Of all the area teams preparing for another season, perhaps no squad is more eager to get back under the Friday night lights than the Screven County Gamecocks.
    Last season, the Gamecocks rolled to a 9-1 mark in the regular season and reached the second round of the Class AA state playoffs. 2012 marked Screven’s first winning season since 2008, its first state playoff appearance since 2007, and saw the Gamecocks claim a region championship for the first time since 2002.
    With all returning players coming off of the most successful season of their careers, morale has been high throughout the offseason.
    “Motivation hasn’t been much of a problem for us,” Second year SCHS coach Ron Duncan said. “I think all of our guys went into the offseason knowing what they had to do to get where we want to go. All of us have been pleased with the gains that we’ve made.”
    The Gamecocks expect more success this fall, but will have to utilize new players in order to do so. Screven County shifted to an option offense last fall and bulldozed the competition to an average of 34.7 points per game. Much of that production was due to four-year starters Aikeem Mingle and Jeremy Johnson, who will both have to be replaced this season.
    That said, the main focus in Sylvania isn’t how to make up for talent that has been lost, but to capitalize on the execution and success that was found last season.
    Duncan and his staff have discussed tweaks that will be made to schemes on both sides of the ball while players — in addition to normal summer workouts — have been well travelled. Gamecocks have travelled to Mercer University and to the University of South Carolina to test themselves against other schools looking to put in work in the summer heat in order to gain an edge once the season begins.
    “We have some good talent and some older guys this season,” Duncan said. “There might not be as much experience when we first hit the field, but I think our guys have seen what it takes to win each week.”