ABBEVILLE — For nearly two decades, Abbeville has built one of South Carolina’s premier football programs by reloading instead of rebuilding.

The Panthers have won nine state championships under coach Jamie Nickles and have become synonymous with deep playoff runs, physical football and high expectations.

But as Nickles enters his 23rd season at the helm, he admits this year’s team presents one of the biggest challenges of his career.

“We’re very inexperienced,” Nickles said. “I knew we were, but yeah, we’re very inexperienced on all levels, all the way from special teams to offense to defense. One of the most inexperienced teams I’ve ever had in my coaching career.”

Nickles has coached through similar transitions before, and one season immediately comes to mind.

“I’d compare it to 2004,” he said. “Really young football team.”

The Panthers graduated 17 seniors from last year’s squad, leaving several key positions up for grabs heading into fall practices. The biggest question entering the season, of course, is at quarterback.

After evaluating three candidates throughout the spring and summer, Nickles has narrowed the competition to Jamiere Killingsworth and Jacob Wilson, though he isn’t rushing to make a final decision.

“We really have confidence in all three, but Jamiere Killingsworth and Jacob Wilson are getting most of the snaps,” Nickles said. “We’re teaching those kids other positions, but that’s going to be something that just has to play itself out.”

In the A-Town Kickoff Classic, the first preseason scrimmage of the year, Wilson took nearly every snap under center, with Killingsworth only taking a few as a wildcat.

The Panthers are also expected, according to Nickles, to rotate backs until someone separates himself. Killingsworth took the bulk of carries early in Abbeville’s preseason game against Emerald, while Aden Harrison, Jamearion Williams and Kingston Marshall all rotated in and showed flashes throughout the night. Williams scored the Panthers’ lone touchdown against the Vikings in the teams’ 21-7 defeat.

Abbeville has relied on a strong rushing attack in the past, and Wilson and Killingsworth both have the tools to open that strength of their offense once again. Wilson, a sophomore, showed flashes in Abbeville’s opening scrimmage against a strong Emerald defense, displaying a confidence to stand in the pocket and take a hit. In a play that was ultimately called back due to a penalty, Wilson rolled out to his right and found a receiver with a perfectly placed ball on the sideline for a 25-yard completion.

While Killingsworth offers more size and speed, Wilson’s arm talent, combined with increasing confidence, can just as easily help create space for the Abbeville offense to work in 2026. The competition will be one to monitor going into the Panthers’ final scrimmage against Georgia’s Lincoln County.

While the offense replaces much of last year’s production, senior linebacker Zach Jordan believes the defense has a stronger returning foundation.

For Jordan, one of the Panthers’ defensive leaders alongside senior Collins Brown, stepping into a larger leadership role has come naturally after learning from veteran players during Abbeville’s recent championship-caliber teams.

“Defensively, we really didn’t lose that many seniors, so it hasn’t been a big change for us,” Jordan said. “Offensively, it was different because we lost a lot of our main players.”

Jordan credited several former Panther standouts for helping shape his approach.

“Watching players like Damarcus Leach really helped me become the leader I am today,” he said.

Now, Jordan hopes to pass those lessons to the next generation.

“I tell the guys every day we’ve just got to be our best each and every day,” he said. “Come out here, work hard and fill those shoes from 2024 and last year.”

Abbeville’s youth won’t be eased into the season.

The Panthers again face one of the area’s toughest non-region schedules, including matchups against Saluda, Belton-Honea Path, Strom Thurmond and Crescent before entering region play. They’ll also tune up with a preseason scrimmage against Georgia 1A powerhouse Lincoln County, one of the Southeast’s premier programs.

Nickles has intentionally built difficult schedules for years, believing adversity in August and September pays dividends once the playoffs arrive.

“It’s a good gauge for just how good a football team you have,” he said.

Nickles pointed to a previous undefeated team that exited the playoffs earlier than expected after never being tested during the regular season.

“We didn’t answer the bell,” he said. “I said never again. From then on, we’re going to schedule tough in preparation for November.”

His philosophy has helped fuel Abbeville’s consistent postseason success, even in seasons when the Panthers stumbled through a difficult non-region slate.

“We’ve been 1-4 before and still played in the third round of the playoffs,” Nickles said.

With Class 1A being split into two divisions, the Panthers will be one of the smaller teams by enrollment in the new-look 1A-DI, which will host some of the strongest competition the Panthers have faced in the postseason in recent years.

With one of the youngest rosters Nickles has coached in 23 seasons, the Panthers understand this year’s journey may look different than many of the championship contenders that came before them.

But Abbeville believes growing pains in August can still become meaningful football in November.

And if history is any indication, counting out the Panthers would be a mistake.