Brian Smith Enters Year Two As Head Football Coach In Kingstree

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Kingstree — In his first season as the head football coach at Kingstree High, after CE Murray consolidated with Kingstree to become the Blazers, Brian Smith’s team finished a respectable 6-6 and the team is hoping to build on that first- year bench mark.

This past Spring Coach Smith and his staff worked out 37 varsity football candidates at the school.

“The strength of the team coming out of Spring drills is both sides of our lines,” said Coach Smith. “We are just hoping our skill position players can play well behind the offensive line guys.

“We expect to compete in every game and go out and line-up and battle with the goal of still being around in late November,” said Coach Smith. 

Kingstree will have early August scrimmages with Lugoff-Elgin and Johnsonville before playing in the Lake City Jamboree. The team will start the season in Week 0 hosting Georgetown on August, 23^rd. 

The team graduated three next level players in DL James Brockington, DB/QB JaShaun Dorsey, and DB Terrance Scott. Brockington (6-2, 280) was a North-South all-star who signed with The Citadel after last season. Brockington had 57 total tackles including 20 TFL.

The team will return several key players from last season who are impact players. Coach Smith is very high on rising junior Tyleek Dukes (6-0,180) who caught 22 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns last season. On defense Dukes blocked three punts, 66 total tackles, including 8 TFL and two sacks with two forced fumbles.

“Dukes is the best athlete on our team and out of necessity we are moving from receiver to running back because we need the ball in his hands as much as possible,” said Coach Smith.

Xavier Dukes (5-9,170) is a rising senior prospect at receiver and he was named to the Joanne Langfitt Showcase after last season. Dukes caught 18 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran back an 80-yard Kick-off return for a touchdown.

In the offensive line all-region performer Mychal Wallace (6-2, 310) will be returning to the Blazers. He plays both ways. On offense he had 12 pancakes last season. In the defensive front he had 30 total tackles with 11 TFL.  

Rising sophomore linebacker Maleek Dukes (6-2, 190) returns after leading the team with seven sacks his freshman season.

Rising senior OL/DL Malcolm Salters (6-0,255) also caught the attention of colleges who came by in May.

The QB position is being competing for by rising freshman Makhi Shaw who is an all-around athlete who plays three sports. The other candidate is sophomore Randy McFadden who is more of a thrower who can also run.

Ramello McFadden (5-10, 200) returns at RB/LB along with DB/slot WR Bryson Epps (5-8,170). Khaled Riggins is also returning at WR/CB. A newcomer with a lot of potential is rising junior WR/LB Benjamin Washington (6-4, 190).