Any AC info out there.
I know they lost the big line backer from last year...any other losses.
What's their QB status. Heck, they play for the title every year ,someone has to have some info.

xStallianJockx,
if you think i am an idiot maybe you should speak to the man from williamsburg, ken kellahan and see how good we are going to be this year and as for ACS during the third week of this season you will see how good the cats are!! and actually i am not a swampcat i go to sumter high and i just know some people from manning and i have watched WH,LMA, and Hammond practice/work out this year and i still stick to what i said LMA has worked harder that anyone i have seen all summer

Excuse me for believing you played for LMA, with the username cats77 and repeated use of the word WE confused me. I apologize.
[QUOTE] if you think i am an idiot maybe you should speak to the man from williamsburg, ken kellahan and see how good WE are going to be this year and as for ACS during the third week of this season you will see how good the cats are!!/QUOTE]



Because people who practice hard, and dominate in scrimmages, and 7 on 7, are always signs of regular season. We shut down Thomas Sumter 21-0 in 2 quarters last year in a scrimmage and watched them walk off the field without 1 first down in awe and that was probably the best we played all year. I want you to come back on here and apologize to me for being right as always when Laurence Manning Academy Swampcats don't finish higher than 4th in their region and don't make the playoffs or maybe make the playoffs because SCISA takes everyone but one/two teams in every sport. I'll be waiting in the meantime. LMA needs to worry about being able to compete with their region before winning it every year, and then they can try to win state, and then try to win it 4 or 5 times in a decade to even be uttered in the same sentence as ACS or Hammond. And I would correct myself to say you're one of the most idiotic Gamecocks I've ever met or heard, but I know some pretty idiotic USC fans. However, you're definitely up there. Not only was that an idiotic prediction based upon no evidence. reason, or substance; it will never, never, never happen, ever. Manning will close down before it compares to ACS or Hammond. And yes, I personally know the Kellahan family, not so much Coach Ken because he's substantially older than me. But I'm positive he'd agree with me that LMA is no where near ACS or Hammond stature. I do believe they will be a very good team this year, but their region is too loaded for those guys. And yes, I know a lot of Swampcats, enough to know that when they graduated everyone my junior year that was it for Manning for awhile.

From HSSR.COM:

Skyhawks favored to capture SCISA 1-AAA crown

Players to Watch
Will Patterson, LB (Hammond) One of the most dominant players in SCISA
Davis Ray, WR (Heathwood Hall) Go-to guy in the passing game for the Highlanders
Michael Bolchoz, LB (Cardinal Newman) Solid anchor on defense for the Cardinals
William Banks, WR (Augusta Christian) For AC, Banks is always open
Mac Whalen, QB (Heathwood) Not quite the passer his brother was but he’s a dynamic runner
Gabe Smith, LB (Ben Lippen) Shaw has to be glad Smith is around for two seasons
Brad Meredith, RB (Hammond) Proved last year he can produce even when injured
Cole Turner, LB (Augusta Christian) Leading tackler returning for Lions
Aaron Walters, WR (Hammond) As reliable a pass-catcher as there is in SCISA
Rush Tompkins, TE (Cardinal Newman) Averaged over 10 yards a grab last season

Hammond
Head Coach: Erik Kimrey
2007 Record: 12-1

Notes: The Skyhawks have won two straight SCISA football titles … They’ve won 42 of 48 games under Kimrey… They return quarterback Cliff Ayers, who completed over 50 percent of his passes in 2007 … He tossed 20 touchdowns on the year … Running back Brad Meredith is back also after rushing for 1,100 yards despite missing five games … Leading receiver Aaron Walters returns… Kyle George, A.D. Briggs, Taylor Smith and Robert Simmons are also targets in the passing game… Chase Loveless (6-4, 250) is the anchor on the offensive front… Defensively, they return the cornerstone player in linebacker Will Patterson (6-0, 230) … He had 13 sacks in 2007, the final two in the championship game… Linebacker Hunter McMaster is back after making over 90 tackles… Kicker Joseph Zemp returns… His last boot was the game-winner with 1:29 left in the 17-14 win over Augusta Christian last fall.

Bottom Line: The Skyhawks have a chance to be as prolific an offense as the unit two years ago. They’ll definitely be fun to watch.

Cardinal Newman
Head Coach: Mike Bolchoz
2007 Record: 3-7

Notes: The Cardinals improved by one win from 2006 to 2007… They could start at least 10 seniors this fall, including linebacker Michael Bolchoz… Bolchoz has been all-region two years in a row… He made 95 total tackles and 10 tackles for loss in 2007… Senior linebacker Greg Regan made 55 tackles last season, while defensive ends James Williams and Johnnie Hodge made 38 and 41 respectively… Will Rainwater, a returning defensive lineman, had 22 stops last season… The top player back on offense is running Davis Lemon, who rushed for 730 yards … Receivers Rush Tompkins and Luke Allen are back after combining for over 30 catches and 300 yards… John Bolchoz will be a three-year starter on the offensive front.

