By Thomas Grant Jr.

Week 0 arrives earlier than usual for SCISA football.

While other Northeast public schools take part in preseason Jamborees and scrimmages, Cardinal Newman will be suiting up for its season-opener. The Cardinals play host to Cannon/Concord Academy out of the North Carolina Independent School Association.

“I don’t know a whole lot about Cannon to be honest, but I know they’ll be well-coached,” Cardinals head coach Corey Helms said.

Based out of Concord, N.C., the Cougars are coming off a 5-6 season. Meanwhile, the Cardinals had one of their most successful seasons in school history with a 9-3 record.

Defending champion Hammond School was responsible for two of the losses. The latest realignment keeps all eight Class 4A teams together in one region.

Cardinal Newman looks to replace key players from last year’s team who contributed to over 4,600 yards of offense and 60 touchdowns last season. Gray Collegiate transfer running back Caleb Ford will look to fill the void left by the graduation of Cortez Lane.

The offensive line returns tackle Jack Laird, center Wells Lewis and Zach Rhodes and welcomes aboard Savion Taylor-Sanders who will also play on the defensive line. Another newcomer is tight end Brady Murphy.

The Cardinals will also look for a successor to quarterback Duncan Skelton and wide receiver Amarii King, who transferred to Brookland-Cayce.

Even with the changes, Helms expects to still play a “physical brand of football in all three phases and at every position.”

CARDINAL NEWMAN 2024 SCHEDULE

FRIDAY – CANNON/CONCORD ACADEMY

AUG. 23 – at St. Joseph’s Catholic

AUG. 30 – at Dreher

SEPT. 6 – BYE

SEPT. 13 – BEN LIPPEN

SEPT. 20 – at Heathwood Hall

SEPT. 27 – at Augusta Christian

OCT. 4 – NORTHWOOD ACADEMY

OCT. 11 – at Laurence Manning Academy

OCT. 18 – PORTER-GAUD

OCT. 25 – HAMMOND

Final Scrimmages

All Northeast public schools will take part in a final week of scrimmages before their respective season-openers. Three of them will compete in the Aun and McKay Kickoff Classic at Chapin High School:

Gray Collegiate Academy vs. American Leadership Academy 6 p.m.

Spring Valley vs. Midland Valley 6:45 p.m.

Clinton vs. Blythewood 7:30 p.m.

Chapin vs. Ridge View 8:15 p.m.

The same night, Richland Northeast will participate in the 17th annual Chester County Football Jamboree. They will face the host team Cyclones at the 8:15 p.m. event finale.

Westwood will face Catawba Ridge at 7 p.m. in the third annual Bill Pate White Rose Football Classic at York Comprehensive High School.

PRESEASON PREP FOOTBALL CLASS 5A MEDIA POLL

Class 5A

1. Dutch Fork (13)

2. Gaffney (3)

3. Summerville

4. Northwestern (1)

5. Irmo

6. White Knoll

7. TL Hanna

8. JL Mann

9. Sumter

10. Hillcrest

Others receiving votes: Spartanburg; Byrnes; Ridge View; Fort Dorchester; James Island; Clover; Carolina Forest; Greenwood