Six 8-man teams jump into SCISA Class A

While the vast majority of public schools won't get the season in full gear until Aug. 29, most schools in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association begin Friday.

The biggest change from 2007 to this year comes in the 8-man ranks, where six teams have jumped up to the Class A level to play regulation football. Included in that group is defending 8-man champ Holly Hill Academy. St. John's Christian is another Charleston area school that has moved up.

This fall will also mark the first true varsity seasons for North Charleston's Faith Christian in 8-man and Mt. Pleasant's Palmetto Christian in SCISA Region 2-A. Both played exhibition schedules last season.

Colleton Prep has moved up from Class A to Class AA since last season. A year ago, the Warhawks played for the Class A title, losing to Charleston Collegiate at the wire.

Northwood Academy will probably boast the largest roster in Class AA this season, dressing 41 players.

In Class AAA, Pinewood Prep is of particular interest to watch this fall with some transfers expected to make a big difference for the Panthers, especially Summerville transfer Laquan Gilliard.

Gilliard hauled in 62 passes for over 900 yards in 2007 for the Green Wave.

Defending SCISA champions are Hammond (Class AAA), Hilton Head Prep (Class AA), Charleston Collegiate (Class A) and Holly Hill Academy (8-Man).

FAITH CHRISTIAN

2007: 2-6 (independent schedule)

COACH: Jody Hagins

REGION: SCISA 8-man

RETURNING STARTERS: 8 (4 offense, 4 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: FB/LB Johnny Seibert, SE/DB Aaron Rogers, RB/CB Pierce Singletary, OL/DL Hunter Palmer, QB/LB Joey Glendening

OUTLOOK: Faith Christian figures to be much-improved from 2007, but with only a 12-man varsity roster, Hagins' team must stay away from injuries. Watch out for the newcomer Seibert.

NOTES: Faith Christian opens the season Aug. 22 at home against Jefferson Davis. This will be its first season as a true varsity team. Rogers rushed for over 1,000 yards a year ago and is the leading returning tackler.

ST. PAUL'S

2007: 0-10

COACH: Allen Horn, first year

REGION: SCISA 8-man

RETURNING STARTERS: 10 (5 offense, 5 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB/S Bradley Anderson, FB/DE Nick Jellyman, OL/DL Seamus Grady, LB/OL Chris Hunt, WR/DB Arthur Blake, RB/DB T.A. Horn

OUTLOOK: St. Paul's can only get better after scoring just 18 points all of 2007. Horn says he's seen plenty of fight in his team's eyes since taking over. He expects his boys to be more competitive this fall.

NOTES: St. Paul's open the Horn era Aug. 22 against Abundant Life. Horn has also coached at Wando, Porter-Gaud, East Cooper School and Harvest Baptist in the past.

BEAUFORT ACADEMY

2007: 7-3 (independent schedule)

COACH: Joe Hauff

REGION: SCISA Region 2-A

RETURNING STARTERS: 12 (4 offense, 8 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB/LB Chris Canavan, RB/LB James Parks, QB Ward Burrus, RB/LB Eric DeForge, OL/DL Freddy Werdenhouse

OUTLOOK: Beaufort Academy has nearly 20 lettermen coming back. It has plenty of depth at the skill positions, other than quarterback, so it's reasonable to expect Beaufort Academy to contend for a playoff spot.

NOTES: This is Beaufort Academy's first true season as a member of a region. Canavan and Parks are college prospects on Hauff's team. Hauff is 12-8 in two seasons.

CATHEDRAL ACADEMY

2007: 2-8

COACH: Chris Huge

REGION: SCISA Region 2-A

RETURNING STARTERS: 10 (6 offense, 4 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: OL/LB Chris Jones, RB/LB Nathan Mayo, QB/LB Matt Quinlan, OL/DL Ryan Marsh, RB Josh Walker

OUTLOOK: Cathedral improved by two wins from 2006 to 2007 and figures to continue that improvement this fall. Huge's team returns a number of key players to aid in that endeavor.

NOTES: Cathedral opens up at Northwood on Saturday. Jones, a senior, returns after making over 80 total tackles in 2007. Quinlan is moving over from wide receiver to take the snaps.

