By Thomas Grant Jr.
Northside Christian Academy has the distinction of being the first Lexington County high school to open the 2024 regular season.
The Crusaders open play at home Friday against Greenwood Christian. It’s a matchup of two former SCISA Region 3-2A rivals, with Northside Christian holding a 2-1 series advantage.
Last year’s contest was decided in overtime in the Crusaders’ favor 18-17. Trailing 17-10 in the extra period after the Hawks’ score, quarterback Jefferson McCallum found Gavin Ford for a 25-yard touchdown.
Head coach Dean Howell opted for the 2-point conversion which Matt Diaz ran in for the game-winner.
This year finds Northside Christian moving up in classification as a result of SCISA realignment. For football, it will compete in Class 3A in Region 2 with Camden Military, Florence Christian, Trinity Collegiate and Wilson Hall.
“We’re obviously getting better and getting better numbers and all that,” Howell said. “But with that comes having to play better people now that we’re moving up to 3A, So that’s going to be a challenge.”
Northside Christian brings back its top weapons on offense. Quarterback Jefferson McCallum is back for his senior season and will once again have all-purpose standout Sam Burks available.
During the summer, he’s already received offers from Erskine and Limestone College and accounted for close to half of the Crusaders’ total offense last season.
“Sam Burks is as good as I’ve ever coached on any level,” Howell said. “Whether 4A, 5A, any level. I think he’s ready to prove that against bigger and better teams. He’s going to be tough for people to tackle.”
J.R. Kinard is also available out of the backfield and Jake Jeffrey and John Lizewski will join Burks at wide receiver. Northside Christian returns four starters on the offensive line – – tackles Hudson Shick, center Zack Gebhart and guards Landon Folks and Jameson Bartlett.
The defense will have a new coordinator in former Gilbert assistant Mark Cagle. He’ll get to work with All-Region 3-2A Defensive Player of the Year lineman Hudson Shick, along with Jeffrey and Logan Gouveia at the ends.
Kinard and Trevor Hoffman will look to thrive at linebacker in Cagle’s system and Clayton Myers and Logan Taylor will man the secondary.
Northside Christian had their final scrimmage Saturday as part of the Wake Up Carolina Jamboree in Charleston. They defeated St. John’s Christian Academy 14-0.
Final Scrimmages
The preseason will officially close out for most S.C. High School League teams at two Friday Jamborees.
Lexington High School is the host site for the Sportsarama. It will feature four, 2-quarter scrimmages involving six county teams:
Fox Creek vs. Pelion 6 p.m.
River Bluff vs. North Augusta 7 p.m.
Gilbert vs. White Knoll 8 p.m.
Lexington vs. Airport 9 p.m.
All eight participants made the post-season last year, with White Knoll finishing state runner-up to Dutch Fork in Class 5A. This season, the Timberwolves will compete in Division II and the Silver Foxes Division I.
The latest realignment has also resulted in Gilbert, Brookland-Cayce and Gray Collegiate moving up to Class 4A in Region 4-4A with Airport, North Augusta, South Aiken, and Midland Valley.
Over at Cecil Woolbright Field Stadium, Gray Collegiate will take part in the Aun and McKay Kickoff Classic. The event is back at Chapin after a one-year absence due to stadium renovations.
Gray Collegiate opens the event at 6 p.m. against American Leadership, which is playing their first varsity season.
Rounding out the schedule:
Spring Valley vs. Midland Valley 6:45 p.m.
Clinton vs. Blythewood 7:30 p.m.
Chapin vs. Ridge View 8:15 p.m.
Brookland-Cayce scrimmages
The Bearcats will be among the last teams to open the regular season. On Friday, they will head to Edgefield for the Strom Thurmond Jamboree and face the host team Rebels.
On Aug. 22, Brookland-Cayce closes out the preseason at home with a scrimmage against Woodland. It opens the regular season at home Aug. 20 versus River Bluff.
PRESEASON PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
- Dutch Fork (13)
- Gaffney (3)
- Summerville
- Northwestern (1)
- Irmo
- White Knoll
- TL Hanna
- JL Mann
- Sumter
- Hillcrest
Others receiving votes: Spartanburg; Byrnes; Ridge View; Fort Dorchester; James Island;
Clover; Carolina Forest; Greenwood
Class 4A
- Westside (17)
- South Florence
- Daniel
- South Pointe
- Camden
- Gray Collegiate
- Hartsville
- Midland Valley
- Brookland-Cayce
- Gilbert
Others receiving votes: Beaufort; AC Flora; Greer; Crestwood; May River; North Augusta; York
Photo courtesy of Northside Christian Academy athletics – Northside Christian Academy wide receiver Sam Burks
