Sweet 16 countdown: South Point will keep on running, and stay in its lane
Editor’s Note: The Observer is taking a look at the 16 teams that are ranked in the preseason Sweet 16 prep football poll, released in random order. The true order of the teams will be revealed later this month.
For years, South Point High’s football team has stuck with a formula, and that formula has almost always worked.
The Red Raiders play a wishbone style offense, run the ball almost all the time, and try to play as physically as possible.
“We’re going to do what we do,” said fifth-year coach Adam Hodge.
And why change?
Since the school opened in 1969, the Carolina Sports Hub reports that the Red Raiders have won 426 games, 22 conference titles and 58 playoff matchups. South Point has also won five state titles, the last coming in 2016.
“No. 1, I think what we do fits the kids we get here, year-in and year-out,” Hodge said. “When you get 190- to 200-pound kids, that’s perfect for running the veer (offense), and guys working hard who can run. That fits us. Now, if we had big ol’ huge 270-pound offensive linemen every year, that would be one thing. But that doesn’t happen for us very often.”
Well, this year, the Red Raiders do have the type of blue-chip offensive line recruit any school would want. Sullivan Absher, a 6-foot-7, 290-pound tackle, is a top 20 recruit at his position nationally. He’s committed to Notre Dame.
Joining him are 29 returning lettermen and 12 starters from an 11-4 team that reached the N.C. 3A state semifinals a year ago.
Yep, why change anything at all?
“We’ve got some good guys coming back, and I think we’ve got a chance to be a good team,” Hodge said.
Among the returnees is Cam Medlock, a 5-11, 190-pound senior who will move from a wingback to fullback, which is the featured position in the South Point offense. Hodge thinks senior quarterback Elijah Phifer will have a strong year, playing behind Absher and alongside Medlock and guys like senior tight end Jackson Blee.
On defense, the Red Raiders bring back three linemen and three defensive backs, including seniors Will Ross, Jaquish Rumph and Aiden Ramirez.
“We’ve got a good core group and some good young guys,” Hodge said. “We’ve got a lot of energy and we’ve got a chance to be pretty good if we stay healthy. I mean, we’ve got some really good kids who work hard.”
And they’ll play in a familiar style -- hit you hard on defense, run the ball on offense.
“We’ve had a lot of success with it over the years,” Hodge said, “and I think it still fits us. If there ever comes a time when it doesn’t, well, we’ll look at it then, but as long as it fits our kids and our culture, then that’s what we’ll do.”
Inside Look: South Point Red Raiders
Head Coach: Adam Hodge (5th season)
2021 Record: 11-4
Returning lettermen: 30
Returning starters: 13
Key Returnees: OL Sullivan Absher (6-7, 300, Sr.); DB Will Ross (6-0, 185, Sr.); QB Elijah Phifer (5-11, 170, Sr.); FB Cam Medlock (5-11, 190, Sr.); DB Jaquis Rumph (5-11, 10, Sr.); DL Aiden Ramirez (6-2, 240, Sr.); TE Jackson Blee (6-5, 220, Sr.)
Fresh Faces: OL Hudson Spargo (5-11, 200, Jr.); LB Chaynce Ford (6-0, 195, Soph.); LB Winter Kincaid (6-1, 200, Jr.)
