Willie Offord knew the homecoming would come with baggage.
The former South Carolina standout and five-year NFL veteran is back in Columbia, this time as AC Flora’s head coach, and his first offseason has already tested him. Hired in February after the previous three seasons at Lakewood High, Offord has walked into a program that has taken major hits from graduation, injuries and transfers. Still, he made clear after the Falcons’ Aug. 15 scrimmage against Lower Richland that being back in the city he wanted to return to meant a lot.
“I can’t tell you how many times I have interviewed or been a finalist to be a coach here in the area,” Offord said Aug. 15 after the Falcons scrimmage against Lower Richland. ”I thank God that AC Flora gave me this opportunity.
“It is great to be back home. Flora has been great in welcoming me, my family and my son Ziggy into the school and the community. It feels good to lead and represent a program of such status here in Columbia.”
Offord gets his first game on Friday, when AC Flora hosts White Knoll in the Whataburger Rivals Game of the Week on WACH Fox 57.2. White Knoll is also breaking in a new coach, Victor Floyd, who spent 15 years at Chester and guided that program to two state championship appearances.
For Flora, the turnover has been impossible to ignore. The Falcons lost several all-state players, including college signees Azel Banag (Oregon), Blake Betette (Dartmouth), Roper Wentzky (College of Charleston baseball) and Charlie Scott (The Citadel baseball). At least five starters also transferred out.
Joshua Davis and Ashton Thompson went to Rabun Gap (Ga.), while Peyton Bishop and Jeremiah McGowen landed at Dutch Fork. Nasir Walker moved on to Orange Lutheran in California. Bishop and Walker combined for 26 sacks last season, and both are Division I prospects.
There were more departures as well, with a couple of players heading to Ben Lippen, where former head coach Ken Floyd is now the offensive coordinator. Most of those transfers left before Offord was even hired.
The Falcons will also be without 1,000-yard rusher Jaylin Simmons for now after he suffered a leg injury in the preseason, though Offord said he hopes to get him back by the time region play starts.
“We have taken the approach that we are going to coach who we have. This is the culture of high school football now,” Offord said.
“People come and go. We are going to coach who we have.
We are going to love who we have. We are going to put a great product out there on Friday nights.”
Even with the departures, AC Flora has picked up a few new faces. Offord’s son Ziggy is among the additions and will play receiver and defensive back.
Gerald Gibson arrived from Lower Richland and battled Riggs Scott for the starting quarterback job. The Falcons also bring back defensive lineman Brennan Williams and linebacker Jordan Davis.
The new group has spent the offseason trying to gel, and tight end/h-back Mac Hughey said the progress has been steady.
“We’ve been just growing with the new group,” tight end/h-back Mac Hughey said July 20 at a Prep RedZone Media Day event. “Everybody’s been showing up, and we’ve been getting better together.”
Offord said he has liked what he has seen from the way the roster has embraced his approach, and from the chemistry that has developed over the last several months. The next step is turning that into production once the games start.
That won’t be easy after an 11-win season and a stretch in which AC Flora has won at least nine games in six of the last eight seasons. But Offord isn’t shying away from the task.
“Has it been a challenge? Yes,” Offord said. “But I am going to fight for the group of kids we have now going out there on Friday night.”
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