Hartsville looks to rebound as Red Foxes replace 17 starters

The Hartsville High School Football Team. Photos by Drake Horton

By Drake Horton
Contributing Writer

Since 2011, the Hartsville Red Foxes have become a name synonymous with talk of going to the state championship.

Last year was no different and everything looked like it was going to take place until region rival Myrtle Beach pulled the upset over Hartsville, giving the Red Foxes their first home loss since 201l.

It was a loss no one was expecting, especially since the Red Foxes had dominated Myrtle Beach three weeks earlier at home, defeating the Seahawks 70-34 to clinch the region title. Plus add the fact that South Pointe, a thorn in Hartsville’s side, had been knocked out already in the upper state; it looked like everything was clear sailing for the Red Foxes to win their second state championship under head coach Jeff Calabrese.

That, however, turned out to not be the case. Instead, Myrtle Beach came back to Hartsville with a totally different game plan and handed the Red Foxes a 52-31 defeat.

Fast forward eight months and a lot has happened since then. The Red Foxes have had spring practice, two starters on defense transferred, summer workouts have been completed along with offseason camps and that is not to mention the fact that during this time Calabrese and company are still trying to figure out how to replace eight starters on offense and nine starters on defense.

“It is a process,” Calabrese said. “No one is going to feel sorry for us.”

On the offense line, Hartsville only has one starter returning in Eric Brown, but Calabrese believes players like Chapman Parker, Andrew Blakney, Will Galloway, Chapin Rhodes, Adan Jimenez-Rodriguez and Matt Stroud along with many more can help solidify the line, but he knows there are going to be learning pains because of the inexperience.

“We got some kids, but it’s their first appearance,” Calabrese said.

Another big loss for Hartsville comes at the quarterback position as Tiyon Evans has graduated and moved on to college. Evans, who is naturally a tailback, played quarterback for Hartsville last season and revolutionized the position with his athleticism and playmaking ability.

On every play there was a chance Evans could take it to the house for a touchdown and that is almost impossible to replace, but quarterbacks Roddi Morris and Owen Taylor have their own set of skills and Calabrese likes what he has seen from the two signal callers so far.

“They have strengths, they have very good talents,” Calabrese said. “These two cats are really good athletes.”

But how do you make an offense that was so explosive last season even be remotely close this season with so much attrition not only at the skilled positions, but in the trenches as well? According to Calabrese it’s all about putting them in the right situation to be successful.

“Number one is you have to have a decent plan to be successful. Number two is to get them enough practice to perfect their craft.”

Offensively, the Red Foxes have always been a heavy run oriented team and that was no different last year, and when you have the horses that Hartsville has had over the years it is smart to play to your strengths.

That, however, does not mean that Hartsville cannot change its philosophy. With new personnel, especially at the quarterback position, there might have to be some tweaking from what the Red Foxes did last season and Calabrese is completely fine with that as long as the offense is going forward and not backwards.

“I’m on the standpoint of moving the football,” Calabrese said. “I am not married to anything except my wife.”

This year, however, it might be the defense that will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the Red Foxes. While being stout last year, this year’s defense has the making of being just as strong despite the departures of Demonte Capehart and Zay Peterson, who Calabrese wishes all the best. “We love them and wish them well,” Calabrese said.

Returning to help man this dynamic defense are two Division 1 prospects in their own right, Kevon Haigler and Justin Abraham.

“Kevon Haigler and Justin Abraham are outstanding leaders of our football team and are working their tails off to make sure we have a good defense,” Calabrese said.

The fact that these two young men, who both are going to be playing college football next year somewhere — Abraham is currently committed to Georgia State and Haigler is getting a strong look from Tennessee — are leading this team has Calabrese ecstatic.

“Right now our team is player-led and that is great,” Calabrese said.

But while all of this sounds good on paper, Calabrese is very practical in his thinking and he is not taking anything for granted. He knows that with the learning curve that this team faces there is a chance that the record could be worse to start out, but in high school football the starts are nowhere near as important as the finishes when it comes to the regular season. In the regular season it is all about the region and that is where he wants his team to be playing their best.

“The goal is not to be undefeated,” Calabrese said. “The goal is to be the best team when you start region.”

Author: Stephan Drew

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