NORTHWOOD ACADEMY

2007: 6-6, 2-3

COACH: Jerry Stoots

REGION: SCISA Region 2-AA

RETURNING STARTERS: 16 (9 offense, 7 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Brandon Stoots, RB Uriah Singleton, FB/LB Justin Tretera, OL/LB Cameron Gilbert, DB Jacoby Singleton, OL Devin Cohen

OUTLOOK: The Chargers have the makings of a contender for the SCISA Class AA crown in terms of numbers and experience. They have a 41-man roster and 13 seniors. They're strong in the skill positions and stout on defense.

NOTES: Northwood opens the season at home Saturday against Cathedral. Stoots enters the season with a 48-18 career record. Uriah Singleton had over 500 yards and eight touchdowns the last three games of last season after coming back from an injury.

HOLLY HILL ACADEMY

2007: 13-0

COACH: Don Shelley

REGION: SCISA Region 2-A

RETURNING STARTERS: 6 (3 offense, 3 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB/LB Nick Martin, WR/DB Brian Watkins, QB Zack Brownlee, RB/LB John Flynn

OUTLOOK: The Raiders are relying heavily on sophomores and juniors this fall. How quickly they will progress have a great impact on how far the defending 8-man champs are able to go in their first season as an 11-man program.

NOTES: The Raiders open the season Aug. 22 against Patrick Henry. Martin is the top offensive weapon returning after rushing for over 800 yards. Defensive back Watkins is the leading tackler returning and also caught five touchdowns in 2007.

HILTON HEAD PREP

2007: 11-3, 3-2 (SCISA Class AA champion)

COACH: Ron Peduzzi

REGION: SCISA Region 2-AA

RETURNING STARTERS: 9 (5 offense, 4 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB/LB Dylan Rosser, WR/DB Creighton Quinn, OL/DL Ian Anderson, DE Laquann Mitchell, QB Matt Layman

OUTLOOK: The Dolphins have some huge holes to fill off the 2007 title team but have been players for the crown the last few years. With a winning tradition already set in stone, there's no reason to expect them to fall off.

NOTES: The Dolphins have won two of the last three SCISA Class AA titles. Rosser was the team's second leading rusher last season and led the team in tackles. Mitchell led the team with eight sacks in 2007. Ian Anderson (6-7, 300) is one of the more imposing players in SCISA.

HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN

2007: 8-5, 3-2

COACH: Tommy Lewis

REGION: SCISA Region 2-AA

RETURNING STARTERS: 10 (offense 5, defense 5)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: LB Michael Hull, DE Ethan Gort, QB Joey Davis, CB/K Mark McDevitt.

OUTLOOK: Most of the cornerstone types are back on defense so the Eagles figure to be strong on that side of the ball. Having Davis back at quarterback should help ease the sting of the graduation of several marquee skill players.

NOTES: The Eagles open the season Aug. 22 at home against Wilson Hall. Hull is the leading returning tackler. Gort had seven sacks in 2007, while McDevitt picked off five passes.

COLLETON PREP

2007: 7-7, 3-1

COACH: Brock Miller

REGION: SCISA Region 2-AA (runner-up)

RETURNING STARTERS: 15 (8 offense, 7 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Blake Zemp, DL Kenny Kessler, DL Dallas Murray, LB Donnie Mescia, WR/FS Jeffrey Kinard, RB Parker Headley, RB Trey Young

OUTLOOK: The Warhawks have as much experience this fall as any team in the classification.

Included are the top two rushers and top three tacklers from 2007. Expect the Warhawks to be playing late in the season, maybe even at the very end.

NOTES: Headley and Young both eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark and Mescia was in on over 100 total tackles. Zemp threw for nearly 600 yards after taking over the second half of the season. Kinard was the leading receiver in 2007.

PALMETTO CHRISTIAN

2007: N/A

COACH: Jim Daniel, first year

REGION: SCISA Region 2-A

RETURNING STARTERS: N/A

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB/WR/LB Chris Gates, OL/DL Brian Shoemaker, OL/DL Mikell Seabrook, WR/FS Zach Morrison, WR/LB Derrick Robinson, OL/DL Grayson Little, OL/DL Ryan Rhodes, OL/DL John Sweatt, QB Nick Davis

OUTLOOK: The Eagles are simply trying to lay the foundation for the future in their first varsity season. If the preparation and hard work lead to victories, they'll take them. They will be coached well.

