Class AAAA-Big 16 outlook

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

Dorman's Raymond Smith hopes to again lead the Cavaliers to the promised land in 2011. However, getting past rival Byrnes could be quite the task in Class AAAA's Big 16 ranks, which could be as hotly contested as it has been in recent years.

Arguably, no other title is more coveted in South Carolina high school athletics than the Big 16 football championship.
Three out of the past four years, however, the hardware has found a home in Duncan on the Byrnes High School campus, including last season when the Rebels disposed of cross-county rival Dorman 34-14 in the state championship game. It was the program’s 10th state title overall.
Last season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Byrnes, replacing several Division I talents such as South Carolina star running back Marcus Lattimore and Rutgers signal caller Chas Dodd. At least through the end of the regular season another championship seemed in doubt, head coach Chris Miller’s squad losing three games -- the most it had lost since 2007-- equaling its total from the preceding two seasons.
Keyed by the hard running of Shakeem Wharton and a steady defense which gathered itself at the right time, Byrnes easily defeated Mauldin before impressive wins at Dutch Fork and against Lexington en route to the final.
Wanting to gain a measure of revenge from its loss to Dorman in the 2009 final, the Rebels jumped quickly on their rivals and seized control of the game and the crown, winning 34-14.
Byrnes is again in a familiar role to begin the 2011 season, favored to repeat as Class AAAA Big 16 champion. Returning the likes of Wharton, speedy wide receiver Akia Booker and many pieces of a quick, disciplined defense including “Doc“ Dillard and Jamal Johnson, one should expect the squad to make another deep run in the playoffs.
Inexperience at quarterback could derail such aspirations however, the high octane offense of the Rebels expected to start sophomore signal caller Shuler Bentley. Byrnes last great quarterback, Dodd, first led the squad as a sophomore, part of a unit which won two state titles.
Bentley, his half brother, could become the next to be fitted for a ring.
Among those at the head of the line hoping to dethrone Byrnes again is Dorman, returning running back Raymond Smith, who rushed for 2,000+ yards last season, in addition to Patrick DeStefano, the state’s top offensive lineman. One has to wonder whether the squad can overcome the amount of talent it lost last year, including Clemson signee wide receiver Charone Peake.
Gaffney is also expected to make a run this year at adding to its state record total of 16 championships. Though losing veteran signal caller DeEdward Burris, a talented core returns, including highly sought after wideout Quinshad Davis. The Indians are expected to be as stout as they have been in several years on defense, keyed in the middle by linebacker Savon Dukes.
Dutch Fork, which lost to the Rebels 31-14 last November in the Class AAAA Big 16 quarterfinals, should make strides in head coach Tom Knotts’ second season on the job. The Region IV-AAAA champions return quite a talent at running back in Brandon Quattlebaum, who rushed for more than 1,400 yards last season, and is expected to shoulder the load again in 2011 for the Silver Foxes.
No one needs to be introduced to Lexington’s Shaq Roland. However, the X-Factor in the Wildcats’ potential to make a run at a state title lies with Kevin Miller, whose tough running was instrumental in the squad to the Region V-AAAA title last season.
Lexington made its deepest run in the state playoffs in 2010 since Demetrius Summers roamed the gridiron at the school, and is looking to take that final step this year.
Don't be surprised if Summerville rebounds and contends for a title this season following a disappointing 2010 according to its lofty standards.

FAVORITE: Byrnes
CONTENDERS: Dorman, Gaffney, Dutch Fork, Lexington, Summerville
LOOK OUT FOR: Spartanburg - The Vikings come into 2011 with its most talented squad in years, particularly at the quarterback position. Look for the squad to make quite a bit of noise in Region III-AAAA this season.