Published Tuesday, August 26, 2008 9:06 AM
Updated Tuesday, August 26, 2008 9:58 AM

 

Stags look to Region 7-AAAA title

The first quarter between the lines will help shake loose those first-game jitters.

Returning just nine starters off last year’s Region 7AAAA champion team, the Berkeley Stags are faced with a bit of a rebuilding process this fall, even though the rising 21 lettermen should adequately fill any void carrying over from 2007.

The returning players make Berkeley the team to beat in the region, according to some opposing coaches.

The biggest void Coach Jerry Brown and staff needed to fill was that left by graduating senior Andre Ellington, who will lace them up this fall for Clemson.

Replacing Andre is only one of Berkeley’s issues this fall. The Stags are a young team, dressing out 18 seniors of which only six are returning starters.

Brown takes the good with the bad on an even keel. He’s been at this too long to get either too excited or too worried.

 “In some positions we are young,” he said. “But we’ve got some pretty good skill people. We’ll find out when we take the field.”

 On Aug. 29, the Stags tee it up for real with their season opener against Dutch Fork.

“We’ve had all summer to get ready and given the odd way the schedule is, we’ll jump right into it,” the coach said.

What Brown refers to in the 2008 schedule is the Sept. 12, match up at Stratford, a game that could very well set the tone of the conference race.

“We play Stratford on our third game of the year,” he said. “This game can play a big factor in the region race, and it’s so early on our schedule.”

As for big games this year, while Brown maintains that every Friday night brings a big game he singles out the usual fare as to what gets the guys going in the locker room: “The last week of October is of course when we play Goose Creek. Our final five games leading up to Goose Creek is our region schedule and of course there’s always Summerville.”

Some area sports pundits have already punched the Berkeley card saying the Stags are going to have to make some big adjustments to get through life A.E. – After Ellington,

Brown, who has been at this for a long time, and you only have to cut a glance at the team pictures of state champions he’s coached and the autographed photographs of former players who went on to loftier football heights following graduation dotting his wall to know that he’s dealt with losing a player of the caliber of Andre Ellington more than a few times over the years.

“Oh, we’ll be okay,” he said flashing that wry grin of one who has been at this too long to get too excited too quickly. “We have another Ellington coming up.”

This Ellington is Bruce Ellington, Andre’s cousin and a rising junior. Brown was quick to point out that this Ellington has all the potential and tools of his older cousin and will quickly capture the attention of college football coaches throughout the South.

“Bruce is all that he can be,” Brown said.

Ellington’s action as a sophomore was mostly in the wide receiver slot on offense. He snatched 23 catches for 372 yards and 6 touchdowns on offense and made 40 tackles out of the linebacker slot on defense.

“Bruce will capture somebody’s attention this fall,” Brown said.

Ellington isn’t the only potential star shining in the Stags’ skies, Trent Major will join Ellington in the Stags’ backfield, splitting time last year as a wide out and tailback, grabbing 23 passes for 280 yards with two TDs while rushing 77 times for 440 yards and four scores.

Top seniors returning are Michael Willis on the offensive line, and linebacker Bobby Gadsden, strong safety Derrick Woods and strong safety Korey Brown on the defensive side of the ball.

Gadsden notched 60 tackles in 2007. Woods followed with 42 tackles and six interceptions.

Besides Ellington, other rising juniors to keep an eye on include RJ Robinson at running back and safety. Top sophomores are Jarrel Shine and Jamichael Beckford who will line up on either side of Gadsden to anchor the Stags offensive line.

Stephen Sawyer, who played B Team ball as an eighth grader, will see significant minutes on the field as a freshman.

The Stags will run a Flex Bone, run-oriented offense and a 4-2 defense with four down linemen.

“Our offensive line is young,” Brown said, who returns just two starters and lost his two top blockers to graduation. “We have seven starters returning on defense.”