When Coastal Carolina rolls into Columbia to play the University of South Carolina at noon Saturday, three Chanticleers will be coming home. Tay Pringle and Corbin Small are graduates of Brookland-Cayce and offensive lineman Wil Webster, a Chapin graduate, are members of the Coastal Carolina football team. The trio are among 50 Chronicle Country players on nine Palmetto State teams who open the season this weekend. “I look forward to coming back,” Pringle said, “B-C will always be home.” Small said it may be a little weird. “I’m excited, but it will be a little crazy playing against South Carolina,” said the lifelong Gamecock fans. Tim Small, Corbin’s father, went to South Carolina. He said he just hopes Coastal Carolina, a 29.5 point underdog, makes a good showing. Pringle, who is redshirting this year, is a defensive line player. Small is on the offensive line. The ball history of the two goes back way before Brookland-Cayce. Small said he and Pringle played together in the city recreational league on B Avenue in West Columbia. “We were seven and eight when we first played together,” said Small, who is a year younger than Pringle. Small played at Northside Middle School and Pringle played middle school football at at Busbee Creative Arts Center. “Corbin and I have a bond,” said Pringle. Small said the two are like blood brothers. “He’s always been there for me and I’ve always been there for him,” Small said. “We push each other in so many ways because we both realize the potential we both have.” In other local action, Allen University will open the season Saturday at W.C. Hawkins Stadium.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

DB Brandon Rowland (Irmo) RB Terrance Wilson (Batesburg-Leesville) LB Craig Johnson (Swansea)

THE CITADEL

DB Phil Barrett (Irmo) DB Cliff Barrett II (Irmo) WR Cole Owens (Chapin) WR Liam Reid (Dutch Fork)

NEWBERRY

WR Bobby Irby (Dutch Fork) QB Taylor Jackson (Batesburg-Leesville) RB Catriez Cook (Gilbert) RB Chance Walker (Swansea) ILB Chase Austin (Lexington) WR Brentley Allen (Lexington)

NORTH GREENVILLE

QB Will Hunter (Lexington) QB Donny Baker (Lexington) DB Stefan Brooks (Swansea) DB R.J. Wooten (Dutch Fork) OLB Chauncey Haney (Irmo, SC) OL Whitt Warner (River Bluff) OL Jonathan Holton (Dutch Fork) OL Matthew Johnson (Chapin, SC) OL Caleb Harris (Dutch Fork) OL Wells Hallman (B-L ) OL Gage Murphy (Lexington) OL Gage Smith (Gilbert) WR Aydan Fields (Gray Collegiate) DL Wesley Gilliard (Airport)

PRESBYTERIAN

DB Duncan Rivers (Gray Collegiate) DL John Sloan (Gray Collegiate) WR Jake Earley (Chapin) WR Mitchel McGee (Lexington) DL Campbell Cox (Lexington)

SOUTH CAROLINA

RB Slade Carroll (Lexington) OL Hank Manos (Chapin) TE Will Register (Chapin)

S.C. STATE

DB Zafir Kelly (Irmo) DB Chris Parrott (Dutch Fork) TE Austin Ruger (Dutch Fork) DL Paul McKeiver (Batesburg-Leesville) OL Paul McNeill (Brookland-Cayce) WR Tyler Schadewald (Lexington) DL Shaheem Haltiwanger (White Knoll)

WOFFORD

PK Dawson Henis (River Bluff) LB Joe Beckett (White Knoll) LS Collin Springer (Leesville, SC) LS Josh Scruggs (B-L) OL Liam Ronan (Lexington)

WEEK 1 SCHEDULE

Thursday’s Game North Greenville at Tusculum College 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Allen vs. Columbus State (at Irmo High School) 3 p.m. Coastal Carolina at South Carolina noon Furman at Clemson 12:20 p.m. South Carolina State at Georgia Southern 6 p.m. Florida Tech at Benedict 6 p.m. The Citadel at Wofford 6 p.m. Newberry at West Carolina 6 p.m. Charleston Southern at Florida 7:30 p.m.