Williston-Elko is consistently one of the top programs in South Carolina’s class 1A.

The Blue Devils have won at least eight games every season over the last decade. They’ve also won eight region titles in the last nine years.

They are a constant presence in the postseason. However, the Blue Devils have been ousted in the quarterfinals five straight years, including consecutive losses to defending champion Lamar.

“Over the past five or six years that Lamar crowd is the crowd you [have] to beat,” Williston-Elko fifth-year head coach, Derek Youngblood, said. “All offseason we’ve been trying to find a way to close that gap and just try to get a little bit better.”

Youngblood acknowledged it’s difficult to sustain the success the Blue Devils have for as long as they have, but he believes this year’s group can carry on the winning tradition.

“I know a lot of people don’t know a whole lot about this team, but I think it’s a team [that] can get a little better each week. I just hope we get another shot [at the quarterfinals] and ride [the success] as long as we can.”

The Blue Devils open the season at Barnwell on Friday.