AIKEN --- South Aiken exorcised some demons with last year's 42-17 victory over rival Aiken.

The win snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Hornets, and the Thoroughbreds made the state playoffs.

That was all fine and dandy with South Aiken coach Robert Wrightenberry, but he was more concerned with teaching his team how to win close games.

"It was great for our kids, great for our school, but I was worried more about how we lost four ball games in the last three minutes than how we beat Aiken High School," Wrightenberry said. "We got into a situation where we were losing at the end of the games. Good football teams find a way to win instead of finding a way to lose."

Wrightenberry's teaching lesson will continue this year as he presides over an inexperienced squad. The team has only four returning starters.

"With these young kids, I don't know what kind of mind-set they have," he said. "They haven't been under the gun yet."

South Aiken did turn potential victories into defeats with close losses to South Pointe, Westside-Anderson, Irmo, Lexington and North Augusta. But the Thoroughbreds also posted impressive wins against Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Strom Thurmond and Aiken. Against the Hornets, South Aiken blew open a close game with 21 points in the final quarter for the decisive win.

Defense will be Wrightenberry's main concern. South Aiken lost its entire secondary and middle linebacker Jamal Davis, the area's leading tackler, from last year.

"You can't replace people like that," he said.

In a recent scrimmage against Chapin, South Aiken gave up seven touchdown passes. During last week's Aiken County Jamboree, South Aiken fared better against Ridge Spring-Monetta, registering a 14-0 win.

Wrightenberry expects the Thoroughbreds to be solid on offense.

Running back Denzell Washington, who scored a pair of touchdowns in the Jamboree, returns, as does sophomore quarterback Tanner Hawley.

"He has grown up so much. I knew last year the kid had talent," said Wrightenberry, who noted that Hawley gained valuable experience at a quarterbacks camp at Furman University. "The kid has a chance to be something special, there's no doubt about it. He can throw the ball about as well as any quarterback I've been around."

Protection shouldn't be an issue for Hawley. JerQuari Schofield, a 6-foot-6, 298-pounder, will anchor the line.

"Everybody's protecting Tanner," said Schofield, who has verbally committed to Tennessee. "Tanner might not see the ground."

South Aiken drops down to Class AAA this season, but the Thoroughbreds will face a tough early schedule with games against Class AAAA rivals Aiken and North Augusta followed by contests against Class AA foes Silver Bluff, Strom Thurmond and Barnwell.

"Our goal is to be better than we were last night. Right now, my concern isn't wins and losses," Wrightenberry said.

"It don't matter until we get to the sixth game of the season, which is when region begins. If we can continue to improve day by day, we'll be alright when it comes time."