By JEREMY TIMMERMAN
2011 IN REVIEW
Last season was just another chapter in the success story of Wardlaw Academy football.
The Patriots won their third SCISA 8-man title in four years and went undefeated in the process. The 12-0 record included three shutouts, and Wardlaw was never held to less than 38 points.
Because of that track record, new head coach Mark Rodgers said he’s aware of what fans will be looking for from his team this season.
“Expectations are high,” he said.
The former Ridge Spring-Monetta coach won’t have the luxury of offensive leaders Bailey Pendarvis and Jordan Faust or Davidson freshman lineman James Brumbaugh.
But Rodgers feels what he has left is enough to contend for another title.
In addition to that, though, Rodgers is having to adjust to the differences between 11-man ball and 8-man ball.
“I’ve caught myself telling kids to turn (receivers) in because there’s a free safety,” he said. “They have to tell me, ‘Coach there isn’t a free safety.’ ”
RETURNING STARS
Sophomore running back Malik Lee is the main threat returning to the Patriot offense. Along with Pendarvis and Faust, Lee came on as an offensive force last season, particularly in the state championship game against Patrick Henry.
Lee racked up 261 rushing yards and three scores on the ground in the title effort, and he also returned a punt for another 82-yard score.
Rodgers said that putting Lee into the mold of power or speed back is a difficult – and perhaps unnecessary – task.
“He can be either one, but he’s legit,” Rodgers said.
The Patriots are a young squad overall, though, returning only two seniors – fullback/linebacker Kerry Cockrell and running back Dylan Seaman.
NEW FACES
Junior quarterback Holton Manly will be leading the offense for the first time, and Rodgers said Manly is capable of contributing wherever the team needs him.
“He’s an athlete,” Rodgers said.
He’ll be protected by a pair of new big bodies up front in Austin Rodgers and Jacob Baynham, both juniors.
GAMES TO WATCH
Rodgers pointed to a pair of Region II games as the biggest ones to mark on the calender.
The first is a Sept. 7 home game against Clarendon Hall, which Rodgers says will “give us a good judge” of where the Patriots stand.
The Saints went 10-2 last year but fell to Wardlaw 52-18 in the second round of the state playoffs.
The other is the Oct. 26 trip to play rival W.W. King. The Knights went 9-2 in 2011 also with a second-round playoff loss, and their only regular-season loss was to Wardlaw, 38-6.
OFFENSE
In the past, the Patriots have operated out of the spread on offense. While there will still be some spread packages, Rodgers said he’s taking advantage of personnel and will run out of the I-Formation a lot.
With Lee and Manly in the backfield behind a line that could average 260 pounds depending on the group on the field.
“We have the people and we have the offensive line to run the I, so I’m using what the good Lord gave us a lot of,” Rodgers said.
DEFENSE
Rodgers said that his defense will be “multiple” but will be based out of the 4-2.
With that, he said that defensive ends will have assignments similar to that of an 11-man outside linebacker.
“The defensive ends, they’ve got to be athletic,” Rodgers said.
That won’t be much of an issue for Baynham, who is about 267 pounds. Rodgers said he’s got good agility for a player that size, and the same went for his counterpart, 245-pound junior Zack Sherrill.
“For a big man, he covers 10 yards very well,” Rodgers said of Baynham.
SPECIAL TEAMS
In Rodgers’ words, the special teams roles are “wide open” for the Patriots.
One of those spots is one that doesn’t take too much priority in the 8-man game.
“They don’t punt much in this league,” Rodgers said.
Another spot is being filled by freshman center Black Rearden, who is also taking the lead as place kicker. Rodgers said that Rearden is being coached by Wardlaw headmaster and former NFL kicker Stan Whitlock.
“I have learned so much just listening,” Rodgers said of Whitlock’s interactions with the players about kicking.
OVERALL OUTLOOK
Despite the losses and a new coach, Rodgers is aware of what the Wardlaw community will expect from him and his team.
