High school football is just around the corner as another gridiron season is set to kickoff.
And with the SCHSL’s new realignment, more than few Pee Dee area schools find themselves adjusting to not only new regions, but new classifications as well.
Marion and Dillon counties were among those impacted, with three schools dropping down to new classes – making 1A likely even more competitive than before in the process.
Realignment is just one of the main storylines for the 2026 season. Here are five more that stand out:
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The Marion Swamp Foxes will kickoff the 2026 high school
football season on Aug. 20 at home against Kingstree under new head
coach Aundres Perkins.
JUSTIN DRIGGERS / MORNING NEWS
1. Perkins era begins at Marion
Coming off an 0-10 campaign, the now 1A Swamp Foxes made a change and brought in former West Florence and Coastal Carolina standout Aundres Perkins to lead the program.
Perkins was Hannah-Pamplico's coach in 2015 before serving as an assistant at Darlington for two years and then returning to his alma mater from 2018-24.
“It’s been pretty smooth so far,” Perkins said of the transition. “The guys have been working hard, learning to compete. We’re growing, learning each other and establishing discipline and culture.”
The Swamp Foxes return seven players on defense and five on offense, giving Perkins a young squad to mold in his first year.
“We’re going to try to get to guys in space,” Perkins said. “We’ve got some fast guys out there on the outside and in the slot. So, we’re going to try to get it to them in space and just move the ball – take what the defense gives us.”
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One of the key storylines for this upcoming season will be an
improved offensive live for the Mullins Auctioneers, and a new name
under center following the graduation of dual threat
standout KaNazzion Bethea (2).
SCOTT CHANCEY/MORNING NEWS
2. Mullins looks for improved OL to help new QB
KaNazzion Bethea was a special player for Auctioneers – leading them in passing and rushing last season as a dual threat quarterback.
Part of the reason Bethea ran as much as he did though was due to an inexperienced offensive line as Mullins wound up going 4-6.
“We had some really good skill kids – a lot of seniors that we lost from last year,” Aucs coach Marc Lowery said. “But our offensive line was very young. They were mainly sophomores with one freshman and one junior and didn’t have a whole lot of experience.
“Last year was their first year of any kind of starting on the varsity level.”
Now with a year under their belts, Lowery is looking for the OL to hopefully become the backbone of the ’26 squad − and provide a steady line of protection for new QB Dakarai Worley, who is shifting positions from free safety.
“He has the ability to see the field real well,” Lowery said. “He had a good spring, we had a spring game this year, and he did really well. And he’s had a good 7-on-7 season.”
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Dillon returns to 2A with a new-look offense, but also
experience in key areas as well.
JUSTIN DRIGGERS / MORNING NEWS
3. Dillon returns to 2A with new-look offense
The Wildcats are no strangers to 2A – having won six state championships from 2008 through 2015.
After a 9-4 season, Dillon will have a mix of veterans and younger players as they look to make noise in Region 6-2A.
“I think we’ve got a lot of good dynamic players at the skill positions,” DHS coach Kelvin Roller said. “Our kids worked really hard this offseason and our guys up front have gotten stronger and they’re a year older now.
“We’ve got a lot of juniors on the team that I think are going to be really good players for us.”
Even so, the Wildcats will have to replace some production, especially on offense. Quarterback Khayel Sam Fong-Talia transferred and so Nibras Harrison will take over under center. Zay Robertson, the team’s leading receiver in ’25 with more than 1,300 yards, graduated as well.
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Latta looks to build on an impressive campaign last season that
saw the Vikings go 9-3.
SCOTT CHANCEY/MORNING NEWS
4. Latta aims to build off strong '25 campaign
The Vikings went 9-3 a season ago behind a strong rushing attack and a stout defense.
Now Latta is looking to take the next step after falling to eventual state champ Bamberg-Ehrhardt in the state playoffs.
“We’ve got a lot of young guys coming back, but there are also some seniors coming back,” Vikings offensive coordinator Sport Sawyer said. “…If we can control the offensive and defensive lines, I feel like our guys in the secondary and our skill guys will be able to do some things.
“To get to the next level, (the kids) just have to keep working hard and keep believing in themselves and keep doing what they’ve been doing.”
While the offensive line returns mostly intact, Latta will have to fill the shoes left by 1,000-yard rusher Fischer Richardson.
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Lake View coach Daryl King, center, has a mix of veteran and
young players this year, but already the younger guys are stepping
up to lead, he said.
JUSTIN DRIGGERS / MORNING NEWS
5. Young leadership stepping up for Lake View
The Wild Gators return 13 seniors from last year’s 6-5 squad, nearly half of the entire roster coach Daryl King said.
But it’s been a lot of younger players – the ones that have come up from the B team – that have helped lead the way early on in practice, he added.
“It’s just a good, good mix,” King said. “So far, they’ve done what we’ve asked them to do and they’ve really responded. They’ve gelled as a team all on their own. They’ve taken it upon themselves to be a team and not chase after individual goals and just go out there and work together.
“It started in the winter in the weight room, and it’s continued through the first couple of weeks of practice.”
