Hunter’s fire spurs Rock Hill Bearcats defense

Rock Hill senior Khari Hunter may earn a few flags this fall for post-play altercations, but Bearcats football coaches would love to be able to clone the 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior, and not just for his physical attributes.

Hunter’s post-play flags are a natural, unintended side effect of his aggressive play: dripping verve and passion, like it might be his last snap of the football ever. It’s the kind of attitude that could elevate Rock Hill from a 4-7 team last year to a 7-4 team this year.

“Khari, man, he brings energy to that defense,” said Rock Hill coach Bubba Pittman. “He’s excited, flies around. Those guys, especially on the defensive side of the ball, they feed off of that. Definitely would love to have all 11 of them playing that way.”

Hunter only began playing last year but quickly became one of the leaders – especially emotionally – of the Bearcats’ defense. Pittman found out Hunter was enrolling after moving into the area, and “got him on the field quick as we could.” Donavon Perryman, who’s started at linebacker for Rock Hill the last three years, appreciates the fire that sparks from Hunter’s helmet in practice and games.

“Khari, off the field, is the hardest worker you’ll ever see,” said Perryman. “He’s one of those people who after practice is still trying to work hard. He’s the last man off the field, and he really wants it for this team. A lot of people need to feed off of him. If there’s somebody that needs to lead, it needs to be him, and people need to follow him.”

Hunter and Perryman, along with junior Kendrick Hicks – who Pittman said is “gonna be special down the road” – make up a formidable linebacker group that will lead the Rock Hill defense.

The Bearcats also lean on experienced and wily defensive coordinator Mike Biddix, somebody who has been invaluable to Pittman, a second-year head coach. Biddix may not get around as well as he used to because of his knees, but his earnest love of the players and the game are contagious.

“He’s a hard coach, but that’s what we need now a days,” said Perryman. “Like he tells us, he can’t go out there and play for us. And that’s the intensity that we need from our coach.”

After Thursday night’s scrimmage against Hough (N.C.), Biddix delivered a passionate addendum to Pittman’s post-scrimmage talk. The gist of messages from Biddix and Pittman was high school football is a gift. Hunter understands.

“That literally will dictate our season and how we will win and how the game will go,” said Hunter. “We really need to work on attributes like that.”

Hunter flies around every play and he’s as hard on himself as he is relentless on the opponent. More than once he was pulled out of 7-on-7 scrimmages this summer for mixing it up with the receiver he was defending even after the play was done. It happened again Thursday night, except the flag went against the opponent. That’s something that Rock Hill coaches can live with; they’d love to see it from a few more guys honestly.

“Seniors come to that realization that it’s coming to an end so they definitely step it up,” Pittman said. “We’ve got to get that infused in the whole team.”

Rock Hill’s defensive unit lost talented contributors to graduation and transfer, but nine starters are back in the garnet and black; a solid defensive line is led by Stephen Chesney and a tough little defensive tackle called ‘Sally,’ Alan Salgado. Defensive end Antwain Johnson will also be a factor when/if he’s able to return from a shoulder injury, while starters Nick Truesdale and Myles Pearson (safeties) and Delik King (cornerback) patrol the secondary.

“We’re expecting big things out of them for sure,” said Pittman. “How good we’re gonna be? I think a lot of that depends on how much passion they play with, how fast they can get to the ball, those kinds of things.”

Rock Hill, which missed the playoffs last season, with a 1-5 region record, held three of its six Region 3-4A opponents to 21 points or less. All three of those games resulted in defeat. The Bearcats defenders can’t worry about their offensive counterparts, though, just support them as much as possible. All they can do is force the opposition’s offense off the field.

But they do remember how close they were to a healthy winning record. And far from worrying about the guys that graduated, Hunter and Perryman feel confident their 2015 defense can be better.

“I don’t think we’re missing anything,” said Hunter. “I think we actually progressed a little bit. The main thing I want to establish with this senior class is to make a better tradition, put more heart inside this program, and a want-to-do-it attitude and desire.”

They’ll need those qualities every Friday night this fall, but especially in the opener at home against Blythewood. Rock Hill embarrassed the Bengals 40-6 on their home field in last year’s opener, and they know Dan Morgan’s team is hunting revenge.

“When we went to Westwood they came to our scrimmage to check us out, so, yeah, you could tell they’re pretty aware and they’re ready for us,” said Perryman. “We’re gonna be prepared. Next week, we’re there.”

This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Hunter’s fire spurs Rock Hill Bearcats defense."