By David Shelton Senior Writer Moncks Corner – At long last, the regular season came to an end and the Class AA state playoffs are upon us. The brackets are set and the fans of the favorites are hoping to make plans in mid-December for Orangeburg and the state finals scene. Who are the favorites in AA? Is there a sleeper or two that may surprise everyone and get to the title game. Most of the time, the teams that survive the grind and reach the fifth week of the playoffs, the title game, are teams that everyone who follows the sport predicts will be there. Let’s have a little fun and handicap the AA field. My process is to list my top four teams in the Upper State bracket and top four in the Lower State, as I see it. Any team not in my top four would be considered a sleeper to make it through the bracket. But, it can be done. In the Upper State, my No. 1 team is Batesburg-Leesville . I know, shocker. The 10-0 Panthers have answered every challenge and have proven to be quite formidable. They allow seven points per game with a defense that has speed and physicality. Nearly half of the total points they have allowed in 10 games came in one game, to Abbeville, in a two-point win. Abbeville is the top-ranked team in Class A and their coach , Jamie Nickles , is a believer. “They are certainly capable of winning the state championship,” he said. Running back Amadre Wooden and quarterback Tanner Watkins are a solid one-two punch offensively. Wooden has rushed for more than 1,500 yards and Watkins has passed for more than 1200 yards. My No. 2 pick to win the Upper State is Clinton. The 7-2 Red Devils have lost only to Woodruff and Daniel. Each of those teams has just one loss this season. The tough non-region schedule makes me feel the Red Devils are battle-tested for close, big games. Quarterback Tashawan Richardson makes it all go for the offense with James Cook adding a major threat in the run game. My No. 3 pick in the Upper State is Fairfield Central . The Griffins lost their season opener to Ridge View and have won nine straight games since. The scouting report needs just one word – speed. The Griffins can run and are explosive. Running back Tydarion Grier has gained more than 1.400 yards and averages 9.3 yards per carry. And, my No. 4 is Saluda . The Tigers’ only loss came to Batesburg-Leesville and they would love another shot at their region rivals. Saluda is another of the top defensive teams in AA and defense wins championships. Tahe your pick as the favorite in the Lower State cause several teams have a shot. My No. 1 going in is Barnwell . While not flashy or dominant, the Warhorses are solid and athletic. Senior Cameron Austin is a great leader at quarterback and if they have success on the ground, game over. No. 2 is Barnwell rival Hampton County . Again, the Hurricanes run the football and have good solid play at quarterback. They made a good run a year ago and I think their confidence level is high. The last two favorite picks are difficult and I ended up with three teams for two spots. At No. 3 I am going with Cheraw . The 8-2 Braves are not great at anything but very solid at most. Running back Cam McClendon is a threat to score from anywhere and the defense gets after it pretty good. For No. 4, I am sharing the spot between Manning and Philip Simmons . Manning has just one loss, the season opener to Crestwood, but their schedule and region was not overly difficult.  Philip Simmons went undefeated in a tougher region and seems to be peaking at the right time. The Iron Horses have a veteran quarterback and they really play hard on defense. Class AA state playoff first-round pairings Upper State Pelion at Clinton Strom Thurmond at Chester Columbia at Batesburg-Leesville Andrew Jackson at Liberty Chesterfield at Fairfield-Central Ninety Six at Chesnee Landrum at Central Mid-Carolina at Saluda Lower State Academic Magnet at Barnwell Lake City at Timberland Edisto at Cheraw Andrews at East Clarendon North Central at Manning Woodland at Hampton Co. Mullins at Philip Simmons Kingstree at Whale Branch

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Andrews – Heading into the 2024 season Andrews head coach Joy Weisner knew she wanted to take her program in a new direction and to do that they needed to improve in a few areas such as floor coverage, communication and becoming more aware on the court. “We are a young team as we lost five seniors but we are a much-improved team despite our youth,” said coach Weisner. “We are trying to build a program where the girls work hard, are good teammates and good people. We are getting there.” Coach continued, “We are covering the floor better than we did last year. The girls are communicating better which has made us better. The thing I like the most is how versatile this team is on the court. I have several girls that can play anywhere on the court.” Senior Captain Samiyah Hollaway is the leader of this young squad. She is a lefthanded hitter that plays all the around the court. The teams top player is junior middle hitter Davis Addyson . She is one those versatile players that coach Weisner spoke about. Not only does