Coming off an 8-4 season and a second-round playoff appearance in their first year in 5A, the Catawba Ridge Copperheads are looking to take another step in the right direction in 2025.
The Copperheads have a mixed bag in who they have coming back and who they lost due to graduation. Catawba Ridge lost about 80 percent of their offensive production from last year due to graduation, but they are also returning some capable players.
“We have a lot of guys coming back on both sides of the ball so we have some experience,” said Copperheads’ head coach Zac Lendyak. “We have high expectations for what those guys can do.”
Catawba Ridge lost their starting quarterback and running back and a key receiver all due to graduation.
“Those are some big shoes to fill,” Lendyak said.
The Copperheads had a quarterback competition over the summer in Will Griggs, Bradey Compton, and former Cuthbertson quarterback Davian Hall
“They all three have their own strengths,” Lendyak said. “It will be our job to figure it out.”
Lendyak said the biggest thing that has occurred for them over the summer into the fall was growth in the weight room.
“If you want to play 5A football you have to be a physical football team,” he said. “The three games we lost in the regular season we got beat in the run game. That is going to be a big emphasis this season.”
Lendyak said he wants this year’s team to be a more “physically dominate football team.”
“Hopefully the work there will pay off,” he said.
Catawba Ridge players like senior Casey Fikis have high hopes for this season.
“Our defense has looked good so far,” he said. “But the biggest thing is the culture we have brought in. It has carried over a lot with how hard the guys are working.”
“Our offense and defense have great chemistry,” added senior Nolan Jones. “We all work in unison. We don’t have a bunch of guys out there, we have a family. The weight room has been great this off season.”
The Copperheads take the field this Aug. 15 for a scrimmage against Cuthbertson in the Battle of the Border at Nation Ford for their last pre-season test.
Catawba Ridge has an awkward schedule with only four home games. The Copperheads open on the road Aug. 22 at Chapin and head back to Dorman on Aug. 29. They will have their first home game on Sept. 5 against Chester and then head back on the road to Spring Valley the next week.
Region 3-5A play for Catawba Ridge starts hosting Fort Mill before heading to Northwestern. They will then host Indian Land after a bye week and head to Nation Ford on Oct. 17. Their last scheduled home game will be against Rock Hill on Oct. 24 before finishing the regular season at Clover.
2025 Catawba Ridge football schedule
Aug. 22 at Chapin
Aug. 29 at Dorman
Sept. 5 vs. Chester
Sept. 12 at Spring Valley
Sept. 19 vs. Fort Mill
Sept. 26 at Northwestern
Oct. 3 Bye
Oct. 10 vs. Indian Land
Oct. 17 at Nation Ford
Oct. 24 vs. Rock Hill
Oct. 31 at Clover
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