NOTES: Daniel was at Bishop England for seven seasons, compiling a 44-36 record. Shoemaker was a starter for the Bishops in 2007. He and Seabrook are the only two seniors on the team. Palmetto Christian opens the season Aug. 29 at Colleton Prep

CHARLESTON COLLEGIATE

2007: 11-3, SCISA Class A champion

COACH: Hank Campbell, first year

REGION: SCISA Region 2-A

RETURNING STARTERS: 14 (7 offense, 7 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: OL/DL Mark Breeland, OL/LB Theo Buck, RB/CB Jaron Hardy, FB/OL/LB Brock Baird, QB/CB Trip Hamilton, OL Townes Moore

OUTLOOK: Charleston Collegiate lost some impact players but has plenty of experience returning for 2008. The one thing, though, is many players have been moved around. How quickly they adapt will be a big key.

NOTES: Campbell takes over for Kirk Lax. Breeland, a Wando transfer, figures to make an immediate impact in the trenches. The Sun Devils open the season Aug. 29 at Beaufort Academy.

FIRST BAPTIST

2007: 5-6, 2-3

COACH: Will McCombs

REGION: SCISA Region 2-AA

RETURNING STARTERS: 9 (5 offense, 5 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB/CB Jarvis Kershaw, FB/LB Harrison Greer, WR Matt Burton, OL Gordon Jenkinson, OL Jordan Randolph

OUTLOOK: First Baptist lost a dual-threat quarterback when rising senior Jeremy Green transferred out in February. His prowess and ability will be difficult to replace. Greer looks like the lifeblood on both sides of the ball this fall.

NOTES: The Hurricanes open the season at home Aug. 29 against Dorchester Academy. Greer led the team in receiving in 2007 and is the leading tackler returning.

PORTER-GAUD

2007: 3-8

COACH: Ricky Tillman

REGION: SCISA 2-AAA

RETURNING STARTERS: 11 (5 offense, 6 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB John Dodd, RB Carson Parker, RB Dylan Whitner, DB Austin Burris, DE Donovan Carter, LB William Hyman, OL Chris Paroli

NOTES: In 2007, Dodd threw for over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns, while Burris was second on the team in tackles with 56. The Cyclones open the season at home against Heathwood Hall.

PINEWOOD PREP

2007: 6-5, 2-2

COACH: Pinky Guerard

REGION: SCISA Region 2-AAA

RETURNING STARTERS: 9 (5 offense, 4 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Melvin Lesure, WR Laquan Gilliard, WR Anthony Lax, LB/P Daniel Poaps, TE Justin Bishop, OL Francois Gaudreault

OUTLOOK: With Gilliard coming over from Summerville, the Panthers' offense has a big-time target to match their proven running attack with Melvin Lesure. Lax is another key transfer. Defensively, many newcomers will have to step up.

NOTES: The Panthers open the season on the road Aug. 29 at two-time defending champion Hammond. Gilliard made 62 catches for over 900 yards last season for the Green Wave. Lax helped lead Charleston Collegiate to its title in 2007, hauling in the game-winning catch with under a minute left.

DORCHESTER ACADEMY

2007: 1-10, 1-4

COACH: Stanley Gruber

REGION: SCISA Region 1-AA

RETURNING STARTERS: 18 (9 offense, 9 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: TB Trevor Davis, FB Josh Traxler, TE Tyler Crook, QB/DB Thomas McAlhany, T Bair.

OUTLOOK: The Raiders won the state championship two years ago and fell back to earth last fall after graduation took its toll on the team. The Raiders only had five seniors on last year's squad and will be young again this season.

NOTES: Dorchester Academy coach Stanley Gruber begins his 30th season at the school. He has 284 victories and led the Raiders to five state championships.

ST. JOHN'S CHRISTIAN

2007: 7-7, 1-5

COACH: Bill McCall

REGION: SCISA 1-A

RETURNING STARTERS: 10 (5 offense, 5 defense)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Ellis Hammond, WR/DB Kevin Bellamy, C/NG Stephan Castalluci, DL/OL Jason Roberts, RB/DB C.J. Downing, OL/DL Jarid Wood.

OUTLOOK: St. John's Christian played for the SCISA 8-man state championship in both 2004 and '05, but slid last year. Now, the team faces the daunting task of playing 11-man football.

NOTES: C.J. Downing was expected to have a bigger role last fall, but battled injuries for the majority of the season. Quarterback Ellis Hammong passed for 1,000 yards.