2023 was a tough year for Ware Shoals. A new head coach, new scheme, limited bodies, and the private school powerhouse programs in the same region are not exactly ingredients for success. However, head coach Chris Dodson is confident that his team will be exciting to watch in 2024.
“We missed the playoffs last year and have been in the weight room ever since then,” said Dodson. “We competed at around seven different venues throughout the offseason just trying to get better. That’s all we’re concerned with is getting better day by day.”
The biggest loss for the Hornets from 2023 was running back Justice Lomax, who took his talents to NCAA Division 3 Methodist University to play football. Lomax racked up over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns en route to becoming a semi-finalist for the SK Media Corey Carter Most Outstanding Player Award. With Lomax gone, the running back duties will be placed on senior Jace Stewart and junior Elijah Brown, who Dodson insists will be just fine.
“Jace (Stewart) played some running back for us last year and I’m confident that he will settle in nicely,” Dodson said. “Elijah (Brown) mostly played linebacker last year for us, but he’s more than capable of taking the carries that we need him to.”
To go along with Stewart and Brown, Hornet hooper Altavis Evans will be joining the running back room, and he is not the only player the Hornets picked up from other sports. All-State shortstop Brayden Madden and Joseph Kletzke, who also plays basketball and baseball, will be playing under the lights at Tommy Davis Field for the very first time this year.
Perhaps the biggest factor for Ware Shoals’ success this season will be how junior quarterback Jayden Johnson settles in during his second year under center. Johnson began the season as the starter in 2023, but was sidelined with a shoulder injury halfway through the season. Johnson eventually returned to the starting role, but was no where near 100 percent.
Though 2023 did not end on the best note for Johnson, the junior has gotten noticeably taller, stronger, and the ball looks a lot prettier coming out of his hand. Another year of Jayce Medlin at wideout will also assist Johnson in having an improved season. According to Dodson, an improved season is exactly what to expect out of him.
“He’s a dog. A lot of people don’t know about him playing through that shoulder injury last year,” said Dodson. “He’s just a fantastic kid. He brings 110 percent every single day to practice and is a leader amongst his teammates. There’s not much more you can ask of him.”
Schedule Prediction:
Though the Hornets can now avoid the likes of Christ Church, St. Joseph’s, and Southside Christian, they have still loaded their nonregion schedule up with some quality teams. The Hornets’ first three games will be challenging, facing Blacksburg, Landrum, and Ninety Six, who all have provided some solid teams in recent past. This will only prepare them for the tail end of their nonregion against Towns County (Ga.) and Hickory Christian Academy (N.C.) as well as their region schedule. Overall, it will be an interesting year for Ware Shoals. However, if things go according to plan, the Hornets should have an improved season.
Final record: 5-5, fourth in Region 1-1A, loss in the first round of the playoffs.
| 8/23 – Week 0 | @ Blacksburg |
| 8/30 – Week 1 | Ninety Six |
| 9/6 – Week 2 | @ Landrum |
| 9/13 – Week 3 | Towns County (Ga.) |
| 9/20 – Week 4 | Hickory Christian (N.C.) |
| 9/27 – Week 5 | BYE |
| 10/4 – Week 6 | @ Whitmire |
| 10/11 – Week 7 | McCormick |
| 10/18 – Week 8 | @ Dixie |
| 10/25 – Week 9 | Calhoun Falls |
| 11/1 – Week 10 | @ Abbeville |