Addyson lead the team in kills and is tied for the team lead in digs, but she is also second in aces and third service receiving. Haleigh Port, a junior setter, is one of several players that have moved up from the JV team and can do several things for the Lady Yellowjackets. She is the team leader aces and second in assists. She is a very good setter; she can get to every ball and makes excellent passes. Also, up from the JV is the teams libero and captain Sarah Jennings . She has great floor coverage Juniors Briana Walker and Emmalee Lambert are middle/outside hitters. Lambert leads the team in service returns and is not afraid to go to the floor while Walker is second in kills and is on the team’s top servers. Two young players that have made an impact are sophomore Cloe Skipper and freshmen Tori Smith . Smith leads the team in assists and is tied with Addyson for the team lead in digs and is third in aces while Skipper has shown her all around skill with being among the leaders in several categories. Rounding out the Lady Yellowjackets are senior Makagen Dangerfield , juniors Savanna Powell , Grace Bratcher , and Brianna Nesmith . Bratcher has seen the most minutes of the bench. The Lady Yellowjackets have moved into a new region this season with two Charleston area powers in Academic Magnet and Phillip Simmons . They will have to play their best volleyball to pull off an upset of one those two teams. “The girls have really bought into what we are trying to do and to what is expected of them on the court. We have gotten stronger and faster on the court and we just need to keep getting better,” said coach Weisner.

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Charleston – After suffering their first loss of the season to Hanahan (29-28) 10 days ago the Andrews Yellowjacket came to District 4 CCSD stadium ready to put that loss behind them as they scored on their first six possessions in route to a 42-6 win over Academic Magnet. “We wanted to come out and jump on them early. We tell our kids to play to a standard not an opponent. I thought we did a good job of that and came out with a win,” said Andrews head coach Scott Durham . The win in their region opener improved the Yellowjackets record to 5-1/1-0. They will host Woodland 4-2/0-1. The Wolverines dropped their region opener to Phillip Simmons 22-16. The Raptors (3-3,0-1) will look get back on the winning track as they travel to Timberland 4-2/1-0, a 53-6 winner over Burke in their region opener Friday night. Andrews offensive line led by junior Da’Viyon McNair and senior Jacolby Sanders opened up big holes from the start as the Yellowjackets went 80-yards in six plays to go up 8-0. Sophomore Dutch Stafford had four carries for 50 yards including a four-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Brandon Cumbee added the two-point conversion. The Raptors came out strong on their first possession as sophomore quarterback Owen G. hit junior Tyler Perez for a 29-yard gain. On their next play disaster struck for the Raptors when G was hurt after gaining 12 yards to the Yellowjackets 26. From there, the Raptors went backwards and were forced to punt. “Any time you lose your starting quarterback on the second play it is going to throw a wrinkle into your game plan. I felt like our back up came in and tried to settle things down, we just played a very good football team tonight,” said Raptors head coach Mitch White . Andrews needed just five plays to increase their lead to 20-0. Junior AJ Lee scored on runs of 77 and 75 yards on back-to-back drives. Lee one of the top junior running backs in the state would finish the night with 230 yards and the two scores. Stafford would score his second touchdown of the night on the Yellowjackets next possession while Cumbee would wrap up the first half scoring by hitting sophomore Kale Cannon with a 56-yard strike. The teams headed to the break with Andrews up 34-0. Senior All State defensive end Khalil Dorsey spearheaded a defense that gave up only 79 yards of offense. Forty-one of the yards came on the Raptors first two plays. Junior Chris Stewart and senior Aden Cooper also spent a lot of time in the Raptors backfield. “Our defense played well all night. We gave up a couple of plays but overall, I am happy with the effort,” said coach Durham. The Yellowjackets scored their final touchdown on their opening possession of the second half when Cumbee scored from the run. On the drive Stafford had two carries for 51 yards and that put him over the century mark as finished the night with 87 yards. Cumbee was a perfect 4 for 4 through the air for a 137 yards to go with 20 yards on the ground. Down 42-0 the Raptors did not quit. They forced a turnover on the Yellowjackets next drive when senior Donovan Hamilton picked off a tipped pass falling to the ground and then they got on the scoreboard on the final play of the game when freshman Sam Peters ripped the ball from the Andrews ball carrier and returned it 65-yards for a touchdown. “I am proud of the effort we gave night. The guys did not quit and we can build on that going into next week,” said Raptor head coach White.

