5 replies to this topic

[Rebel82jeff]

Byrnes (S.C.) , Oscar Smith (Va.) to play in 2012

Photo by Jamie Dahl
Akia Booker, Byrnes
Two defending state champions are set to face off in an interstate matchup in August.

Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.), which captured South Carolina's 4A state title last season, and Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.), Virginia's Division 6 champion, will play according to Smith head coach Richard Morgan.

The game will take place on Aug. 25, with Byrnes traveling to Virginia.

Both squads return a host of talent from a year ago and should figure prominently in preseason national rankings. Byrnes is no stranger to huge interstate showdowns, having taken on the likes Glades Central, Moeller, Aquinas and Hoover.

Oscar Smith has also jumped into the out-of-state fray in recent years, having taken on Venice, Pickerington Central and Gilman.

Quarterback Shuler Bentley and receivers Tavin Richardson and Akia Booker will lead an explosive Byrnes offense, while Oscar Smith will be led by receiver Zach Jones and super sophomore Deshawn McClease.

ESPN FAB 50 Offseason Primer Archive

This week’s team: Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)

2011 Season: 13-2, Class 4A, Division I state champion, No. 30 in final POWERADE FAB 50.

Projected 2012 Preseason Ranking: Top 25. In South Carolina, the road to a large-class state championship runs through the town of Duncan. The Rebels, who have won 11 titles, will be seeking a third straight crown and ninth in the last 11 years. Entering last season, the concern was the quarterback spot for the pass-minded, high-octane offense. But sophomore Shuler Bentley, son of former Byrnes coach and current district athletic director/Byrnes offensive coordinator Bobby Bentley, took charge and that spot looks secure the next two seasons. Byrnes avenged its regular-season loss versus Gaffney with a 31-24 win in the state final. Twelve starters from that squad were underclassmen.

Team Strengths: Six starters on each side of the ball return to the lineup for Byrnes. The offense is anchored by the all-star passing combination of Bentley to junior wide receiver Akia Booker. In his first varsity season, Bentley passed for 3,495 yards and 47 touchdowns with only seven interceptions, Booker, who’s also a dangerous kick returner, caught 80 passes for 1,284 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. The offensive line will return three starters in junior Nathan Taylor and sophomores Ben Clark and Sydney Martin. The secondary is the strength of the defense with four starters expected back in juniors D.J. Henderson, Keke Ashmore, Brandon Bailey and Shane Samuels. Juniors Alex Garrett and Melvin Armstrong anchor the linebacking corps.

[DavidO]

Love this game. Both teams should be very good this year.

[steeler 01]

I'll be looking forward to this game

[Jmb33]

Byrnes vs. Oscar Smith and Miami Central vs. Grayson GA are the 2 OOS matchups I am looking most forward to this coming year....would have loved to see STA vs DBP a year or 2 earlier, as both teams have plenty of ?? this season - but still glad they are finally getting together.

[Rebel82jeff]

This will be great game, Oscar Smith returns 14 starters 7 on the O and 7 on D, plus their punter, kicker and long snapper. They have 2 tailbacks that combined for 1000 yards rushing.

[Rebel82jeff]

HENRICO, VA (WWBT) - One of the best high school football programs in Central Virginia in recent years has been the Hermitage Panthers. Now people from across the country are going to be able to see them play.
Panthers head Coach Patrick Kane announce on Wednesday that Hermitage will play a national televised game on Saturday August 25th at 4pm against Fork Union Military Academy. The game will be played at Oscar C. Smith High School, as part of a double-header, with Smith playing afterwards against Byrnes High School (SC). Both games will be broadcast on one of the ESPN networks.
The Panthers reached the state finals two years ago, and the state semifinals this past season. They have one of the top players in the state this upcoming season, running back Derrick Green.
Hermitage Panthers Va. Classification: Division AAA
2011 record: 12-1
Record last five years: 54-9

Fork Union Military Academy Blue Devils, Va. Classification Division VISFA 1 Private