Offensive, defensive lines expected to be big asset for Dixie football team
In this most interesting of school years, Dixie High School is gearing up for another football season.
Last year, the Dixie varsity football team made the playoffs, losing to McBee in the first round, said Dixie football coach and athletic director Vic Lollis Friday.
"I lost 11 seniors off last year's team," he said.
That includes some big shoes to fill. "We lost our punter and kicker," he said.
That individual happened to be Jenkins Peeler, who is now poised to display his athletic skills at Erskine.
That includes seven offensive players and five defensive players, with some of the players playing on both sides of the ball.
"I have 10 rising seniors," he said.
About 10 rising juniors and at least 20 rising sophomores are on the Dixie roster for this year, and he expects to have two freshmen on the varsity squad.
Lollis, who is in his fifth year as the Hornet head football coach, said that the question of who is going to play at what position is one that is still being decided.
The coach believes that the strength of this year's team will lie in the offensive and defensive lines.
The Hornets also possess more depth than they have had in quite a while, he said.
"If we stay healthy, we should be fine," he said.
Lollis is welcoming Anthony Martin to the Hornet coaching staff. Martin, in his first year of coaching at Dixie, will be the Hornets' defensive coordinator.
The Hornets will participate in the Sept. 18 WCTEL Jamboree, a pre-season event at Hite Stadium in Abbeville, before jumping into the regular season.
Dixie will begin the regular season with a visit to McCormick on Sept. 25, and a visit to Whitmire on Oct. 2.
The Hornets will host Ware Shoals on Oct. 9, before traveling to Southside Christian on Oct. 16.
Dixie will close out the season with a three game home stand -- hosting Calhoun Falls on Oct. 23, West Oak on Oct. 30, and Crescent on Nov. 6.