Bottom Line: The Cardinals will have to improve greatly on both sides of the ball to move up in the region standings.

Ben Lippen
Head Coach: Reggie Shaw, first year
2007 Record: 6-5

Notes: The Falcons begin a new era under Shaw, who takes over for Jake Sawyer… They finished fourth in the region in 2007 and ended last season in the opening round of the playoffs … They have eight returning starters and 12 lettermen returning … The new quarterback is Joey Carter… He takes over for 1,200-yard passer Kyle Williamson … He’ll have an experienced running back behind him in senior Robert Keen, who played injured most of last year … Mitchell Deter (6-3, 180) is a primary target in the passing game… Senior Nathan Parrish (6-3, 273) and senior Chris Mura (6-1, 210) are anchors on the offensive and defensive lines… Defensively, linebackers Mick Shoemaker (6-2, 205), Gabe Smith (6-3,185) and Stavros Chrysto (5-10, 170) are a good group of players… Eddie Gaillard is a returning starter in the secondary.

Bottom Line: The Falcons have the misfortune of being a decent team in a very demanding region. Look for them to scratch and claw for one of the final playoff seeds out of the region.

Heathwood Hall
Head Coach: Rip Blackstone, first year
2007 Record: 8-4

Notes: Blackstone takes over for longtime coach John Daye… Blackstone served the last eight years as an assistant at Heathwood … The Highlanders will have a new quarterback in Mac Whalen, who played receiver last season … He caught 26 passes for 436 yards and six scores… His top receiver figures to be Davis Ray, who hauled in 37 catches for 638 yards and seven scores last season … Senior Melton Bristow is slated to play running back … Left tackle Belton Amaker and center Tyler Rogers are returning starters on the offensive front… Defensively, the Highlanders have to replace their top four tacklers…Morgan Whalen, Ray and Cole Fowble are returning starters in the secondary… Walker Sojourner and Jamey Mears are returning starters at linebacker, while Evan Peterson and Hunter Libscomb started on the defensive front… Heathwood opens up Aug. 29 against Porter-Gaud.

Bottom Line: The Highlanders have enough talent to challenge the top two teams in the region. We’ll just have to see how the ball bounces for the Highlanders.

Augusta Christian
Head Coach: Bruce Lane
2007 Record: 10-3

Notes: The Lions have played for the state championship each of the last three seasons, winning in 2005 and losing to Hammond in 2006 and ’07 … Wide receiver William Banks, wide receiver Evan Wells and tight end Mike Robinson are returning starters on offense, but the Lions have to replace seven players that were selected to SCISA’s two all-star games… Banks may also play some at quarterback and running back … He also returns kicks and punts … Running back Christian Croft and wide receiver Caleb Harmon figure into the mix offensively too… Kicker Steven Bloedel is back after setting the school record for extra points in 2007 … Defensively, the Lions return seven starters, including leading tackler Cole Turner… He was an all-region pick at linebacker … Josh Gibbs is a returning all-region pick up front… Micah Herriman is an anchor in the secondary.

Bottom Line: The Lions will rely on their defense early until the offense comes around.

thanks oldschool, good stuff....have you seen any preview of the other side of 3a?

stallionjock-This is sort of beside the point but I believe that you should look at WA's recent past and see that they also should only worry about beating their region. Besides the "Golden Year of 2007-2008", WA's recent past hasnt been very successful.Rankin has done a great job though and congrats on your great year last year.By the way, did the welch kid end up going anywhere?

as for cats77, Stallionjock is right that you may be the biggest idiot in palmettofootballtalk history the way you place these big expectations on the swampcats. I believe that kellahan has them heading in the right direction even after a sour year last year. From what i have heard he is making some good changes to the offense to offset their lack of speed and power. I would find it hard to believe that this year's team has the strength to control the running game and speed on the outside to throw to the way it did in '06. As for the defense, they should look pretty solid up front, but they have some holes to fill in the secondary. Not even close to the best D in the state. Overall I could see them finishing anywhere from 3rd to 5th in the region this year due to how porter gaud and op fare.

