“Banners or Bust” Theme For The 2024 Cheraw Braves Football Team

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Cheraw — With 18 starters back, off a 5-6 team at Cheraw last season, 12-year head coaching veteran Andy Poole says the slogan he started preaching right after the end of last season, “Banners or Bust”, is still the mission of the upcoming Braves football season.

“If we can stay healthy, we have a chance to be a real good football team this season,” said Coach Poole. “We came out of Spring drills with 72 total varsity and junior varsity candidates and we will likely carry between 40 and 45 on the varsity this season.

“We have “Banners or Bust” on our tee shirts, on our lockers, and I am thinking about putting the slogan on the side of my car,” said Coach Poole. “We do not have a lot of depth but our first bunch has worked really hard in the off-season and we are pushing hard for a successful season.”

Cam McClendon (5-6,165) returns at RB, and after being moved from WR to the backfield in 2023. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in the final six games of the season after making the move.  The other play-maker back on offense is sophomore WR Nick Gordan (5-7,160) who caught 22 passes for over 500 yards and 7 touchdowns last season.

The Braves graduated their starting QB (Aiden Nolan) and coming into August drills junior Kadin Thomas (6-4, 183) is slated to start. “Kaiden knows our offense really well and he is a good leader,” said Coach Poole.

Joining Gordan in the mainly three wide-out set are junior Deshawn Drake and senior Jay Campbell, a returning starter.

The top OL back is tackling Bernard Joyner (6-1, 270) who can flip to the DL if needed. Coach Poole is very high on OL “Big John” Campbell (6-2, 240). “If Big John does not make all-region this season, he will disappoint but I will be even more disappointed,” said Coach Poole. “Owen Johnson and Amp Strong will battle it out to start at left tackle. Ed Meeks (6-2, 275) will play a guard and our returning center is Caleb Terry (6-0,280).”

On defense, Crawford Poole (5—11, 185) returns after recording 50 tackles, 15 TFL, including three sacks and three blocked kicks. “Crawford is super quick,” said Coach Poole. “He gets off the ball very quickly.”

Other DL include senior Ashton Walls (6-2, 330) and sophomore Anthony Strong (6-4, 210). The all-region linebacker Deman Ellerbe (5-11, 200) is back along with senior Tyler Gordan and sophomore Brenden Pace.

Robert Brown is the top DB returning and he had 61 tackles last season. Seniors Tray Leak (6-0,140) and Jahveon Marshall are two CB’s. Senior Jaden Carraway is set to start at FS.

The new place kicker could be quite a surprise to the Braves. “We have a pitcher off the baseball team who worked out as a kicker in Spring drills,” said Coach Poole. “Charlie Phillips is like 6-6 and I held the ball on the tee at the 40-yard line and he made 7-of-10 tries and we were both surprised, and pleased,” said Coach Poole.

Cheraw will host a six-team scrimmage on August, 8 with East Clarendon, Lancaster, North Central, Buford and Latta. They host a live controlled scrimmage on August, 11 against Latta. Then in the Dillon Jamboree on August, 16 they will play the host the Wildcats in a two-quarter scrimmage.