Despite losing twenty-four seniors last season, the expectations for Chesnee football team are still the same in 2021 as they look to improve on a solid performance from last year that saw them fall just short of Abbeville in the second round of the 2A playoffs. Entering the 2021 season the Eagles will also be entering their third season under head coach Clay Lewis. While the Eagles lost a large group of seniors last season they will be looking to a group of seven new seniors to help lead the young Eagles program on the field this year. "Experience is very important and we're going to rely on our group of seniors, who are a talented group," said Chesnee head coach Clay Lewis. "Outside this group we have a lot of young kids so we're going to be relying a lot on these guys to step up and be extra coaches on the field to keep us rolling." One of the seniors that the Eagles lost last season was quarterback Nyquille O'Fair and Chesnee will now enter their third year with a new quarterback leading the team, as Jalen Rudisil and Landon Thompson currently lead the battle to replace O'Fair. Lewis says that he would be comfortable with either quarterback leading the team when they take the field to start the season. "Jalen was a junior varsity quarterback last and is a little ahead right now," said Lewis. "Landon has really impressed me this summer as he was the junior varsity quarterback his sophomore year and Jalen has really developed between his freshman and sophomore years. I feel comfortable with both of them as our quarterback and that is going to be a pretty good competition." Lewis says the Eagles will still be a run based option team this season and that he can adapt his style to what fits whoever his new quarterback is the best. Lewis also added that with this year's team he likes the speed they possess which will allow them to attack the edges more this season. "My philosophy is that we're going to be some kind of option based team but you have to adapt that to your personnel," said Lewis. "With different personnel our offense could look a little different but I think this year we have a little more speed on the edges. Don't be surprised if you see us in other formations this season doing a few new things." In the Eagles regular formation they normally feature three running backs on each play and will only be returning on starter from last year's team, Bryson Thompson. Lewis believes that the 2021 season could be a standout season for Thompson. "This will be Bryson's third year at the varsity level and his third year in the offense so he has the terminology and knowledge needed for that position," said Lewis. "He is a smart kid and a fast kid who I think is going to have a standout year." Thompson will be joined in the backfield at the running back position by a mixture of players from a group that consists of Dylan Bennett, Adonis Burgess, Noah Lawter, Austin Bigford, June Jeffries, Dylan Jolley, Nick Hofer, and Jayden Gossett. On the offensive line the Eagles will have to replace four starters with Caleb Rentz being the only returning starter from last year. Luke Pearson, Ezequiel Lazarin-Chavez, Cade Fisher, Jackson Ramsey, Tyler Wood, and Ryan Burnett will all look to claim their spot along with Rentz along the offensive line. At the wide receiver position the Eagles will return KJ Valentine, who also plays safety for the Eagles, and a group of new faces at the position. "KJ is always a threat on the outside and Davion Stradford is returning with some varsity experience," said Lewis. "KJ will be the major threat for us but I'm expecting Davion and Davis Rising will have a good season for us." On the defensive side of the ball the Eagles will be looking at some new faces on the defensive line as they moved former linebacker Nick Hofer to defensive end. Lewis says that he's feeling good about the group he has along the defensive line. "We have taken Nick Hofer, who was a linebacker, and converted him to defensive end as he is a good sized kid that is strong and athletic," said Lewis. "Ezequiel Lazarin-Chavez is another good athlete who is also in the mix at defensive tackle. Luke Pearson is another one we are expecting a big year from along with Caleb Rentz. Tyler Wood and E'torian Valentine are two young guys who are really starting to develop." The linebacker group is one that the Eagles expect will be really good this season with a group consisting of Jayden Gossett, Austin Bigford, Dylan Holley, Noah Lawter and June Jeffries. "We will have Jaylen Gossett at linebacker as he has picked it up well along with being a big and athletic kid," said Lewis. "Austin Bigford will help at outside linebacker and Dylan Holley will help us in the middle." In the secondary the Eagles will be returning Davion Stradford at cornerback and KJ Valentine at safety. This season the Eagles will be looking to add an extra spark at safety as they moved hard hitting linebacker Dylan Bennett to strong safety this season. "We had Dylan at Sam linebacker last year and we're going to move him back home to safety even though in certain situations he'll still line up at linebacker," said Lewis. "This year we are looking for more consistency and leadership for us back there and I think he is going to show a lot of improvement for us this season. It's also going to allow KJ to use his length and athleticism more on the back end at free safety." Stratford will be joined at the cornerback position by a group that includes Bryson Thompson, Adonis Burgess, and Noah Lawter. While Valentine and Bennett will see a lot of time at safety they will also be joined back there by a group that includes Noah Lawter, June Jeffries, Davis Rising, and Trace Burger. Lewis says that despite his team being young this year he still believes the Eagles will be right in the hunt for the region championship. "I think we can compete for a region championship for sure this year," said Lewis. "We've got a brutal non-region schedule which is going to be tough on us but it's going to make us better. The way I've always looked at it as a coach is that non-region schedule is just there to prepare you for the region schedule as you want to build your team to where they're playing their best ball when you get to region play." With a young team Lewis implemented something new this offseason that he hopes will pay dividends this season and in the future as they held a leadership conference this offseason for eighteen different players from four different grade levels. "We did a one-day leadership workshop and the purpose behind it is to pick out some kids that have been leaders in the offseason and just in general," said Lewis. "We wanted them to realize we have leaders, which can be either positive or negative leadership. We expect the kids to be leaders so we wanted to give them tools to be positive leaders. I thought the kids done an outstanding job with it and it is something we will keep working on throughout the season." One noticeable change that Eagles fans will see this season is the new construction and brand new field turf that the team will be playing on this season. The upgrades are part of a $5 million upgrade of the Chesnee athletic fields that include a new field turf, upgrades to the stadium and pressbox, along with a new track, tennis courts, and upgrades to the baseball and softball fields. While the upgrades are a welcome sight for the community the logistics of summer football workouts have been challenging but it's something the team feels it was prepared for during last season when dealing with the numerous Covid protocols. "We've had a lot of construction around our facility that brings with it it's own challenges," said Lewis. "We all learned a lot from Covid and being able to adapt to the situation is one that we've used a lot this offseason. As coaches we've learned that you have to be flexible and sometimes things have to be changed at the last moment, which we've dealt with this offseason, but we learned how to deal with that a lot last offseason with Covid." Lewis said that even with the logistical problems its caused he still loves being able to walk out and see the new facilities that are being built. "When it all gets completed it's going to be a very nice facility," said Lewis. "We've been practicing on the new turf for the last few weeks and it's nice walking out there on this brand new field from the fieldhouse." Another difference that will be more pronounced this season is the move back to larger crowds this season which is something the Chesnee players are looking forward to this year. "It's going to be amazing to be able to play in front of all my friends and family again," said senior offensive lineman Caleb Rentz. "I love the environment at Chesnee because it's like the whole town comes out to every home game and it's a really great environment to play in." It will take a few weeks for the Eagles to introduce the public to their new facilities as their first home game won't be until September 3rd against Fairfield Central as Chesnee will kick off the season on the road for the first two weeks starting at Woodruff on August 20th and then at Broome on August 27th. Senior Player Spotlight - Jayden GossettThe 2020 Football season brought lots of change on and off the field for every lone involved. The 2021 season is bringing more changes for Chesnee Senior Jayden Gossett as he transitions from defensive tackle to middle linebacker and B-back on the offensive side of the ball. Gossett will be one of those tasked will filling the 1,000 yard rushing hole left by Camden Burns. "I'm gonna focus on what I can and give 100% effort in what I do," said Gossett about filling the void left behind by Burns. "I'll have Nick Hofer also helping me out in the backfield as well." After having a strong season in 2020, where the Eagles went 7-2 and won the Region II-AA championship, Gossett is hoping to build off of that momentum and have a strong 2021 season. "One of our goals is to win a lot of games this season," said Gossett. "Our team has worked as hard as we possibly can this offseason to hopefully have a deep playoff run." Gossett said one thing the Eagles have worked hard on this offseason is building chemistry after losing twenty-four seniors off of last year's team. "We have been working hard this offseason on building chemistry," said Gossett. "Chemistry will help us out in games and I think we have good chemistry." When asked who was someone to watch for this season that didn't get much playing time last year Gossett mentioned Austin Bigford and Adonis Burgess. "They are both hard workers and both will have good seasons for us," said Gossett. This is also Gossett's third season under head coach Clay Lewis and fourth year under defensive coordinator James Davis. "Both are great coaches and when they came in the mentality of Chesnee football changed," said Gossett. "We have been getting better and better since they came in." One positive Gossett took away from the 2020 season was the support his team got from the Chesnee community. "It makes us feel good about ourselves and like we are doing something right," said Gossett. "Even when things go wrong they still support us and we love and appreciate that." When asked what his three goals for the team this season Gossett said, "to win a ring, improve on what we did last season, and finish with no regrets." Eagles At The College LevelAs we enter the 2021 season the current Eagles aren't the only people preparing for the upcoming season as there are numerous former Eagles preparing for college seasons as both players and coaches.
Malik Busby is entering his third season at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC as he redshirted during the spring 2021 season but has high expectations under new coach Kevin Kelley. Jacob Kimbrell is entering his second season at Wofford where he redshirted during the 2021 spring season. Kimbrell was named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll for the spring season. Cole Hoskyns and Brayden Sprinkle are entering their first season at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC. Perhaps the biggest change for any Chesnee alumni at the collegiate level was made by Chris Foster who moved from Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Georgia to East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. Foster takes over the position of running backs coach at ECU, Foster is entering his 18th season coaching at the collegiate level. Bryant Foster is entering his 3rd season as the defensive backs coach at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC. After a stellar 2020 campaign the Chanticleers enter the season with high expectations and a top 25 ranking. Unlike in past seasons the brothers will not get to matchup on the gridiron as in years past when Georgia Southern would face Coastal Carolina. Comments are closed.
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