Chuck, I'm not comparing Williamsburg to LMA at all, much less any other school. Williamsburg isn't a football powerhouse, but will land a very good team on you every 3 or 4 years. Last year being one of those years. Not going to land a basketball team on you anytime in the next decade. And will always be a competitive baseball team. It's hard for a small private school to be competitive every year in football which is why you don't see anyone winning state championships every year. Especially in Kingstree, you have no other schools to pull from like LMA. We can't go to the local SHS or Manning High. A lot of small A private schools are like this. The most successful A schools are teams that are big enough to almost be AA (CPA & Dorchester). You saw a good DCA for a few years and then Williamsburg for 2 years. Williamsburg has probably the most talented group of athletes I've ever seen coming up from the 3rd to 8th grade though. At least for football & baseball that is. I think in about 3 years we'll be able to make a huge run, however, a lot happens in those years and I'm sure many kids will leave as some come in. Some will get in trouble or lose interest so only time will tell.

As far as the Welch kid, he's going to The Citadel along with the 2 Shrine Bowl players last year. I don't any of the 3 will try any athletics even though the two Shrine Bowlers could play if they wanted to. I really wish that Welch could would try to pitch and play ball for the Bulldogs. Personally because I think he's one the best athletes to ever walk out of Kingstree, especially down those Stallion halls. And I know for a fact that he's the best pitcher to ever walk through Williamsburg Academy, hands down. Maybe not the most ability, but definitely the smartest baseball player I've ever seen. He is the best baseball player to come through since Conrad Kellahan, who was also playing at The Citadel, I'm not sure if he'll be playing his 5th season this year though. I hope he plays baseball. If not, I would love to has his ability so I could pitch for the Terriers, haha. I caught Sebie Kirkland, Eric McCoy, and all of those other players from LMA, EC, and Manning High 2 years ago in Legion. And not one of them can throw like this kid. 4 solid pitches that he can locate where ever he wants, anytime he wants, and know some MLB players that can say that. But a solid fastball with movement, curveball, nasty slider, and developed one of the best change-ups I've ever seen this year. It was hard just for me and him to get along with the pitching coach because we knew more of what he could do than he did. I'll never forget striking out Jeffery Ament(CPA) my sophomore year after a 3-0 count I ignored the pitching coach and threw 3 straight sliders and the kid didn't know what hit him. I hope he plays Chuck, I really do.

Panthers open practice with big numbers
By Greg Baechtle
Summerville Journal Scene

Pinewood opened football practice early Monday morning and coach Pinky Guerard likes what he has seen so far.

Numbers are up for the second-year head coach. The Panthers had 41 players come out for practice, which is an increase of nine players from this time last year. Guerard is fairly optimistic about the prospects for this year’s squad. “I’ve only had a chance to work with the team for a couple of days, but it is clear we are a better team than the one that finished last year,” he said.

He attributes that to several factors. First, the coaching staff has had a chance to work with the players for a couple of years and now that is producing yields. Guerard also points to the addition of new coach Dann Holland, who has joined the school as a history teacher/coach after coaching at Orangeburg Prep the past few years. “Coach Holland has already made a large impact,” Guerard said. “As a member of the school staff I’m sure he will have an even bigger impact throughout the season. It is important to have a coach on the staff full time. It will help him build a great relationship with the players.”

A third element that could be key to the team’s campaign is the addition of several players who have transferred to the school. “Some of our new players have played for years and are already accomplished athletes,” Guerard said. “Now, we have to teach them our system.”

Pinewood is looking to improve on last year’s 6-5 record. “We did okay last year, but I certainly wasn’t satisfied with our record,” Guerard said. “Our goal is to improve on that record, get into the playoffs again and then win a game or two.”

The Panthers have three scrimmages on their schedule. On Tuesday, the Panthers will travel to Bishop England. On Aug. 15, they are scheduled to play Ashley Ridge at Pinewood, but since both schools have put in new fields this year, that scrimmage will depend upon the weather. The Panthers will wrap up their pre-season action Aug. 18 when they travel to Cane Bay. All of the scrimmages are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

Who is Augusta Christians Qb this year, from what I hear its Banks.

How did OP look in North monday night?

They pretty much dominated north on both sides of the football, but north is nowere as good as a Augusta Christian or Hammond, Op still has alot of work to do on the small things if they want to compete for the state title.

How did OP look vs Cardinal Newman? What does WW King have this year?

W.W.King is A

After reading all of this i seem to think P-G might be a little under the radar.

The OP-CN scrimmage wasn't very close. I'm pretty sure that CN got shutout (at least they didn't score while I was there) and OP connected on 3-4 LONG TD passes. CN has a good crop of seniors back, but most of their backfield (incl QB) look to be young. I heard someone say that there was only 1 junior on the team! future may look bright for cardinals though if those young cardinals progress.

Also, if I remember, they finished last season with only like 20 active players on roster (maybe that was 2 years ago though). They had a good crop of kids out there which is always a promising thing for Coach Bolchoz.