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Sports - Prep football - Football preview

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008

South Columbus (N.C.) Stallions

A team on the offensive heading into the season

Josh Hoke - jhoke@thesunnews.com

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Same goals. Same expectations. Same game plan.

Nothing has changed at South Columbus (N.C.) despite the bevy of talent the program lost after advancing to last year's Class 2-A state championship game.

Coach Joey Price hasn't allowed his players to believe rebuilding is an option. At South Columbus, reloading is the name of the game.

THE PLAYBOOK
Coach | Joey Price, 12th year (119-25 at South Columbus, 119-25 overall)
Last season | 15-1; Waccamaw Conference champion; lost to Lincolnton (N.C.) in the Class 2-A state championship
Returning starters | 5 offense (2 RB, OL, TE, QB), 3 defense (DB, DL, LB)
Base offense/defense | Wing-T spread offense; 50 defense
Strengths | Senior quarterback Justin Duncan morphed into something more than just a solid player in the postseason last year and finished with 1,611 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. Rashawn Grate (1,049 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns) and Dominique Betts (519 yards) return for their senior seasons. Offensive tackle Pat Worley was an all-state selection last year. Linebacker Jonathan Buffkin had nearly 150 tackles as a sophomore.
Weaknesses | One of the most feared defenses in the state was ravaged by graduation, leaving three starters to defend the program's reputation. Although the Stallions always have talent in reserve, there is almost no way a Class 2-A school can replace the talent that Price's defense lost. Duncan's best receivers were lost to graduation, too.
Outlook | It would be easy to figure this is the season that South Columbus fails to meet its lofty expectations. However, the backs returning on offense will be difficult to stop. With the losses on defense, the Stallions may need to outscore people. Don't look for a repeat appearance in the state championship, but it wouldn't be a surprise if South Columbus comes close to another undefeated regular season.

``It's the same attitude,'' Price said. ``Our kids expect to do well. They've worked hard and had a great offseason in the weight room. They took it as a challenge to try and get back there again.''

The defense was most responsible for the success in 2007, but the offense, which returns five starters, will be forced to lead the way this season. Quarterback Justin Duncan, offensive lineman Pat Worley and tailback Rashawn Grate played considerable roles as juniors and are prepared for big seasons again.

``We've got an offensive line that's not as big but they have heart,'' Duncan said. ``We've got a couple of receivers that can catch.

``[Rashawn's] got great speed. You just have to watch him in practice. He's making everybody look silly. He's going to do the same thing during the season.''

Grate, who has scholarship offers from Western Carolina and Newberry, will be especially key to an offense that will try to keep its defense off the field as much as possible.

The defense returns only three starters, one defensive lineman, one defensive back and linebacker Jonathan Buffkin, who teamed with Coastal Carolina's Andrae Jacobs to form a lethal tandem last season. But there aren't many standouts left on the defense.

``It's like starting all over again almost,'' Price said. ``We lost a lot of good players. It's been a slow process of trying to build back. Offensively we can put a good team on the field. Defensively is where we are struggling.''