Appling County is looking to rebound after a scandal-ridden 2024 season under new head coach Tucker Pruitt. The Pirates are coming off a 10-4 season that saw them reach the semifinals before falling to Carver-Columbus. However, after the season, the team was forced to forfeit all 10 wins due to the use of an ineligible player.
As a result, Appling County parted ways with head coach Jordan Mullis. In his place, they hired Pruitt from Fitzgerald. Pruitt is coming off a strong eight-year stint with the Purple Hurricanes. During his time there, he went 82-27, and the team reached the semifinals or better in five-straight seasons. The most notable part of that stretch was three consecutive state finals appearances, including Fitzgerald’s first state championship in over 70 years in 2021.
Appling County will return much of last year’s team. Eleven players who earned all-region honorable mention or better will be back. A major strength of the team will be its defensive line, where they return four players who earned first or second-team all-region honors. The two first-teamers are Edwin Burt and Cameron George, while Karson Johnson and Jaiden Solomon earned second-team honors.
In addition to the defensive core, the Pirates return their starting backfield duo of Dareon Hood and Harrison Hickox. Hood, a first-team all-region running back, was a major part of the offense. At quarterback, Hickox is coming off a strong freshman season and is viewed as a high-upside prospect, standing at 6-foot-3, weighing 215 pounds.
One of the few question marks for the team will be at wide receiver, where the Pirates lose all three all-region selections from last year. First-teamers Kemoni Ryals and Kellen Echols, along with second-teamer Jakari Kinsley, have all graduated. Wide receiver is the only position group without a returning all-region player.
Appling County will compete in what is arguably the toughest region in Class 2A. Region 3 features four traditionally strong programs. Of the five teams in the region, four have made the semifinals or better since 2020. Their biggest challenge will be Pierce County. The Bears are only two years removed from a state title and have won two championships since 2020. Cook is one of the most consistent programs in the state, making the playoffs every year since the turn of the century. Crisp County is also a major contender, having made three-straight quarterfinals or better from 2019 to 2021. They are now led by new head coach Justin Newman, who helped Carver-Columbus win a state title last season.
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