Summertime is almost over, and the best time of the year is upon us. Soon Fridays will be filled with the crack of the pads, the roar of the crowd, and the whistle of the referees. First year head coach Mike Reid looks to make a splash in 2A and Region 1.
With a passion for the game, Reid has been coaching up defenses in the upstate for many years including Blacksburg, Broome, and last year Landrum before getting promoted to Head Coach earlier this year. He also loves spending time with his family at the lake and by the pool, and seeking greens at some of the great golf courses in the Upstate SC area.
The Cardinals didn’t finish the season the way they wanted to last year going 5-5 (1-3 in region play) last season with a first round playoff exit to Central. The Cards started last season with a loss to 3A Wallhala before winning 5 in a row (Berea, Ware Shoals, Polk County, West Oak, and Blacksburg). They dropped their next four, albeit against top notch competition. The losing streak started with eventual 2A State Champion Clinton, followed by Liberty, Chesnee and Central.
You’ll hear a lot from some familiar faces this season for “The Land”, Third year starter Ty Foster leads the Cardinals coming off a 27 touchdown season (20 passing, 7 rushing) and looks to build upon a great junior season to finish his Cardinal career with a bang. AJ Lindsey will be in his 4th year as a varsity starter, and will be doing as much as he can for Landrum, playing running back, tight end, h-back, and linebacker this season. Braylon Revis who played mostly defense last year because of a broken hand will be on both sides of the ball this year including at wide receiver, running back, and corner back. Coaches are excited the see what Revis can do with the ball in his hand. Blake Bridges is a 4 year starter on the offensive line for Landrum and coaches are counting on him to be a leader for the team up front and the Cardinals try to continue their usual dominance in the trenches.
Some new faces expected to play a big role this season for the Cardinals are juniors Carson Roach (LB) and Vuthy Som (OL/DL) along with Sophmores Ian Patterson (DB/WR) and Trey Nesbitt (WR/DB).
Goals for Reid and the Cardinals are simple, “competing for a region championship, make the playoffs, and compete for a state championship” Reid also said “we are excited about this group and what they can do. We have a good bit of experience coming back as well as a young group we are just as excited about”
As much as Coach Reid loves golf, I’m sure he is okay with putting golf on hold until the 2nd week of December and returning to the course as a State Champion.
LANDRUM SCHEDULE
8/22 Walhalla
8/29 Berea
9/5 Ware Shoals
9/12 Polk County
9/19 West Oak
9/26 Blue Ridge
10/3 OFF
10/10 Blacksburg
10/17 Clinton
10/24 Liberty
10/31 Chesnee
GAMES IN BOLD ARE AT HOME
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