Battery Creek High School: At a Glance

Stadium name: Dolphin Field

Region: 8-AAA

Coach:Carlos Cave (first year)

Coach’s record: 0-0 at Battery Creek (4-17 during two-year stint at North High School)

2007 record: 1-10 (1-4 in Region 8-AAAA); missed playoffs*

Coaching staff: Tyrone Pierce, Wilbert Bryant, Dan Tooman, Eddie Isham, Larry Brister, Dave Singleton, Dan Tibbals, Jeff Baker, Spencer Bobian, Josh Brister

Notable personnel losses from 2007: Tommy Bing, DL/TE; Anthony Chaplin, DB/WR.

Returning starters: 16 starters (8 offense, 8 defense)

Top returning starters: Tavaras Pinckney, RB; Aljanon Robinson, OL; Freddie Polite, DL; Nigel Fripp, LB; Jonathan Brown, OL/DL.

Coach’s prognosis for 2008: “The players have been working hard in the summer on their strength and conditioning. They are determined to end the current 25-game losing streak and have a winning season in 2008.” *one win came by forfeit against Fort Dorchester, which fielded an inelgible player.

PROBABLE STARTERS

QB 4 Antonio Wiggs Has quick legs to go with strong arm

RB 12 Tavaras Pinckney Led Dolphins with 999 all-purpose yards in ‘07

RB 5 Antonio Hills Brusier hits holes hard

WR 15 Spencer Shine Expected to spread field with size and speed

WR 87 JP Lewis Has size advantage on most defensive backs

TE 80 Jeremy Fields Good possession receiver

LT 75 Aljanon Robinson Veteran leads push in opening holes for Pinckney

LG 54 Arthur Fell Brings needed size to line

C 52 Spencer Butler Only new starter on experienced line

RG 50 Jonathan Brown Two-way starter anchors right side

RT 65 Keith Polite Improved strength over summer

DL 50 Jonathan Brown Hard worker on both sides of ball

DL 9 Freddie Polite Improved tackling ability over summer

DL Keith Moore Penetration key to team’s defensive push

DL 90 Questell Scott Undersized lineman uses speed for success

LB 40 Nigel Fripp Led team with 64 tackles in ‘07

LB 44 Luke Johnson Nose for finding football

LB 35 Tieler Schabbing Has hard-hitting ability

DB 83 Cleon Wright Will aid focus on stopping big pass plays

DB 8 Chris Thomas Captain and leader of secondary

DB 7 Ricky Chaney Speedy defender with lockdown ability

DB 21 Leander Mobley Has knack for getting hands on passes

K/P 43 Richard Washington Will also see time at linebacker

MEET THE TEAM - FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS

1. Can the Dolphins finally break their 25-game losing streak on the field? The task should be made a little easier by Battery Creek’s move down to Class AAA ball, and a week 4 matchup against Ridgeland High School of Class AA looks favorable. Poor tackling and turnovers have been Battery Creek’s downfall the last two years, and both must stop in order for the Dolphins to start winning.

2. How will Battery Creek fare in Region 8-AAA? Although the Dolphins won’t have to worry about defending region champ Timberland, which moved down to Class AA, Hilton Head Island and North Charleston will serve as formidable opponents. Battery Creek will be aided by a schedule that pits four of its five region games at home. Matchups against Bluffton and Stall will prove critical in determining which four teams make the playoffs.

3. How can the Dolphins cut down on last year’s 41.7 allowed points per game average? Tackling, tackling and more tackling. Returning linebacker Nigel Fripp was the only player to tally more than 50 tackles last season, as the Dolphins often overpursued and used bad form in trying to bring down opponents. The team will use man-to-man and cover 3 defenses to bring pressure and cut down on big plays, which often deflated the Dolphins in the early stages of games.

4. What changes will new coach Carlos Cave bring to the Dolphins? Obviously, Cave hopes to create a winning culture within the program, but he admits that his spread offense is similar to that of former coach Doc Davis. The difference is that Cave will make more of a concerted effort to establish the pass. On defense, Cave will use formations that capitalize on the Dolphins’ speed and help hide their lack of size.

5. What is Battery Creek’s biggest weakness and strength? Ironically, the Dolphins’ weakest area is its strength, as opponents constantly broke tackles and overpowered their linemen during the past two seasons. Cave hopes that an offseason spent in the weight room will couple muscle with speed, which is the team’s strong suit. Battery Creek will look for Pinckney’s quickness to mesh with Wiggs’ scrambling ability to open up the field for Cave’s spread offense.