Graduating Only Four Seniors 11-Win Holly Hill Academy Focused On Another Title Run Next Season
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Holly Hill — Andy Palmer’s first season as head coach at Holly Hill Academy was a huge success with the young Raiders (only four seniors) finishing 11-2 on the season with a hard-fought six-point loss (20-14) to Jefferson Davis Academy at Calhoun Academy in the SCISA 8-man state championship game on November, 17.
Named as the HSSR-SCISA 2023 8-man Player of the Year is senior all-purpose athlete Tyree James who put up eye- popping numbers during the season. James tallied 2,515 all-purpose yards including 40 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,969 yards with 34 rushing touchdowns. He had 214 additional reception yards and two touchdowns.
James also returned two punts for scores and he had one pick-six for 72 yards. On defense he had 100 total tackles including a team leading five interceptions.
Prior to the state championship game head coach Andy Palmer said this about James, “I’ve seen a lot of football players,” said Coach Palmer. “They just have a knack for it. He can change direction without changing speed; hit a hole full speed. He’s dynamic.”
Senior center/defensive lineman Dylan Rivera has been three-year starter and he has been named to the HSSR-SCISA 8-man all-state football team. On defense Rivera was a stand-out with 90 tackles, 16 TFL, and 9 sacks.
On defense three other Raiders have earned HSSR-SCISA 8-man all-state honors. The players include senior DL Mason Rudd, who is also a baseball prospect, along with senior DL Charlie Perkins and junior LB Camdin Harmon. Rudd totaled 109 tackles, 12 TFL and 8 sacks. Perkins had 115 tackles with 11 TFL and four sacks. Harmon led the defense with 146 tackles including 11 TFL and four sacks.
Freshman DB Parker Kizer has been named to the HSSR-SCISA all-rookie team. Kizer had 89 tackles, with 9 TFL and four sacks.
Junior QB Ashton Soles will return next season. Soles completed 31-of-53 passes for 765 yards and 12 touchdowns. Soles also added 170 yards rushing on the season. As a LB on defense Soles had 71 tackles, 7 TFL, including two sacks and two interceptions.
The top two receivers were James along with junior Jody Gilliam who caught 11 passes for 216 yards.
Of the 22 players on the Holly Hill Academy championship roster there were four seniors, five juniors, 8 sophomores, and five freshmen.
Other juniors expected back next season are junior TE/DB Connor Teague and OL/DL Jagger Edmonds.
The sophomore group coming back were TE/’DL Brady Garing, TE/LB Takobe Sweatman, TE/LB Aaron Johnson, OL/DL Jordan Wren, TE/LB Jason Iler, OL/DL Ryan Brown, and Shade Snyder who started at RG in the championship game.
Freshman returning include WR/DB Chance Crummitt, Kizer, RB/LB Tyler Green, WR/DB Tarez James, and OL/DL Chase Holder.
With 18 players back off of their 11-win team this season, expect the Raiders to compete for the 4th state title in the past five seasons next year.
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