Photo by Blythewood High School football
By Thomas Grant Jr.
The 2025 football season saw Blythewood experience its share of ups and downs.
After ending the regular season with four straight losses in Region 4-5A, the Bengals upset Clover 42-23 on the road. Despite losing the following week to Dorman to finish 4-8, the team had a rallying point to build upon for next season.
“I think our first win in the playoffs against Clover was a great game and I think the boys really loved that feeling of winning a game that big,” said senior offensive lineman Ryan Paolucci. “After we lost the second round, we’re looking to come back and it should be awesome.”
According to head coach James Martin, Blythewood’s off-season consisted of plenty of work in the weight room. Players like running back Landyn Strong “fell in love with the process” of getting stronger, a feeling which became contagious around his teammates.
“We’ve been in the weight room trying to get big and strong,” said Paolucci, who’s committed to the U.S. Army. “The whole offensive line has been working to get stronger.”
Another key proponent to a Blythewood turnaround is the play of junior quarterback James Peasey. He experienced his share of growing pains as a first-year starter, but had 321 total yards and three touchdowns in the win over Clover.
Martin expects Peasey to continue his upward growth with wide receivers to target such as Dolan Nelson, Tay’Shawn Johnson and sophomores Ayden Glenn and Kasen Holloway.
The defense is led by Western Carolina linebacker commit Dillon Hutcherson. More than just being a team leader on the field, he also finds motivation through his faith.
“Our faith is way different. We’re focused on different things. More than just a football team, we’re better at being devoted to Christ.”
The revamped Region 4-5A has familiar foes in archrival Ridge View, Spring Valley and Sumter and Class 5A newcomer Gray Collegiate Academy. Both the Blazers and War Eagles are ranked in the S.C. Prep Football Media Preseason Class 5A poll.
“We know what our region is going to be like, so we’re excited about the region,” Martin said. “We only have five teams, so work is kind of cut out when it comes to your region placements. But we feel like that we’re in a good position to make a strong run in the region.”
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA PRESEASON POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (12), 2. Northwestern (3), 3. J.F. Byrnes, 4. Dorman, 5. Summerville, 6. James Island, 7. Ridge View, 8. Sumter, 9. Gray Collegiate, 10. Spartanburg
Others receiving votes: White Knoll, Berkeley, Carolina Forest, River Bluff, Rock Hill, Hillcrest; Lexington
Voters this week: Mac Banks, Fort Mill Prep Sports; Lou Bezjak, The State Newspaper; Jed Blackwell, SC Prep RedZone; Travis Boland, Times & Democrat; JB Brown, Blue Ridge Tigers Sports Network; Cole Bryson, The Fan Upstate; Scott Chancey, Florence Morning News; Chris Dearing, SC Prep RedZone/The State; Thomas Grant New Irmo News; Ian Guerin, SC Prep RedZone; Travis Jenkins, The News & Reporter; James McBee, Boiling Springs Sports Journal; Chris Miller, WRHI; Brett Shugart, Fox Sports Spartanburg; Brandon Stockdale, SC Prep RedZone; Pete Yanity, WSPA
