CHERAW
Braves
Coach: Johnny White (9th season; 83-26 overall, eight seasons)
2008 projected finish
Overall: 9-1
Region 8-2A: 5-0
Schedule
Date Opponent (2007) Pick
Aug. 22 at Lamar (10-3) W
Aug. 29 vs. Marlboro County (9-3) L
Sept. 12 at Chesterfield (11-3) W
Sept. 19 vs. Central (9-3) W
Sept. 26 at Providence Day, N.C. (6-4) W
Oct. 3 at Mullins (3-7) W
Oct. 10 vs. Loris (2-8) W
Oct. 17 vs. Aynor (2-8) W
Oct. 24 at Marion (6-6) W
Oct. 31 vs. Dillon (10-2) W
2007 results
(13-2 overall, 4-0 Region 8-2A)
at Marlboro County L, 26-10
vs. Darlington W, 44-7
vs. Chesterfield L, 27-21
vs. Marion W, 49-14
at Lamar W, 13-12
vs. Buford W, 48-0
at Lee Central W, 37-8
at Waccamaw W, 63-34
vs. Central W, 17-0
at Andrew Jackson W, 55-0
Playoffs
vs. Kingstree W, 41-0
vs. Edisto W, 41-3
vs. Dillon W, 24-6
vs. Central W, 21-0
vs. Chapman W, 58-14
Top returners
HB Travis Small; HB Montrell Evans; LB Kenyatta Gary; TE/DE Jonathan White; OL/DL Antonio McPherson; LB Sammy Merriman; OL Seth Parker
Key losses
WR/DB Jaron Brown; QB Josh Henderson; OL/DL Desmond Chambers
Projected starters
Offense
WR Gerald Ewing (So., 5-11/185)
LT Chad Covington (Sr., 6-2/240)
LG Antonio McPherson (Sr., 6-0/270)
C Seth Parker (Sr., 5-11/258)
RG Charles Thompson (Jr., 5-9/320)
RT Dylan Alford (Jr., 6-2/230)
TE Jonathan White (Jr., 6-2/225)
QB Gray Stafford (Sr., 6-1/170)
HB Montrell Evans (Sr., 5-10/200)
HB Travis Small (Sr., 5-10/185)
FB Kenyatta Gary (Sr., 5-10/190)
K Ben Hutson (Sr., 5-9/165)
KR Travis Small (Sr., 5-10/185)
Defense
LE Jonathan White (Jr., 6-2/225)
LT Javarus Jackson (Jr., 6-1/190)
RT Antonio McPherson (Sr., 6-0/270)
RE Ridge O’Neal (Sr., 6-2/195)
LB Sammy Merriman (So., 6-2/190)
LB Kenyatta Gary (Sr., 5-10/190)
LB Montrell Evans (Sr., 5-10/200)
FS Chad Wilkes (Jr., 6-0/170)
SS Ben Hutson (Sr., 5-9/165)
CB Travis Small (Sr., 5-10/185)
CB Jurell Riley (Sr., 6-1/165)
P Ben Hutson (Sr., 5-9/165)
PR Travis Small (Sr., 5-10/185)
Bottom line
The two-time defending Class 2A state champions and four-time defending lower state champions return seven starters on offense and six on defense from last year’s championship squad.
Travis Small and Montrell Evans give the Braves a potent one-two punch at running back, and as always, the ground game should be a big part of Cheraw’s success.
The Braves’ air attack will likely suffer with the losses of wideout Jaron Brown and quarterback Josh Henderson, but the running game should be able to make up for it.
On defense, Kenyatta Gary and Sammy Merriman anchor a stout run defense that helped Cheraw allow just 10 points a game last season.
If Cheraw can hammer down a few positions and have some guys step up, a fifth straight state title appearence is well within reach.
“On offense, a key will be developing a few offensive lineman, and on defense, it will be about having a couple kids step up and fill the big shoes left by Jaron Brown and Josh Henderson,” White said. “But our coaches and our players expect us to be a good team this season, and we’ll use these upcoming scrimmages to see where we’re at and address any weaknesses.
“Our goals are still the same — win the region and make a deep playoff run.”
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