Just as it did a year ago, Laurens will try to survive a gauntlet of a non-region schedule before taking a realistic shot at a Region 2-4A championship.
The Raiders, who finished 4-7 overall and 3-1 in Region 2-4A for a share of the region title, will attempt to rebuild its offense with a new offensive coordinator and only two returning starters on that side of the ball.
Former Dorman assistant Tyler Kirby takes over as offensive coordinator for the retired Lee Taylor.
Senior Nick Fowler returns at quarterback after starting the final seven games of the season in 2022. Fowler took over for the injured James Rawl, an Anderson signee, and led the Raiders to a share of the region championship.
Fowler threw for 1,012 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed for 276 yards with three touchdowns and had 127 receiving yards and two touchdowns as a receiver prior to Rawl’s injury.
Offensive lineman Daniel Baker is the only other returning starter on offense.
“We have a lot of guys who played on JV and some guys who were on the (varsity) team, but don’t have a lot of experience,” said Laurens head coach Daryl Smith.
The past two years, the Raiders’ spread offense featured a talented receiving corps that included Jayden McGowan (Vanderbilt), Cayson Elledge (Davidson) and Jay Pulley (Newberry).
This year, that group will have to prove itself in Kirby’s offense.
“We’re going to be a little more in two-back sets than we were last year,” Smith said. “The last couple of years, we’ve run a lot of four-wide receiver stuff, so I think that’s going to be a little bit of a change.”
As the offense attempts to find its way, the Raiders’ defense returns eight players, including defensive back Travija Austin and linebackers Noah Mosley, Malik Jackson, who are among 11 seniors on the Laurens roster.
Smith said linebacker is the team’s most experienced and proven position group.
“In our 3-4, I feel like they’re pretty strong,” Smith said.
Looking ahead
The Raiders once again will play a tough non-region schedule, opening with home games against Class 5A Hillcrest and intra-county rival Clinton. Their non-region slate also includes contests against Class 5A T.L. Hanna as well as Chapman and Belton-Honea Path, both playoff teams a year ago in Class 3A.
But Laurens has won at least a share of region titles for the past two seasons, going 2-0 during a Covid-interrupted 2021 and 3-1 last season to finish in a three-way tie with Greer and Riverside atop the Region 2-4A.
Smith said he expects Greer and Riverside to once again challenge for the Region 2-4A crown.
“They’re going to be challenging just like they were last year, but I like to think we’re in that mix,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Laurens County Advertiser