you were a preseason No. 1. They only talk about you if you're still playing," Craig said. Manning and Hanahan will be big challenges in the region, and Craig said he expects Dillon and Cheraw to be lurking in the Lower State playoffs.

NOTES: Quinten Washington (6-4, 305) has been a starter on the offensive line since he was a freshman, and he’s rated by Rivals.com as the 13th-best guard in the nation. ... Rockarius King has rushed for more than 5,000 yards in his career and scored 56 total touchdowns. ... Aldrick Fordham (6-4, 240) is another fourth-year starter, and he’s already committed to South Carolina.

GEORGETOWN BULLDOGS

2007: 1-9, 1-4 (Region 6-AAA)

COACH: Tyronne Davis (1st season)

REGION: 7-AAA (Lake City, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, St. James)

SCHEDULE: Aug. 29 at Carvers Bay; Sept. 5 vs. Andrews; Sept. 12 vs. Johnsonville; Sept. 19 at Carolina Forest; Sept. 26 vs. Kingstree; Oct. 3 vs. St. James; Oct. 10 at North Myrtle Beach; Oct. 17 at Socastee; Oct. 24 vs. Myrtle Beach; Oct. 31 at Lake City.

RETURNING STARTERS: 10 (5 offense, 5 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: TE/DE Kinard Gadsden-Gilliard, DT/OT Gary Session, FB/LB A.J. Beach, ATH Malik Bey, OL Ryan Pitts, RB/ DB Daunte Gardner, LB Stephon Leak.

OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs had a season to forget last year. The team rushed for only 752 yards and passed for 1,430. The offense scored only 16 touchdowns, while opponents had 49. A lot of improvement is needed before Georgetown can focus on a region title. For now, the Bulldogs can shoot for a .500 record and hope one of the league's four playoff berths is in reach. Coach Tyronne Davis has changed the program's approach on both sides of the ball. The Bulldogs have abandoned the spread offense in favor of a power running game, and the defense will consist of a more straight-forward attack. "We're trying to get a bigger push with our linemen," Davis said. "We're trying to change the mentality of our kids and get them to develop a feeling of toughness."

NOTES: Senior Malik Bey is the team's most versatile player. He can line up as a running back, receiver, defensive back and punt returner. He led the team in receptions in 2007 with 30 for 360 yards and one TD. ... Kinard Gadsden-Gilliard had 46 tackles, including four sacks, and on offense he added 20 catches for 366 yards and two TDs.