2014 Lowcountry football schedules: 3A

Hard to believe, but football practice for all high school football teams in the state of South Carolina is beginning in just over one month. Football practice officially begins on August 1. Many teams have had 7 on 7 drills throughout the summer. This year will be a good one in the Lowcountry for high school football.

In 3A, there will be several changes. Beaufort, for the first time in many years, will not be playing in the state's largest division. Instead, they will drop down to 3A. James Island will move up to 4A, but other than that, there will be no changes. Georgetown, who has played James Island the last two seasons, will be in an all Pee Dee and Grand Strand division.

Here are the regions our local teams are playing in:

Region 7: Georgetown; Lake City; Myrtle Beach; North Myrtle Beach; St. James; Wilson
Region 8: Beaufort; Berkeley; Hanahan; Hilton Head Island; Orangeburg-Wilkinson; Stall

As for the 4A post, I will make a post for each division in order to make it easy to find your favorite school's schedule, and give some analysis. Region games will be bolded. All games will start at 7:30pm on Fridays unless noted. The schedule is subject to change as games could move to Saturday or Thursday.

Georgetown

8/22: @ Conway
9/5: Andrews
9/12: Waccamaw
9/19: @ Carvers Bay
9/26: Loris
10/3: St. James
10/10: @ North Myrtle Beach
10/17: @ Lake City 
10/24: Myrtle Beach
10/30 (Thursday, 7:30): @ Wilson

Georgetown only gets to host two region games this year, St. James and Myrtle Beach, while having to make two long trips, to Lake City and to Florence on a short week. They do get lower division Andrews, Waccamaw and Loris at home.

Region 8-3A: Beaufort

8/29: @ Colleton County
9/5: @ Bluffton
9/12: Whale Branch
9/19: @ Battery Creek
9/26: @ Manning
10/3:  Berkeley
10/10: @ Stall
10/17: Hilton Head
10/24: Hanahan
10/31: @ Orangeburg-Wilkinson

Beaufort only has four home games the entire season, but luckily for them, three of those are in region play, with the Eagles hosting Berkeley, Hanahan and Hilton Head. They do have to make the long trip to O-W the final game of the season.

Berkeley

8/22: Johnsonville
8/29: Stratford
9/5: @ Summerville
9/12: Cane Bay
9/26: @ Timberland
10/3: @ Beaufort
10/10: @ Hilton Head
10/17: Orangeburg-Wilkinson
10/24: @ Stall
10/31: Hanahan

A tough schedule for the Stags. Three of their five home games are September 12 or before, and they close with four of their last six on the road, including back to back trips to Beaufort and Hilton Head. They do get Hanahan at home to close the season in what could be a crucial game for Jeff Cruce.

Hanahan

8/22: James Island
8/29: @ Timberland
9/5: Bishop England
9/19: Cane Bay
9/26: @ Stratford
10/3: Hilton Head
10/10: @ Orangeburg-Wilkinson
10/17: Stall
10/24: @ Beaufort
10/31: @ Berkeley

Hanahan gets just two region home games this year, after replacing several of their star players. They have to travel to both O-W and Beaufort, and also have difficult trips to Stratford and Berkeley. From what I've heard, the JI game could be televised.

Hilton Head

8/22: Ridgeland-Hardeeville
8/29: Whale Branch
9/5: @ West Ashley
9/12: @ Battery Creek
9/26: @ Bluffton
10/3: @ Hanahan
10/10: Berkeley
10/17: @ Beaufort
10/24: Orangeburg-Wilkinson
10/31: Stall

Hilton Head has the unenviable position of four straight road games. After their August 29 game versus Whale Branch, they don't come back to the Island to play until October 10. They do get a favorable region schedule, only having to make one trip to the Charleston area, Hanahan, with their final two at home.

Orangeburg-Wilkinson (schedule incomplete)

8/22: @ Edisto
8/29: Lake Marion
9/5: Lower Richland
9/12: @ Colleton County
10/3: Stall
10/10: Hanahan
10/17: @ Berkeley
10/24: @ Hilton Head
10/31: Beaufort

O-W still has one more game left to fill out their schedule, probably a team out of the Midlands, but they have a favorable slate, getting both Hanahan and Beaufort at home.

Stall

8/29: @ St. John's
9/5: North Charleston
9/12: @ James Island
9/19: Garrett
9/26: Colleton County
10/3: Orangeburg-Wilkinson
10/10: Beaufort
10/17: @ Hanahan
10/24: Berkeley
10/31: @ Hilton Head

Stall gets a very favorable home schedule for their fans this year, with North Charleston and Garrett coming in, plus Beaufort and Berkeley. It's a tough schedule though for those hoping to see a better year than last year.

I will continue this series next with 2A.