High school football preview: Fort Mill Yellow Jackets

Basics

Coach: Ed Susi, ninth year

Career record: 69-85

Last year: 9-3, 5-1 in Region 3-4A; lost to Dorman 48-17 in first round of Big 16 playoffs

Assistant coaches: Bill Geiler, defensive coordinator/defensive ends; Chuck Tauchman, linebackers; Jeff Jarosz, defensive backs; Matt Dow, defensive line; Frank Ambrose, offensive line; Mario Carter, wide receivers; Eddie Therrell, quarterbacks; Jeremy Johnson, running backs/slot receivers.

Returning starters: 5 offense, 3 defense

Twitter account: @FortMillJackets

Key players: Sr. OL Austin Randolph, Sr. QB Rogan Wells, Jr. ATH Ronnie Hughes, Sr. RB/LB Brett Ferguson, Jr. WR Hunter Helms, Jr. LB/FB Noah Wetzel, Sr. DL Levardis Pearson, Sr. OL Matt Neill, Sr. OL Gray Hinson, Sr. DE Jack Debbout, Sr. DE Tyler Pocisk, Jr. WR/DB Ryan Deluca, Jr. slot WR Gus Jarosz.

Fort Mill will be hard pressed to repeat last season’s nine-win campaign, but that doesn’t mean it’s not playoff a contender. The Yellow Jackets were hit hard by graduation in the skill positions, but they return one of the best quarterbacks in the area in 6-foot-3 senior Rogan Wells. In front of Wells: three veteran offensive line starters, Austin Randolph, Matt Neill and Gray Hinson. Expect to see Wells taking even more control of an offense that relies heavily on the quarterback’s reads.

“I expect, really, a big year from him,” said Fort Mill coach Ed Susi. “We added a couple of things that can help him and challenge him a bit. He makes such good decisions that we’re trying to put him in situations to utilize his talents. Hopefully some of our homework over the offseason makes him better, and makes our offense better.

“Let’s face it, we’re gonna go as he goes.”

On the defensive side of the rock, the Yellow Jackets have to replace eight starters. Veteran defensive coordinator Bill Geiler, who coached Independence’s defense during the Charlotte school’s run of seven straight state titles during the first decade of the 2000s, is trying to identify guys that can fill in for the departed starters. The defensive line – with Levardis Pearson, Gray Hinson, Jack Debbout and Tyler Pocisk – should be solid, big and strong, and a starting point for defensive solidity.

Susi’s guys are excited for the season and the opportunity to prove that 2014 – the school’s best season in 16 years – wasn’t a one-off.

“If we stay healthy, I think we have a chance to compete with everybody,” he said. “That’s what you want. As long as you have a chance in the fourth quarter, well, we’ll see what happens.”

Schedule

Aug. 20 vs. White Knoll (Thursday, at River Bluff)

Aug. 28 at Lugoff-Elgin

Sept. 4 Greenville

Sept. 11 at River Bluff

Sept. 18 West Florence

Sept. 25 at Northwestern*

Oct. 2 Clover*

Oct. 9 Nation Ford*

Oct. 16 at Rock Hill*

Oct. 23 at York*

Oct. 30 Gaffney*

Nov. 6 Open

* Region 3-4A game

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 7:10 AM with the headline "High school football preview: Fort Mill Yellow Jackets."