The defending state champion Beaufort High School Eagles football team has been busy honing its skills during the early morning hours to beat the heat. Head coach Bryce Lybrand said he has 85 athletes suited up for both junior and varsity teams practicing together. He said he expected that number to increase once school starts. Here, junior running back Elias Johnson tries to elude the defense during practice Tuesday morning. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

High School Football – a capsule look at area teams

Beaufort High Eagles

2022 record: 13-1 overall (4-0 region)

2022 playoffs: SCHSL 3A state champions

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Bryce Lybrand (4th season)

Offensive Coordinator: Logan Powell

Defensive Coordinator: Rob Gorrell

Player Personnel

Top Returners (Offense): QB Samari Bonds, OL Kenshon Speaks, OL Adrian Lamb

Top Returners (Defense): DE Jayden Simmons, LB Will Codding, LB Quion Rivers, DB Dom Camacho, DB Isaac Smalls

Key Departures: RB Kacy Fields (S.C. State), ATH/DB Colton Phares (Appalachian State), TE/LB Michael Dennison (MIT), OL/DL Aaron Lamb (Allen) OL Hart Cushman (Erskine), K/P Jack Troutman, DL Jack Sumner, DB Lamar Knight, DB Jamar Knight, LB Zach Talbert

Top Newcomers: RB Xavier Donaldson (Travelers Rest), RB Elias Johnson (Dreher), WR Dorell DePass (Fort Dorchester), WR Amare Patterson

2023 Schedule

8/18 at Cane Bay

9/1 at HHIHS

9/8 at Goose Creek

9/15 vs. May River

9/22 at Bluffton

9/29 at Philip Simmons*

10/6 vs. Battery Creek*

10/20 vs. North Charleston*

10/27 at Hanahan*

Battery Creek Dolphins

2022 record: 3-8 overall (1-3 region)

2022 playoffs: SCHSL 3A 1st round

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Ed Susi (1st season)

Offensive Coordinator: Ed Susi

Defensive Coordinator: Terrance Ashe

Player Personnel

Top Returners (Offense): RB Damien Freeman, WR Juju Gordon, WR Derrick Smalls Jr., RB Nyc Underwood

Top Returners (Defense): DL/LB Leroy Tyus, DB Juju Gordon, DB Derrick Smalls Jr., LB Donyae Brown

Key Departures: DL Anthony Phelan, OL Devin Broaddus, RB Jeremiah Mceachin, LB/DB Ty Emmert, QB Hunter Smith, OL/DL Tanner McCracken

Top Newcomers: QB Chase Olsen

2023 Schedule

8/18 vs. HHIHS

8/25 vs. Ridgeland

9/1 at Calhoun Co.

9/8 at May River

9/15 vs. Bluffton

9/22 at Whale Branch

9/29 at North Charleston*

10/6 at Beaufort*

10/13 vs. Hanahan*

10/27 vs. Philip Simmons*

Whale Branch Warriors

2022 record: 6-5 overall (3-2 region)

2022 playoffs: SCHSL 1A 1st round

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Jerry Hatcher (13th season)

Offensive Coordinator: Willie White

Defensive Coordinator: Charlie Simmons

Player Personnel

Top Returners (Offense): WR Keith Chisholm, QB Jermon Bowers, OL Iveon Watson, OL Joseph Darby, FB Bradford Thompson, OL Micah Green

Top Returners (Defense): DB Keith Chisholm, DE Bradford Thompson, DE Dorien Alston, LB Alonzo Allen, LB Zaire Polite, LB Davon Evans, DB Dayaun Brown

Key Departures: OL/DL Ron Smith, OL/DL Jovahn Smith, OL/DL Benji Sanchez

Top Newcomers: RB/LB Darrell Cummings, OL/DL Isaiah Evans

2023 Schedule

8/25 at North Charleston

9/1 at Ridgeland

9/8 vs. Baptist Hill

9/15 vs. Burke

9/22 vs. Battery Creek

9/29 at Bethune-Bowman*

10/13 vs. Allendale-Fairfax*

10/20 at Branchville*

10/27 vs. Bamberg-Ehrhardt*

John Paul II Golden Warriors

2022 record: 4-7 overall

2022 playoffs: SCISA 3A 1st round

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Shayne Milligan (1st season)

Offensive Coordinator: Shayne Milligan

Defensive Coordinator: Rich Yackley

Player Personnel

Top Returners (Offense): QB Christian Tilton, FB Sebastian Slusne, OL Lukas Yackley, RB Bryant Jolley

Top Returners (Defense): DB Christian Tilton, LB Sebastian Slusne, DL Lukas Yackley, LB Bryant Jolley, DB Brandyn Horton

Key Departures: ATH/DB Jackson Ogden, RB/DB Anthony Hill, OL/DL DJ Lewis, LB Sam Rembold, OL/DL Kohl Woodham

Top Newcomers: QB/WR/DB Alan Wolf, TE/DE Sean Phalen, WR/DB Jackson Reilley

2023 Schedule

8/18 vs. Thomas Heyward

8/25 at Bethesda Academy

9/1 at St. Andrew’s

9/8 vs. Memorial Day

9/15 vs. Pinewood Prep*

9/22 at Florence Christian*

9/29 at Cardinal Newman

10/6 vs. Hilton Head Prep*

10/13 at Northwood*

10/20 vs. HHCA*

10/27 at Wilson Hall*

Beaufort Academy Eagles

2022 record: 8-3 overall, 4-1 region

2022 playoffs: SCISA 2A semifinals

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Nic Shuford (1st season)

Offensive Coordinator: Nic Shuford

Defensive Coordinator: Will Kelley/Michael Shuford

Player Personnel

Top Returners (Offense): RB Jaxen Porter, RB Devonte Green, OL Alex Williams, WR Zeke Gonzalez, OL Eddie Gonzalez

Top Returners (Defense): DL Tres Delaney, LB Jaxen Porter, DB Devonte Green, DL Alex Williams, DB Zeke Gonzalez, DL Eddie Gonzalez, DL Tripp Gregory

Top Returners (Special Teams): K/P Zeke Gonzalez, K/P Grady Lamm, LS Tripp Gregory

Key Departures: OL Hampton Lane, QB Braydon Dineen

Top Newcomers: QB Dietrich Shuford

2023 Schedule

8/12 vs. Trinity Collegiate (at Chas. So.)

8/18 vs. Pinewood Prep

8/25 vs. Hilton Head Prep

9/8 at Greenwood Christian

9/15 vs. Orangeburg Prep

9/22 at HHCA

9/29 at Palmetto Christian*

10/13 at Thomas Heyward

10/20 at Colleton Prep*

10/27 vs. Bethesda Academy*

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