Catawba Ridge freshman quarterback Jadyn Davis is a key part of the Copperheads’ offense that could be beneficial for years to come.

If there is one thing that the coaching staff of the Catawba Ridge Copperheads is looking for in year two it’s improvement.

In their inaugural season, Catawba Ridge went 2-8 winning the first two games of the year, but then dropping eight straight. While the Copperheads want to start the same way, they want to keep that momentum going for a lot longer.

“We feel a lot more comfortable this being the second year, the kids being back and everyone knowing the team and expectations,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak. “We are excited to have year two off and running.”

Last season, the Copperheads were in 3A and had more of an independent schedule without any region games. This year that will change as not only did the team move up a classification to 4A, they are now part of a region this season and it isn’t an easy one.

Catawba Ridge is in Region 3-4A this season and because of the coronavirus, will have seven games, cramming all of their region games into the first four weeks of the season. Only the top two teams in each region will make the playoffs this season. In the Copperheads region are South Pointe, York, Lancaster and Indian Land.

“Starting with the region is interesting,” Lendyak said. “Usually you have a couple games to get your feet wet. Opening up with South Pointe, probably the best team in the state, so it’s no small path there. We got to get ready for those first four weeks and do what we have to do.”

Besides opening with South Pointe, Catawba Ridge will then have York at home for their first home game Oct. 2 followed by a home contest against Lancaster Oct. 9 and then their final region game at Indian Land Oct. 16, which could prove to be critical.

Catawba Ridge finishes their season against Chester, Fort Mill and Nation Ford all in non-region games. While the games against both Fort Mill and Nation Ford won’t have playoff implications, it will mean a lot for the Copperheads to get wins against them as this is the first year the varsity teams play each other on the gridiron.

The Copperheads offense looks a little different this year, but will still be led by young players. At quarterback will be freshman Jadyn Davis, who already has scholarship offers from both Alabama and Georgia. Davis transferred in from Providence Day where as an eighth grader he led their team last season.

“He has talent,” Lendyak said. “For his age, he is very mature. He knows how to ready defenses, but for his age he still is just a freshman. There is going to be growing pains with that. He has to adjust to the speed of high school football. He is doing what we ask him to do and can make just about any throw on the field. It also gives us more depth. It adds depth to the program.”

Speaking of depth for Catawba Ridge, there are about 90 players in the program this year, 45 of those will be on varsity. Depth will be key for the Copperheads this year. Look for players such as Jacobie Henderson, Asa Johnson, Quinton Jackson and Ben Hudgins to lead on both sides of the ball.

Players such as Brody Tesimale and Will Lowman will be key defensively for Catawba Ridge as well as lineman Caleb Avery and Grayson Bray. 

2020 Catawba Ridge varsity football schedule

Sept. 25                at South Pointe                 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 2                    York                                       7:30 p.m.

Oct. 9                    Lancaster                             7:30 p.m.

Oct. 16                  at Indian Land                    7:30 p.m.

Oct. 23                  at Chester                           7:30 p.m.

Oct. 30                  at Fort Mill                          7:30 p.m.

Nov. 6                   Nation Ford                        7:30 p.m.

Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep