Boys and girls had the opportunity to learn some football fundamentals from Blackville-Hilda football players.
Blackville-Hilda’s new head football coach, Kevin Jones, and the Hawks football team started practice for the 2022 season this past week.
“We are excited about the possibilities that are ahead of us for the 2022 season. We had outstanding attendance for summer workouts and 7 on 7s,” said Coach Jones.
Blackville-Hilda's new helmet design for 2022.
He continued, “We do have some solid size and depth up front on defense. The middle of the DL is anchored by Keondre Davis. Our ends are senior Wilbur Johnson and junior Zyon Burnette. We have some promising sophomores with Isaiah Greggs, Timothy Beard and Jaylen Brown. We can also provide depth with senior Omarion Jenkins, junior Travis Johnson, and sophomore Andrew Brown. At LB we have junior Stevie Jones. He will be surrounded at linebacker by senior Ezekial Washington and sophomore Jabarious Johnson. Our starting CBs are Joseph Simmons and transfer Caden Stokes. At safety will have hard hitting senior Omarion Kinard and backed up there by speedster Tamari Daniels.”
As far as the offense goes, Coach Jones said, “It all starts up front with a big and experienced line. Many of the same guys you see listed for DL will carry the load on offense as well.”
Keondre Davis and Zyon Burnette at the tackle positions, Stevie Jones and Omarion Jenkins playing guards, and Travis Johnson at center, look to lead the offensive line. Jones said that “Isaiah Greggs, Timothy Beard, Andrew Brown, and Jaylen Brown will get plenty of reps as well. Our QB is sophomore Samari Williams. He is a talented kid that can run it but also throw it all over the field. His biggest positive is his football IQ. Wilbur Johnson will get a bulk of the carries and he brings size and ability. Ezekial Washington and Jabarious Johnson will also get carries in the backfield. Our outside WRs are senior Omarion Simmons and on the opposite side we will have junior Jamari Preister. Our inside WRs/wings include seniors Omarion Kinard and Joseph Simmons. Along with our speedster junior Tamari Daniels. They can line up in traditional WR formations or as wings and cause problems for opposing defenses.”
Boys and girls had the opportunity to learn some football fundamentals from Blackville-Hilda football players.
The Hawks will be adding extra point and field goal kicking.
“We have been very impressed with senior Wilbur Johnson. He has routinely made kicks in practice from 40 yards and with plenty of room to spare. Last year if we got deep into opposing teams territory and it got to fourth down we had to go for it because we didn’t have a kicker. We hope this change allows us to pick up points where in years past it may have been just a turnover on downs,” said Jones.
Coach Jones did go on to say that the team was dealt “one major blow” when one of their top playmakers, KJ Sabb, went down with an injury the last day of summer workouts, leading him to be out for the season. “Like I told the kids, we are going to miss KJ and we hurt for him since he is out this season, but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves because nobody else will. We have to work that much harder to reach our goals and I believe in these kids,” Jones said.
“We have a very tough schedule as we open up in week one against preseason #1 in AA, Barnwell, then travel down to play an improving Allendale-Fairfax before coming home in week three to take on pre-season #2 in A, Bamberg. Our region will once again be very good with Calhoun County, Denmark-Olar, Wagener-Salley, and Ridge Spring-Monetta all looking to be very good again. Williston-Elko is a big rival and I have no doubt we will see that program turned around under Coach Lipsey who knows how to build programs and win games,” said Coach Jones.
The goal for 2022 is to get back to playing “tough, hard-nosed Blackville-Hilda football with attention to detail.” That’s why they have worked hard on discipline and composure in the off season to help reduce penalties and silly mistakes in games.
“I think the community is going to be proud of what they see on the field this year in Blackville,” Coach Jones said.
2022 Blackville-Hilda High School Football Schedule
