South Pointe secondary will challenge Rock Hill... actually, every team it faces

News writers are discouraged from starting stories with a question, but you have to wonder if South Pointe has the best defensive secondary in South Carolina high school football this year?

The Stallions are blessed with three no-doubt college football players, and a fourth - junior free safety Ken’darius Frederick - who probably also fits that description but is out with an injured knee for at least the non-region portion of the schedule. The three healthy contributors - seniors Chris Smith and Nick McCloud, and sophomore Derion Kendrick - are difference-makers on both sides of the ball. Those three will be front and center Friday night when South Pointe hosts Rock Hill in the two teams’ 10th rivalry contest, a year removed from an exciting 28-20 game at District Three Stadium, won by the Stallions.

“They’re right down the road so it’s always good to play a rivalry game against them,” said Smith, who committed to South Carolina over the summer.

Maybe other schools can make a claim to having a better group of defensive backs, but not many can boast three players with Division I power conference scholarship offers. It’s a tough question due to general lack of information, but when asked where he would place his defensive back group statewide, Smith said, “top five.” He thought about it for a second. “Top three.”

“It’s fun coaching guys like that,” said South Pointe coach Strait Herron, who called the group definitely one of the best the Stallions have had. “Those two, Chris and Nick, are two of the hardest working kids you’re gonna find.”

The South Pointe defensive backs are a challenge for every team they face, especially Rock Hill. The Bearcats love the screen game, short passes that get their athletes into space where the game becomes a one-on-one battle.

“There’s no doubt we’ve got our work cut out for us against South Pointe and those guys. They’re very special, the four DBs they’ve got back there,” Rock Hill coach Bubba Pittman said. “They can run, they’re physical, they’re strong kids. Definitely, it’s gonna be a tough task.”

One Bearcat that could have success in those mano-y-mano scraps is senior athlete Thailand Adams, who caught a pair of touchdown passes last week against Blythewood. Adams, a 6-foot-2, 180-pounder that has an offer from Tusculum and interest from Western Carolina, Winston-Salem State and Coastal Carolina, made just 12 catches last season for the Bearcats but already appears has a bigger role this fall.

“He made things happen with it when he caught the ball,” said Pittman. “We’ve been trying to tell him for a couple of years that he’s got that ability if he’ll just bring it out. I think it was a little bit of a coming out for him. Hopefully there’s bigger and better things than what he did Friday night.”

“I’ve just got to get used to doing that every week,” said Adams on Thursday. “Just showing my talents to everybody and letting them know that I’m here to stay.”

Adams’ emergence is crucial for a Rock Hill offense that wants to finish more drives with points. He has 4.49 speed in the 40-yard dash and has qualified for the state track and field meet every year in high school in the 4x100 relay. It’s one more weapon for an offense that is still looking for a boost.

“We threw the ball down the field well a few times, got Thailand into the end zone a couple times, so overall, not where we want to be – still got some room for improvement – but I think we’re moving in the right direction,” said Pittman.

Herron isn’t so sure his vaunted secondary is doing the same, if only because it’s struggling to stay healthy. In addition to Frederick’s injury, outside linebacker/safety hybrid Zaylin Burris had knee surgery Thursday morning that will hold him out for a portion of the season. Junior Marquavius Brice will play more with Frederick out, and Smith, normally a cornerback, will play some safety. It’s cause for concern for Herron, who thinks Rock Hill is a better football team this year than last year.

“I’ve been preaching to our guys since the season ended last year that we’re not gonna be complacent,” he said. “I know for a fact - watched them on film - they are better than last year. Us, I don’t know if we’ve improved. We’re good, but I think we’re about where we were last year.”

When asked if he would rate his secondary among the best in the state, Herron said, “yes, but that’s with K.D. (Frederick) there and that’s with Zaylin. But when we’ve got them all there, at least it would compete with the best.”

No question about that.

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 7:30 PM with the headline "South Pointe secondary will challenge Rock Hill... actually, every team it faces."