A.C. Flora’s Kendall Byrd emerged as a star last year and will look to continue his development in 2024. Photos by Mike Maddock
The A.C. Flora Falcons had a rough 2024 season finishing 4-7 and getting their fewest wins since 2017.
Through the struggles, A.C. Flora may have found some long term answers at key positions. Roper Wentzky grabbed some attention early in the 2023 season, after stepping in against Greenwood for an injured Heath Moser. He led the Falcons to wins over Dreher and Brookland Cayce. For the season, Wentzky threw for 2,367 yards.
“He’s a hard worker,” A.C. Flora head coach Ken Floyd said. “He desires to be great. Some guys just get it and are able to process and make good decisions and be gamers. Roper is one of those guys. It comes natural for him. He’s a good football player.”
Kendall Byrd was another young player who emerged. He led the Falcons with 987 receiving yards and will look to build on that this season. Floyd said Byrd has gained 20 pounds since last season, and it will be important to get him the ball. Josh Davis and Tripp Van Vlake round out the receiving corps.
Solomon Kelson will headline the running backs. When he wasn’t injured, Kelson spent time at running back and wide receiver last year. Palmer Flake will get some carries as well.
Kendrell Chambers and Brett Epps return to anchor the offensive line. Chambers missed the entire 2023 season due to injury.
Defensively, A.C. Flora looks to improve on its performance from a year ago when it gave up an average of 36.6 points per game. Joshua Edwards-Threatt headlines the defensive line. Flake, Max Elliott, and John Dew make up the starting linebackers.
Azel Banag and Michael Quinn will lead the secondary.
A.C. Flora saw a drastic change to its schedule due to realignment. Now in Region 3-4A, the Falcons will compete in the Upper State in the postseason. Before that, A.C. Flora will face an array of region opponents ranging from the familiar Richland Northeast Cavaliers and Dreher Blue Devils to the somewhat familiar Camden Bulldogs to the brand new region foes in the South Pointe Stallions, York Cougars, and Lancaster Bruins.
Floyd expects to improve with the amount of returning experience on his roster.
“Last year was a disappointing year,” Floyd said. “We started 2-1, then go into the Camden game down a couple of players and lose Noah Kelson on the fourth series and Albert Perkins on the next series. Both were out for the year. After that we struggled. We were pretty much playing a JV football team. It was a tough year for sure. The good news is we return the bulk of our production from last year. We should be a much better unit this go around.”
A.C. Flora’s Roper Wentzky threw for 2,367 yards in 2023.
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