We tell you everything you need to know about the 2023 Savannah Country Day football team, including roster changes and what fans can expect from the Hornets this season.
2022 Stats
- Overall Record: 5-5
- Points Scored: 237
- Points Allowed: 225
Key Losses
Savannah Country Day will graduate just two seniors from last year’s team, and even though head coach John Mohring said the Hornets will miss both Michael Grandy and Phil Ajayi, the fact his team lost so few players is a good thing.
“Don’t get me wrong, we will miss them,” said Mohring. “Both Phil and Michael were impact players for us, but I’m glad we aren’t having to replace any more guys.”
Grandy was an All-Region selection last season. He rushed for 1,661 yards with 23 TDs over the last two years as the Hornets primary running back. He carried the ball 329 times during that span and had seven games in which he rushed for more than 100 yards. Ajayi played RT and was used on the defensive line some, too.
“Phil is a big kid we had converted from basketball, and last season was his only season playing football, but he became a really physical player,” Mohring said. “Losing him will hurt.”
Who’s Back
Of a roster of 30 players last year, 28 will return, plus 17 freshman who Mohring said will have a chance to break in and make their presence felt as the season goes on. Starting QB Barton Mixon is one of those returnees. The junior was a first-year starter last season, and his performance gained him All-Region Honorable Mention recognition. He threw for 1,361 yards and 11 TDs while rushing for another 211 yards.
Junior Hyers Holland, who was Grandy’s primary backup, will move into the starting role as the team’s RB. The Hornets also return All-Region receiver Josh Washington this year. The sophomore caught 36 passes for 630 yards and 4 TDs in 2022. Senior Keith “KJ” James will return to the slot, while junior Brooks Kleinpeter returns to play TE.
Seniors Rooster Bing and John Avito bring their experience back to the offensive line, while the defense returns all 11 starters, plus two experienced starters who missed all of last year due to injury. MLB Hayes Beaver returns from a back injury, while DL Deondre “Ray Ray” Jackson returns after missing all of 2022 with a torn ACL.
The defense will be led by junior WLB Tyler Scott, who had 100 tackles and 7 sacks last season and has accumulated 185 tackles over the last two seasons. Athon Herrin and Andrew Wynn are both 6-foot, 2-inch cornerbacks who Mohring called “really good.”
Sophomore kicker Cash Ramirez is one of the state’s best, having converted 28-30 PATs last year along with 5 of 7 FG attempts, including a long of 47 yards – and that was as a freshman.
What to Expect
This will be Mohring’s third season as the Savannah Country Day head coach, and he said he feels like his team is ready to take that next step.
“I came here to take over a single-A private team, and last season was when we got moved up to Class 3A, so it’s been crazy,” he said.
Mohring has adjusted his team’s schemes on both sides, especially on offense, to account better for his personnel and small roster size.
“We have 30 players going against teams with a roster of 80 guys, so we’ve made some adjustments on our end as kind of an equalizer,” he said.
Mohring said the team is going from a run-heavy philosophy to more of a spread attack. So far, the results are positive. SCD defeated Class 5A Jenkins in their spring game by a 31-14 final score, after losing to them in their spring game last season.
“It’s the only thing we have to compare to so far to test our progress, but so far I like the revamped offense,” Mohring said.
Prediction
Look for a much-improved Savannah Country Day football team in 2023 as coach John Mohring leads the Hornets to an 8-5 overall record.
Game to Watch
Region opener against crosstown rival Savannah Christian on September 15.
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