Thursday, Sep. 01, 2011

Are you ready for some football?

Jeff Zell

 

We're not quite to the triple-pigskin delight (high school, college and professional) all in the same weekend - but it's close enough. Some areas of the country say fall doesn't start until the foliage begins to change colors. When 10 yards moves the chains and the bright lights come on-that's good enough for me.

Looking ahead at this weekend, there's no NFL just yet (unless you count preseason). However, there are some enticing college and high school match-ups to keep an eye on in the Palmetto State and on the national spectrum.

Furman at Coastal Carolina University, 6 p.m. Saturday: Coastal Carolina's conference road schedule is tough this year. The Chanticleers will face the two other Big South competitive teams, Liberty and Stony Brook, on the road. Saturday marks the third time CCU and Furman have met. The first time these Palmetto State schools played in Conway, it set a Brooks Stadium record with 10,013 people in attendance. On the field, Coastal Carolina wants to name former South Carolina transfer Aramis Hillary the starting quarterback. But the athletic challenger, Jamie Childers, has proved to the coaches that he has enough upside to take snaps rather than be another threat at the tight end position alongside preseason FCS All-American David Duran. Only three seniors will be starting on each side of the ball, meaning as a whole, this team is younger than most FCS teams. But the sophomores and juniors who will receive snaps are talented. On defense, Andrae Jacobs is the linebacker that leads the unit. As a sophomore, he recorded 104 tackles including 12 tackles for loss. He's the reigning Big South Defensive Player of the Year and won the same preseason honor.

Coastal's opponent, Furman, has a new coach, Bruce Fowler. Fowler spent the last nine seasons as Vanderbilt's defensive coordinator. He returns 16 starters from a team that finished 5-6 last year. The Paladins offense is just like the Chanticleers - in a sense they both run the spread and they both at press time had not officially named a starter at quarterback. In the running for the starting nod on Saturday is Dakota Derrick, a 2008 graduate of Conway High.

East Carolina vs. South Carolina, 7 p.m. Saturday - Expectations cannot be higher for South Carolina this year. The skill guys are back, the best recruits in the nation are coming to Columbia and the schedule sets up nicely. The toughest game on the slate may be a trip to Athens, Ga. to face the Bulldogs on Sept. 10. That's what makes the opener against East Carolina somewhat of a trap game. South Carolina can't think they can show up with all their preseason accolades and hope to win. If there's any reason for concern - it's that East Carolina is a heavy passing team (39 TDs/16 INTs, 4,300 yards passing in 2010). South Carolina's passing defense wasn't too solid in 2010. It ranked 97th in the country last year-giving up big gains to Tennessee and Arkansas in the regular season.

Georgetown at Andrews, 7:30 p.m. Friday: On the high school front, a pair of 2-0 Grand Strand teams will battle in News 13's Grand Strand Game of the Week. Andrews coach Steve Blanchard has made strides in his three seasons as Yellow Jackets head coach. Impressive wins over Johnsonville and Mullins to start the season has optimism high. Two-way player and quarterback Ervin Heard has been a difference maker on both sides of the ball. Georgetown is also 2-0, picking up wins over Mullins and Carvers Bay - two teams they lost to in 2010. The Bulldogs have a couple big bodies up front, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Georgetown is probably the favorite to win based on school size and overall personnel - but if Andrews could pull out a win on their home field it would be great momentum for a tough 2A-Region 7 schedule.

Myrtle Beach at Byrnes, 8 p.m. Friday - Byrnes, the Class 4A defending state champions, were rated No.9 in the entire country preseason by the USA Today high school rankings. The 3A defending state champs, Myrtle Beach, passed their first test of the season with a 31-0 route of rival Carolina Forest. The Seahawks offense clicked in small bunches -but anyone who's seen the program in the last four years has obviously been spoiled with current Notre Dame QB Everett Golson off the roster. Myrtle Beach lost this matchup 21-14 last year. If Mickey Wilson can find a way to beat Byrnes it will be because of defense. Speed, size, agility - the Seahawks unit has it all. Facing a high-power 4A offense such as Byrnes will be a good test for a confident defense entering the game.

Jeff Zell is sports director for WBTW News 13. You can reach him at jzell@wbtw.com.