It was no real surprise that Myrtle Beach cruised to a win in Thursday’s Fourth of July Shootout at Doug Shaw Stadium, but senior-laden Loris turned some heads in the event and Conway showed it was working to get back on top after a disappointing 2009 season.
A team-by-team look at area teams playing in the event:
MYRTLE BEACH SEAHAWKS
With a potent passing attack, host Myrtle Beach figured to be the odds-on favorite to win the event, and the slinging Seahawks lived up to the billing with a brilliant offensive effort and a surprisingly strong defense.
Myrtle Beach scored 30 or more points in every round-robin game, rolling up 173 points in wins over Aynor, Loris, St. James, Carolina Forest and Ashley as they and Spartanburg both finished the first round at 5-0.
But the Myrtle Beach defense was also strong, allowing just 36 points in those first five games, tying Spartanburg with the fewest points allowed.
“The main thing we are seeing is that the kids are playing hard. They are fully dedicated, giving their best,” Myrtle Beach defensive assistant coach Reggie Alston said. “We are still fighting to learn the defense, but as far as the heart and the determination, they are doing a great job.”
The Seahawks dropped Loris 27-12 in the semifinals, and senior quarterback Everett Golson was stellar in an 18-6 win over the Vikings in the final. The North Carolina-bound senior was 12-for 15 passing for 141 yards and three touchdowns, including a pinpoint strike from 20-yards out to Dallas Goodman in the right corner of the end zone for Myrtle Beach’s second score.
“We’ve got some experience in our offensive skill spots, so they’ve had a pretty good summer in the passing leagues,” Seahawks offensive coordinator Wes Streater said. “We are in the stage of fine-tuning everything and hopefully keeping everyone healthy. I think they are ready to get into August and start playing for real.”
The biggest question for Myrtle Beach’s offense will be replacing two three-year starters at tackle and tight end Steven Cobb.
The final was a rematch of the championship game of the Carolina Panthers passing league, which Myrtle Beach won in overtime.
LORIS LIONS
Loris finished a surprising third in the Fourth of July Shootout, picking up wins over Hoggard (N.C.), Aynor and Ashley (N.C.) before falling to Myrtle Beach in the semifinals and beating Conway 24-9 in the third-place game.
Fourth-year head coach Jimmy Longerbeam hopes it is a good indicator of things to come this season.
“We’ve got 24 seniors this season and 21 juniors. These kids that are seniors were the ones that were there when I started in March of ’07, so we’re really excited about this bunch because they’ve got a bunch of experience. The age factor is no longer an excuse,’’ Longerbeam said.
Loris also has some new – albeit familiar – faces on the coaching staff. Former Coastal Carolina offensive coordinator Jamie Snider is the offensive coordinator, former Socastee standout and CCU player Jon Greene is coaching receivers and ex-Socastee and Presbyterian star Terrance Butler is handling quarterbacks, including returning starter Kentrez Hilton.
“This is the year we have been waiting for. We’ve been waiting to get to the fourth year. We’re real excited. I was fortunate enough in the offseason to get some tremendous new coaches, and we’ve had the best summer since I’ve been here as far as attendance and kids working, so we are real excited about the upcoming season,” Longerbeam said.
CONWAY TIGERS
Conway limped to a 5-6 record in 2009, a severely substandard season for the typically powerful Tigers, but coach Chuck Jordan said this year’s team has grown physically and mentally since then, and the work could payoff this time around.
“I think that when you are used to being successful, when you are not it just doesn’t sit well with you. Not just the kids, but the coaches. Everybody from top to bottom. I think it has an impact on your intensity and preparation,” Jordan said.
Jordan said his team has had a good offseason in terms of weight room work and conditioning and solid efforts during summer passing leagues.
“I think we’ll be better. Our kids have paid a huge price in the offseason, and that usually equates to feeling like you’ve got a little more invested. So we’ll see how it goes,” Jordan said.
Conway’s only loss in round-robin play came to Spartanburg, and the Tigers defeated Carolina Forest, Manning, Hoggard and St. James to earn the third seed. They lost to Spartanburg 24-6 in the semifinals and then fell to Loris to finish in fourth place.
ST. JAMES SHARKS
St. James went 2-3 in round-robin play, beating Carolina Forest and Aynor and losing to Spartanburg, Myrtle Beach and Conway. The Sharks beat Ashley in the second round and topped Aynor 21-12 to finish in fifth place.
Billy Hurston’s team endured a brutal Spring Game that wiped out Sharks starting QB Chase Smith (knee) and RB/DB DeShawn Cox (leg).
Hurston said he expects Smith to be back later this month, but isn’t sure what to expect from Cox.
“Other than that, we’re doing good,” said Hurston, who added the he has a lot of players coming into the program this season, including a solid freshman class.
AYNOR BLUE JACKETS
The Shootout allowed Jody Jenerette’s Blue Jackets to get some extra work for his defensive backs and linebackers, but didn’t give him much of a chance to work on his new offensive scheme – the double wing.
“It’s kind of new for this area, but a lot of teams do it in the Upstate. Basically you put 11 men in the box and get three or four yards and be happy. Hope we don’t turn the ball over and just keep the clock ticking,’’ Jenerette said.
With a big, experienced offensive line and key contributors back in the skill positions, it could be a promising season in Aynor.
“Our offensive line is going to be pretty big, the biggest we’ve ever had. We’ll be able to line up at about 240 pounds across the board. We haven’t been able to do that in a while, so I’m kind of excited,” Jenerette said.
The Blue Jackets beat Ashley and lost to Myrtle Beach, Loris, St. James and Manning to finish sixth.
CAROLINA FOREST PANTHERS
Junior quarterback Robert Gray looked mostly sharp for Carolina Forest as the Panthers opened the shootout with close loses to Conway and St. James before beating Ashley, losing to Myrtle Beach and topping Hoggard. They lost to Aynor in the second round and rebounded to top Ashley again, 30-24, to finish in seventh.
“We’ve played so many young guys the past two seasons that we feel pretty good about where we are right now,” coach Drew Hummel said. “I think we are going to be O.K. offensively. I like our quarterback, I like our receiving corps being able to do things. I just think we’ve got to get better.”
Hummel said his team is young in the defensive secondary and those players need get some more experience.
The biggest question for the Panthers could be on the offensive and defensive lines, positions that don’t participate in the summer passing leagues.
“We’ve spent a lot of time in the weight room. We think we are bigger, stronger and faster. That’s going to be the tell-tale thing is you gotta control the line of scrimmage,” Hummel said.
By Ryan Elswick, For The Sun News
