COLUMBIA, SC – While everyone else fine tunes things to get ready for their season opener in another week, both Oakleaf and University Christian officially kick off their season this Friday night.
With the new playoff system in place that rewards teams for playing better competition, what a better test to open up the season than playing at defending state champion Ben Lippen in Columbia, South Carolina. The two have combined for ten overall state titles including both winning a title last season.
The game came about as University Christian headmaster Heath Nivens, who played at South Carolina under Lou Holtz and Ben Lippen assistant coach Scott Jones, played together at Dutch Fork High.
Ben Lippen Falcons
Head Coach: Derek White (25-11, 4 years)
Last year: (10-2) Class 3A state champs
Key players: Kyle Wright (Sr., RB/LB), Javian Bellamy (Sr., WR), Tyrique Brown (Sr., DE), Will Cureton (Sr., WR), Ryan Fleming (Jr., WR), Justin Keitt (Sr., OL), Manning Turbeville (Sr., DB)
Key newcomers: Blake Harris (Sr., OL), Akele Pauling (Jr., CB/WR), Trad Beatty (Sr., QB), Trey Norman (Sr., WR), Matt Johnson (Sr., FB), Cole Burns (Jr., MLB)
Outlook: Derek White begins his fourth year at Ben Lippen and has been building the program “brick by brick,” which coincidentally is the team motto. Last year, White led the Falcons to the schools first title by winning the Class 3A state title over Porter Gaud 27-21 in overtime. Things didn’t start so well for the Falcons though as they started out 3-2 with back-to-back losses to Porter Gaud (28-26) and Pinewood (34-25), however they rebounded to win seven in a row to win the first title. The loss of quarterback Patrick McClure (now at Jacksonville University) and Mr. Everything Bryce Thompson, who abruptly left the program to transfer back to Dutch Fork where he played his first two seasons were huge blows. Thompson led the Falcons with 1,819 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns, 2329 all-purpose yards and 36 touchdowns, while also picking off four passes on defense. The loss of Thompson was a big blow for White, but he picked up several key transfers in the off season led by former Chapin quarterback and Temple commit Trad Beatty (93 of 155 for 1414 yards, 13 TDs), Harris (Dutch Fork), Pauling (Cardinal Newman), Johnson (Chapin), Burns (Chapin) and Norman (Lexington). The mix of transfers along with returnees Wright (867 yards, 7 TDs, 87 tackles, 6 sacks) who has offers from Appalachian State, Colorado, Navy, Purdue and Temple; along with wide receiving core of Bellamy, Fleming and Cureton will give opponents fits. To remind his team of the expectations of the program now, White made sure his team wasn’t going to shy away from the expectations and target that go with being the defending SCISA Class 3A champions; according to the local paper ‘The State, shortly before his team hit the field for the first official practice Thursday, White painted a bulls eye in the end zone. Other Falcon players showed up with shirts with the bulls eye on the back of them. “We want to have the mindset that we are hunted, but we are still hunting,” White said. “We want to embrace that target and run toward it.”
University Christian Christians
Head Coach: David Penland III (sixth year)
Last year: (10-2)
Key players: Clayton Boyd (Sr., QB), TJ Ciresi (Sr., WR/DB), Jalen Dunningan (Sr., WR/DB), Uriah Ratliff (Jr., DB/WR), Dyrell Stubbs (Sr., ATH), Nick Robertson (Sr., OL), Oak Stipe (Sr., OL), Caleb Thomas (Jr., OL), Sami Safar (Jr., K)
Key newcomers: Max McClendon (So., RB), Malik Brown (Jr., RB/SS), James Tarver (Jr., ATH), Jonathan Jones (Jr., ATH), Javon Huey (Sr., DB), Jaedon Stoshak (Jr., WR/DB)
Outlook: The hiring of David Penland not only brought stability to the program, but also a former player who knows all about the tradition and the commitment it takes to bring back the UC program again. Having played under legendary coach Robby Pruitt, Penland picked up things that would help him years later as the head coach at his alma mater. Beginning his seventh season, Penland, who has won three state titles in five years, may face his toughest challenge yet having to replacing 15 seniors. U.C. is third all-time with nine state titles only behind St. Thomas Aquinas (10) and Bolles (11) yet has never won three titles in a row, something this years team could accomplish. It won’t be easy though as Penland will have to rely on just a few starters back on both sides of the ball like Boyd, Ciresi, Ratliff and Stubbs. While the defense took a hit and will have to replace several holes, look for them to set the tone early while the offense matures and jells. With Otis Anderson now at UCF, the backfield will look different with newcomers McClendon and Brown sharing carries, while Boyd will have Ciresi, Stubbs and Ratliff to work with along with newcomers Tarver, Jones, Dunningan and Stoshak. Boyd is back after throwing for 803 yards and 10 touchdowns along with 7 rushing touchdowns as is Ciresi, who hauled in 5 touchdowns. Don’t be surprised to see both Ratliff and Stubbs on offense as well. The schedule should have the young guys well prepared for another state title run and possible return trip to Orlando providing they can get past nemesis North Florida Christian. Like it has the last two years, UC will have a huge target on their backs again as the defending state champions, something Penland looks forward to as they chase their tenth overall state title. One thing we have learned quickly is don’t under estimate Penland and the rest of his staff, come playoff time they will be ready to defend the 2A trophy again.
