Strom Thurmond wrapped up a 10-3 campaign in head coach Andrew Webb’s second year at the helm of the program with a tough loss to Gray Collegiate in the Class 2A Upper State semifinal game. Realignment means we won’t get a rematch of that game (thankfully) and the Rebels remain in Class 2A where they will have legitimate shot at a state championship in spite of having to retool nearly everything on both sides of the ball.
The Rebels will be without more than 120 receptions and almost 2,000 yards of receiving with loss of receivers Braylon Staley (Tennessee) and Demarius Tolen (North Carolina Central). The offense also lost signal caller Quan Edmonds (166-of-258, 2,472 yards, 27 TDs) and running back Mike Blocker (38 carries, 256 yards, 6 TDs). The vaunted Blue Steel Defense lost playmakers everywhere in safety Tre Clarke (Johnson C. Smith), linebacker JuJu Stevens (Johnson C. Smith), and Darius Simpkins along with Blocker. As if that wasn’t enough, they also lost their weapon at kicker in Nate Nordeen who will be kicking at Anderson University this fall.
That leaves the Rebels with a lot of youth in key positions, but Webb said he is not overly concerned with his defense.
“You talk about losing a lot, we lost a lot on defense,” Webb said. “For the past two seasons, we’ve been pretty good on defense and those set guys set a standard for the way defense is played at Strom Thurmond High School. There will be some bumps and bruises along the way, but our defense will be fine.”
Bri’Shaun Lee will step in for Edmonds under center. The rising junior had one start last season against Lucy C. Laney (Ga.) and all he did was go 16-of-20 for 151 yards and three touchdowns. While he will miss Staley and Tolen, Lee will have a solid returning target in Jay Sewell who caught everything thrown his way in 2023. Often overshadowed by his teammates, Sewell hauled in 46 passes for 525 yards and six scores last season and will be joined by Kaleb Simpkins and Cam Blacks (65 carries, 324 yards, 5 TDs in 2023) in leading the offensive attack for the Rebels.
The offense will have a bit of a new look to go along with the new faces. Expect to see receivers lined up with a bit of a different look and the ball getting in the hands of playmakers in a variety of different ways.
“It’s the same thing we’ve been running for a couple of years we’re just presenting it differently,” Webb said of the schematic changes on offense. “We just want to get the ball into the hands of our playmakers with plenty of space.”
Schedule Prediction: The Rebels won’t have an easy ride in 2024, but they are definitely one of the teams to beat in the newly realigned Class 2A. Tough nonregion matchups against 2A Silver Bluff and 4A foes North Augusta and Emerald will help prepare them for a region slate that includes an much improved Batesburg-Leesville squad along with Lakelands foes Saluda and Ninety Six. An early loss to Silver Bluff propels Strom Thurmond to a 9-1 regular season record and a showdown with either Clinton, Saluda, or Chester for the Upper State title.
| DATE | |
| 8/16 | BYE |
| 8/23 | @ McCormick |
| 8/30 | @ Silver Bluff |
| 9/6 | BYE |
| 9/13 | North Augusta |
| 9/20 | Emerald |
| 9/27 | Lincoln County |
| 10/4 | Batesburg-Leesville |
| 10/11 | American Leadership |
| 10/18 | @ Pelion |
| 10/25 | @ Saluda |
| 11/1 | Ninety Six |