Mullins – Heading into the 2023 football season, Pee Dee Academy football head coach Jonathan King knew there could be some serious grow pains for the Golden Eagles.
PDA had lost several key performers from its SCISA AAA state championship team and it showed at times. Pee Dee went 3-8 and lost to Hilton Head Christian Academy 42-7 in the first round of the state playoffs.
“We knew going into the season that with the amount of talented seniors lost from the 2022 team there were going to be big shoes to fill,” King said. “However, the page always turns from season to season, and our focus was always on this team and what story they would write for themselves. We dealt with a lot of injuries throughout the season that really hurt our ability to develop consistency in so many different areas.
“SCISA 3A football is packed with very talented teams from top to bottom. Finishing the season 3-8 overall and fifth in SCISA 3A (good for the Eagles’ ninth straight playoff appearance coming in three different classifications - Class A, AA, AAA) was not what we had hoped for, but I am extremely proud of these young men, the coaches, and how they represented the PDA family all year.”
PDA will be losing nine seniors from this squad in Landon Johnson, Slate Lewis, Hughes Elvington, Noah Cox, Cutter Miller, Will Bass, Jacob Floyd, Landon Nobles and Darren Yang.
“They were part of a region championship, four playoff appearances and a AAA state championship,” King said. “Plus, they are an incredible group of young men who will be successful husbands, dads and leaders in their community. They leave the program in great shape and better because they were part of it.”
King said helping Pee Dee make a step forward next season begins way before the kickoff next season.
“The offseason in the weight room, conditioning, summer practices and 7-on-7s will be huge for us,” King said. “We will return a good many starters next season.”
Junior quarterback Colby Richardson completed 93 of 162 passes for 1,226 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 267 yards and two touchdowns.
Elvington was the Eagles’ leading receiver with 36 catches for 518 yards and three touchdowns through nine games. Junior Miles Trussell had 30 catches for 548 yards and three touchdowns in nine games.
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