It's Time for Football

Standing in a sea of green jerseys and donning a straw hat, Summerville High School football Coach John McKissick began his 60th season Friday morning. 

High schools across the state and the Dorchester School District Two began their first official football practices today, all in preparation of Friday nights under the lights.

Summerville High plays Conway High Aug. 26. 

An 84-year-old great-grandfather, McKissick is seven decades older than his players. He is known as the winningest coach in high school football.

Under his tutelage, he's lead the Green Wave to 584 victories. That's nearly 10 wins a season — a tall order in the Palmetto state.

Last year's season continued his winning trend: 10-3. 

McKissick's team has had two losing years with him at the helm.

In his office, a printed sign reads: "We cannot change the cards we were dealt, just how we play the hand."

And while the saying is nearly drowned out with other coach-worthy statements on the cinderblock walls, McKissick seems to take the quote to the field, year after year.

"In high school, you take what you got," he said. He added the no-recruiting makes it a different sport to coach than at the college or national level.

"If you have speed, you go deep … If not, you go for first downs instead of touchdowns." 

This year will be a "first downs instead of touchdowns" year, he said.

"Right now, we lost a lot of speed from last year but we got a lot of good, tough players," McKissick said.

The team has been ranked No. 14 in this pre-season.

The first two days of practice are half days for the Green Wave.  Starting Monday, the team will begin practicing twice a day, gearing up before they get back to school and the first game.

Summerville Green Wave schedule (14)

Aug. 26 Conway (away)

Sept. 2 Berkeley (away

)Sept. 9 Goose Creek

Sept. 16 Fort Dorchester (away)

Sept. 23 Stratford

Sept. 30 West Ashley (away)

Oct. 7 James Island

Oct. 14 Wando

Oct. 21 Ashley Ridge (away)

Oct. 28 Beaufort

Nov. 4 Colleton County (away)

Ashley Ridge Swamp Fox schedule

Aug. 26 Cane Bay

Sept. 2 Socastee

Sept. 9 Stratford

Sept. 16 West Ashley (away)

Sept. 23 James Island (away)

Sept. 29 Wando

Oct. 7 Colleton County (away)

Oct. 14 Beaufort (away)

Oct. 21 Summerville

Oct. 28 Goose Creek (away)

Nov. 4 Fort Dorchester

Fort Dorchester Patriots schedule

Aug. 26 Woodland (away)

Sept. 2 Irmo 

Sept. 9 Beaufort (away)

Sept. 16 Summerville 

Sept. 23 Goose Creek (away)

Sept. 30 Colleton County 

Oct. 7 Stratford 

Oct. 14 West Ashley (away)

Oct. 28 Wando

Nov. 4 Ashley Ridge (away)