We tell you everything you need to know about the 2023 Charlton County football team, including roster changes and what fans can expect from the Indians this season.
2022 Stats
- Overall Record: 8-3
- Points Scored: 338
- Points Allowed: 198
Key Losses
Right at the top of the key losses for Charlton County and head coach Russ Murray is RB Jaylen Lilley, the reigning Region 2A-D2 Player of the Year and a GACA All-State selection. The outstanding runner enjoyed back-to-back seasons of 1,300 yards rushing for the Indians, and he wound up with four-year career totals of 3,047 yards and 21 TDs. Lilley ran for 100 yards or more in 21 of 29 career games.
Another key loss for Charlton is QB Jaylen King, who signed with Gardner-Webb following an outstanding career with the Indians. Despite playing in Charlton’s run-first offense, King still managed to throw for 2,234 yards and 17 TDs in his three-year career. He also ran for 550 yards with 4 TDs in that span. One of King’s top receivers, Kyler Williams, is also not returning, nor are LBs Darion Jones and Jay Harris from the defensive side.
Who’s Back
Key returnees for the 2023 Charlton County football team include a couple of GACA All-State selections from a year ago. They are senior CB/RB Ja’mari Hamilton and senior OL Hayden Rodgers. Hamilton has 300 yards combined rushing and receiving and 3 TDs at his RB position, and on defense he has an INT and a fumble recovery from his CB spot. Rodgers returns as one of the anchors on the Charlton offensive line, and his senior leadership will be a welcomed return.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior DT Xzavion Jackson is back. He had a QB sack last season and was selected to the All-Region team. He’ll be joined up front by senior DE Jamie Jackson.
What to Expect
Coach Murray has got the Swamp faithful excited about their Indians after back-to-back successful seasons that saw Charlton finish 7-4 in 2021 and 8-3 last season. The longtime Charlton County High football assistant also led the Indians to the region 2A-D2 title and No. 1 playoff seed with a perfect 4-0 region record after finishing 3-3 the year before. What does Murray think about his team as he gets ready for his fifth season as head coach?
“We will have a heckuva non-region schedule, just like last year,” he told us earlier this offseason.
Murray added that if he can bring his team out of that daunting part of the schedule relatively injury-free, the Indians could be in good shape for the rest of the season.
“The goal is to come through [the non-region games] healthy and ready for the region games at the end,” Murray said. “I think we have a pretty good chance to win the region again this year.”
The head coach told us that he will return six starters on offense and six on defense, too. Murray said that four of those offensive starters are along the O-line, and that’s a good thing, considering that Charlton likes to run the football.
Prediction
Murray’s got ’em headed in the right direction. 8-4 this season.
Game to Watch
October 27 against Clinch in the “Swamp War.”
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