Three state titles in the last four years will have fans and players expecting more of the same, but Rodgers is ready for that. With the talent he has coming back all over the field, he and his assistant coaches have a simple but lofty mindset.
“I’m expecting to defend,” he said. “We are the state champions, and we’re going to coach to defend it.”
2011 RESULTS
*-Denotes SCISA 8 man, Region 1 game
***-Denotes playoff game
• Wardlaw Academy 54, Coastal Christian 14
• Wardlaw Academy 62, Andrew Jackson 0
• Wardlaw Academy 62, Patrick Henry 6
• Wardlaw Academy 54, Jefferson Davis 12*
• Wardlaw Academy 63, James Island Christian 8
• Wardlaw Academy 56, Greenwood Christian 0*
• Wardlaw Academy 46, Laurens Academy 22*
• Wardlaw Academy 60, Trinity Collegiate 24*
• Wardlaw Academy 38, W.W. King 6*
• Wardlaw Academy 55, James Island Christian 0***
• Wardlaw Academy 52, Clarendon Hall 18***
• Wardlaw Academy 42, Patrick Henry 26***
2012 SCHEDULE
*-Denotes SCISA 8-man Region 2 game
Aug. 24 at Charleston Collegiate
Aug. 31 OPEN (vs. Trinity Collegiate?)
Sept. 7 vs. Clarendon Hall*
Sept. 14 at Jefferson Davis*
Sept. 21 at Andrew Jackson*
Sept. 28 vs. Greenwood Christian*
Oct. 5 vs. Cathedral
Oct. 12 at Richard Winn*
Oct. 19 vs. Carolina*
Oct. 26 at W.W. King*
2012 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
Aug. 11: Ridge Spring-Monetta
Aug. 12: Strom Thurmond
Aug. 13: Williston-Elko
Aug. 14: Fox Creek
Aug. 15: Wagener-Salley
Aug. 16: South Aiken
Aug. 17: North Augusta
Sunday: Silver Bluff
Monday: Midland Valley
Tuesday: Aiken
TODAY: Wardlaw
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2011 IN REVIEW
Last season was just another chapter in the success story of Wardlaw Academy football.
The Patriots won their third SCISA 8-man title in four years and went undefeated in the process. The 12-0 record included three shutouts, and Wardlaw was never held to less than 38 points.
Because of that track record, new head coach Mark Rodgers said he’s aware of what fans will be looking for from his team this season.
“Expectations are high,” he said.
The former Ridge Spring-Monetta coach won’t have the luxury of offensive leaders Bailey Pendarvis and Jordan Faust or Davidson freshman lineman James Brumbaugh.
But Rodgers feels what he has left is enough to contend for another title.
In addition to that, though, Rodgers is having to adjust to the differences between 11-man ball and 8-man ball.
“I’ve caught myself telling kids to turn (receivers) in because there’s a free safety,” he said. “They have to tell me, ‘Coach there isn’t a free safety.’ ”
RETURNING STARS
Sophomore running back Malik Lee is the main threat returning to the Patriot offense. Along with Pendarvis and Faust, Lee came on as an offensive force last season, particularly in the state championship game against Patrick Henry.
Lee racked up 261 rushing yards and three scores on the ground in the title effort, and he also returned a punt for another 82-yard score.
Rodgers said that putting Lee into the mold of power or speed back is a difficult – and perhaps unnecessary – task.
“He can be either one, but he’s legit,” Rodgers said.
The Patriots are a young squad overall, though, returning only two seniors – fullback/linebacker Kerry Cockrell and running back Dylan Seaman.
NEW FACES
Junior quarterback Holton Manly will be leading the offense for the first time, and Rodgers said Manly is capable of contributing wherever the team needs him.
“He’s an athlete,” Rodgers said.
He’ll be protected by a pair of new big bodies up front in Austin Rodgers and Jacob Baynham, both juniors.
GAMES TO WATCH
Rodgers pointed to a pair of Region II games as the biggest ones to mark on the calender.