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Andrews – The Andrews Yellowjackets have established themselves as one of the top-class AA football programs in the lower state over that last 11 years under the tutelage of Scott Durham and after back-to-back second round playoff exit’s the Yellowjackets are looking to make a deeper playoff run in 2024. “We feel good about this group if we can get a few young players to step up and play well we will be fine. We have a very difficult schedule, so staying healthy will be a key us as the season goes along,” said Durham. The Yellowjackets will be moving into a new region (Region 6 AA) but they will renew some old rivalries with Timberland and Woodland . They will also do battle with Philip Simmons , who has gone 28-8 over the past three years with Burke and Academic Magnet also joining the region. Fortunately for the Yellowjackets they return seven starters on offense including one of the top athletes in AA in quarterback senior Brandon Cumbee (5-11, 180)He has been named to the AA all-state team the past years as a Defensive back (22) and as an athlete (23). Last season he accounted for over 1700 yards of offense and 22 touchdowns while playing with a torn ligament in his throwing shoulder. To take advantage of his skill set coach Durham has put him in the shot gun to run the Yellowjackets option offense, ala Liberty University. To date Newberry , Charleston Southern and SC State have shown the most interest in him. “Brandon is one of the best people and players I have ever coached. He is a smaller version of Jaquan Marsh who I coached at Goose Creek. In 2011,” said Durham. “Our switch to the gun is definitely going to fit Brandon’s strengths as a runner.” Also, back after a sensational sophomore campaign is tailback AJ Lee (5-11, 185). He ran for 1303 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. Coach says the new offensive scheme fits AJ’s skill set very well. He was an All-region selection last season. “ AJ is a good kid and the new offense fits him really well. He is a guy we want to touch the ball 20+ times a game,” Durham said. Of course, all the numbers that offense puts will be a direct result of the Yellowjackets veteran offensive line. The line returns four starters from a year ago led by junior Da’Viyon McNair . The 6-3, 315 right tackle was All-State as a sophomore and is already getting serious attention. Also, back along the O-line are senior left guard Jacolby Sanders (6-0, 235) and juniors left tackle Madison Smith (5-11, 245) and center Riley Jordan (5-11, 250). Jordan missed time last season when he tore his ACL. Perhaps the Yellowjackets best player is tight end/ defensive end is returning All-State performer Khalil Dorsey (6-2, 215). He has tremendous athletic ability and can make plays in the passing game but he excels on defense where he had 32 tackles with 10 tackles for loss. The wide outs are senior Maddux Cooper (5-11,180) and junior Kayden Dorsey (5-9, 160). Along with Dorsey the D-line returns two other starters in senior Roshaun Scott (5-10, 250) and All region selection junior Chris Stewart . The 6-3, 220 defensive end led the team in tackles for loss with 12.5 and he forced five fumbles. He is also garnering some attention from the college coaches. The linebackers and secondary are still a work in progress for the Yellowjackets with only three returning starters. Senior Aden Cooper (5-11, 230) is back at linebacker while Kayden Dorsey and Maddux Cooper will be in the secondary. Dorsey had a team high five interceptions and six pass break ups. “Depth is always an issue with us so if we can stay healthy, this group has a chance to be special. We have some missing pieces we are still trying to find but I like where we are as a team,” said Durham. The Yellowjackets open at home against county rival Georgetown . The Yellowjackets have won the last five games between the rivals.

