Class AAA outlook

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

Fairfield Central fell twice last season to region rival South Pointe. This season, the Griffins are primed to supplant the Stallions as top dog in the Upper State.


Up until last year, Class AA and Class AAA were the only ones crowning a single champion rather than splitting its championship between two division winners.
A few months into the offseason, however, that all changed -- Class AAA now standing alone in the Palmetto State in crowning one, true champion.
After winning two of the classification’s past three titles -- including last season’s championship with a 27-23 triumph over South Pointe -- Myrtle Beach begins the 2011 campaign in the familiar role as favorite to continue its recent run of success. Different from the past few seasons, however, is the Seahawks will break in a new leader under center, Everett Golson departing for Notre Dame following a legendary career at the school.
Expected to compete for the job are rising juniors C.J. Cooper and Tyler Keane, a transfer from Carolina Forest over the summer. Myrtle Beach will also break in new starters at the skill positions and the offensive line.
An underrated unit last season, the Seahawks return seven starters on a defense now expected to lead the team back to the promised land.
Opponents in the Lower State will have trouble moving the ball against the squad’s fast, aggressive defensive front consisting of seniors Tyler Knox, Trey Vivian, and Kerry Chestnut, each getting looks by colleges. Leading tackler Octavius Thomas also returns.
While it’s hard to imagine anyone supplanting Myrtle Beach in the lower half of the state, a new one is eager to regain its spot atop the Upper State’s food chain.
A prolific offense helped take Fairfield Central to the Upper State’s version of the Turkey Bowl last season, only to be totally overmatched by a superior South Pointe squad led by top prospects Jadeveon Clowney and Gerald Dixon Jr. The Griffins may not be as laden with talent on the offensive side of the ball this season, but the team more than makes up for it on the defensive side, blessed with their own lineup of stars.
Opponents may find it particularly difficult to pass on Fairfield Central this season, returning three key members of its secondary -- Randall Adams, Davontre Parnell, and Shaferrell Jones. The Griffins are also strong on the defensive line, though there is a need at the linebacker position.
To help complement its strength on the defensive side of the ball, expect a heavy dose of running back Jimmy Walker this season, who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year.
Fairfield Central’s region rival, South Pointe, has many questions to answer as well. Graduating a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball, the Stallions also lost their head coach Bobby Carroll to York. He was 50-18 during his time at the school, including a state championship in 2008.
It will be interesting to see how the program reshuffles after so many changes in the offseason, but with so much talent at its disposal, South Pointe should again contend this season.
Other squads which could make things interesting are Greenville, Wade Hampton-Greenville, Belton-Honea Path, and Seneca.

FAVORITE: Myrtle Beach
CONTENDERS: Fairfield Central, South Pointe, Belton-Honea Path, Greenville, Wade Hampton-Greenville, Seneca
LOOK OUT FOR: Bluffton-- Following a 12-2 season and a deep run in the state playoffs, the Bobcats return nine starters on offense and quite a wealth of talent on the defensive side of the ball. With a number of questions regarding a number of squads in the Lower State -- in particular reigning state champion Myrtle Beach -- Bluffton might be primed to ascend to the classification’s top rung.