The first is a Sept. 7 home game against Clarendon Hall, which Rodgers says will “give us a good judge” of where the Patriots stand.
The Saints went 10-2 last year but fell to Wardlaw 52-18 in the second round of the state playoffs.
The other is the Oct. 26 trip to play rival W.W. King. The Knights went 9-2 in 2011 also with a second-round playoff loss, and their only regular-season loss was to Wardlaw, 38-6.
OFFENSE
In the past, the Patriots have operated out of the spread on offense. While there will still be some spread packages, Rodgers said he’s taking advantage of personnel and will run out of the I-Formation a lot.
With Lee and Manly in the backfield behind a line that could average 260 pounds depending on the group on the field.
“We have the people and we have the offensive line to run the I, so I’m using what the good Lord gave us a lot of,” Rodgers said.
DEFENSE
Rodgers said that his defense will be “multiple” but will be based out of the 4-2.
With that, he said that defensive ends will have assignments similar to that of an 11-man outside linebacker.
“The defensive ends, they’ve got to be athletic,” Rodgers said.
That won’t be much of an issue for Baynham, who is about 267 pounds. Rodgers said he’s got good agility for a player that size, and the same went for his counterpart, 245-pound junior Zack Sherrill.
“For a big man, he covers 10 yards very well,” Rodgers said of Baynham.
SPECIAL TEAMS
In Rodgers’ words, the special teams roles are “wide open” for the Patriots.
One of those spots is one that doesn’t take too much priority in the 8-man game.
“They don’t punt much in this league,” Rodgers said.
Another spot is being filled by freshman center Black Rearden, who is also taking the lead as place kicker. Rodgers said that Rearden is being coached by Wardlaw headmaster and former NFL kicker Stan Whitlock.
“I have learned so much just listening,” Rodgers said of Whitlock’s interactions with the players about kicking.
OVERALL OUTLOOK
Despite the losses and a new coach, Rodgers is aware of what the Wardlaw community will expect from him and his team.
Three state titles in the last four years will have fans and players expecting more of the same, but Rodgers is ready for that. With the talent he has coming back all over the field, he and his assistant coaches have a simple but lofty mindset.
“I’m expecting to defend,” he said. “We are the state champions, and we’re going to coach to defend it.”
2011 RESULTS
*-Denotes SCISA 8 man, Region 1 game
***-Denotes playoff game
• Wardlaw Academy 54, Coastal Christian 14
• Wardlaw Academy 62, Andrew Jackson 0
• Wardlaw Academy 62, Patrick Henry 6
• Wardlaw Academy 54, Jefferson Davis 12*
• Wardlaw Academy 63, James Island Christian 8
• Wardlaw Academy 56, Greenwood Christian 0*
• Wardlaw Academy 46, Laurens Academy 22*
• Wardlaw Academy 60, Trinity Collegiate 24*
• Wardlaw Academy 38, W.W. King 6*
• Wardlaw Academy 55, James Island Christian 0***
• Wardlaw Academy 52, Clarendon Hall 18***
• Wardlaw Academy 42, Patrick Henry 26***
2012 SCHEDULE
*-Denotes SCISA 8-man Region 2 game
Aug. 24 at Charleston Collegiate
Aug. 31 OPEN (vs. Trinity Collegiate?)
Sept. 7 vs. Clarendon Hall*
Sept. 14 at Jefferson Davis*
Sept. 21 at Andrew Jackson*
Sept. 28 vs. Greenwood Christian*
Oct. 5 vs. Cathedral
Oct. 12 at Richard Winn*
Oct. 19 vs. Carolina*
Oct. 26 at W.W. King*
2012 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
Aug. 11: Ridge Spring-Monetta
Aug. 12: Strom Thurmond
Aug. 13: Williston-Elko
Aug. 14: Fox Creek
Aug. 15: Wagener-Salley
Aug. 16: South Aiken
Aug. 17: North Augusta
Sunday: Silver Bluff
Monday: Midland Valley
Tuesday: Aiken
TODAY: Wardlaw