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Andrews – Tucked away in one corner of Georgetown County is the home of Chubby Checker, Andrews, South Carolina. When you drive through downtown it reminds you of yesteryear until you make a right turn at the end of main street go about mile down the road you find the home of the Andrews Yellowjackets where Head coach Scott Durham has quietly built one of the top football programs in class AA. Coach Durham came to Andrews 11 years ago from Goose Creek , where he was the offensive coordinator for the 2011 AAAA division II state championship team. Before his arrival in Andrews, the Yellowjackets had made three playoff appearances in 10 years, since the Yellowjackets have made the playoffs 11 consecutive years. In 2020 his Yellowjackets were six inches away from making their second trip to the class AA state finals in school history (1978). Entering the 2024 season coach Durham has compiled a record of 79-40/ 39-17 and is five wins away from setting a new school record for career wins at Andrews breaking the record of 83 wins held by coach Simon Lewis . While coach Durham has certainly been instrumental in Andrews rise to prominence, he gives all the credit to assistant coaches and to the continuity they bring to the program. Three of his coaches have been with him for all 11 years, another for 10 years and one for six years. Coach Durham said, “ We just wanted to build a program that was consistent and the community could be proud of on and off the field. On the field, we want to be the toughest, most physical team on the field every time out. We want to be tough, physical, and aggressive and play to the echo of the whistle. We are not complicated. Off the field, we want students and young men who work just as hard to represent Andrews in a positive manner.” Besides the consistency coach Durham brought an old-style power option offense with quarterback under center and for most opponents it is the only time they see this all year. When teams play the Yellowjackets they can expect a physical, punishing run first team. “The offensive system has fit the type of players we have had here. We have had some really good running backs and offensive lineman,” said coach Durham. Offensive line coach Jim Rowell is the man behind the road graders who open the holes for the run game. He has been a Yellowjacket for 10 years. Kelly Cannon, who has been on staff for six years, coaches the running backs and Lamar Brown coaches up the wide receivers. Brown is also the head basketball coach and the short timer on the staff as he has been in Andrews for only two years. The coaches that have been with coach in Durham for the 11 years are all on the defensive side of the ball Mike Stapleton , Richie Poston , and Ricky Poston . Stapleton has been the teams DC for the past 11 years but will be stepping back to coach just DB’s this season. Richie Poston will be taking over the DC position and coach LB’S. He is also the school’s baseball coach and led the Yellowjackets to a District 8 title and a berth in the lower state final four. Ricky coaches the defensive line. “We have been blessed to have really good assistant coaches that try to build great young men through football,” said Durham. “For the most part we have stayed together as a staff and consistency is a good thing.”

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Andrews – The Andrews Yellowjackets have become a play-off fixture in Class AA since head coach Scott Durham and his staff took over the reins of the program so when spring practice rolls around they are plugging in new players that have been waiting to get their chance on the gridiron for the Yellowjackets. Coach Durham said, “We approach spring the same every year by installing our base offense and defense and finding out what kind of toughness our newcomers bring to the table.” ”We feel good about this group if we can get a few young players to step up and play well. We have a very difficult schedule, so staying healthy will be the key. We should be pretty deep on the OL and DL. Hopefully, those guys stay healthy and have a great year because we have guys behind them that can make plays,” coach continued. The O-line returns four starters and are led by returning All State junior center Da’Viyon McNair . He is joined by senior right tackle Jacolby Sanders , junior right guard Riley Jordan and juniors Connor Morris and Madison Smith . Morris and Smith played left tackle last season and one will move to left guard. Last season the O-line paved the way for over 4000 yards of total offense. The D-line is led by two college prospects in senior Khalil Dorsey and junior Chris Stewart . Dorsey was named to the Class AA All State team last year as a tight end while Stewart earned All Region honors for the second straight year. While the Yellowjackets are solid on both lines the real key to their season will be seniors, quarterback Barndon Cumbee and tailback AJ Lee . Cumbee was named to the AA All State team for a second consecutive year but this time it was as an Athlete after making the team as a defensive back in 2022. He had over 1600 yards of total offense last season and is one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the state. Lee led the team in rushing with over 1200 yards and in scoring with 16 touchdowns after taking over for injured All State and North/South All Star Lavon White . Lee has the strength to move the pile inside but can also score from anywhere on the field. He was named honorable mention All-State last season. “Those guys will be the focus of our offense. We have to make sure the ball ends up in their hands as much as possible, “ said coach. During spring ball, the Yellowjackets saw sophomore Colby Marlowe and senior Maddux Cooper step up at receiver and in the defensive backfield, Maddox is back after missing last season.