Go out and earn it.
Eric Lodge’s daily message to the next Berkeley High School football team isn’t just about winning. The second-year Stags leader wants his team to understand that they have to earn the right to be successful at all.
“If you earn it, you have the right to go out there and succeed,” Lodge said. “If you don’t, you’ll never have the chance to succeed.”
Lodge’s first group in 2023 finished 6-6 and advanced to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs, winning one more game than the previous two BHS teams combined. Only time will tell what the final record looks like this fall. However, Lodge is optimistic about his team’s chances based on what he observed during the offseason.
“We’ve definitely improved a lot and are better equipped physically to be competitive in games,” Lodge said. “We’ve made a lot of progress in the weight room. I’m very confident that we’re going to be able to physically go out there and compete. Some games last year, I just felt like we were outclassed physically. When that happens, it doesn’t matter what you do schematically.”
The 2023 Stags have not been bad in close games, winning four by a total of 17 points, including two improbable comebacks. However, all six losses have come at the hands of Berkeley. The Stags lost those games by an average of 35 points.
Berkeley kicks off its new season against Ashley Ridge on Friday, August 23 at Moncks Corner. The Stags will travel to Winter Park, Florida on Thursday, August 29 before hosting longtime rival Summerville for the Stags Hall of Fame Game on Friday, September 6.
The most proven side of the ball is the offense, where the Stags return a prolific collection of talented players. Sophomore quarterback Henry Rivers totaled 2,859 yards passing and running and 33 touchdowns and earned All-Region honors as a freshman. Returning All-State receiver Kevin Boone and All-Region receiver Kayden Bash both totaled nearly 800 yards passing and scored 12 and five touchdowns, respectively, as juniors.
