Airport High School has a 4A classification in athletics for 2016. As a 4A team the Eagles host crosstown rival Brookland-Cayce Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Bob Mooneyhan Field.

Those two teams have played each other twice in the past, but with Airport’s move to 4A, BC is still 3A, Airport and the Bearcats play each other only once in 2016.

A  5A classification was added for high schools in South Carolina. Airport also moves from the Lower State to the Upper State.

Airport’s new conference is made up of of Aiken, South Aiken, Midland Valley, and North Augusta. Some of the schools are new, but others- like Midland Valley and Aiken- were in Region V, 3A with The Eagles last year. In 2015, Airport lost only one game in the regular season. The team finished with a playoff loss, on the road, to powerful Hartsville. Airport’s final record was  10-2 record. 

Other teams on AHS’ out-of-conference schedule include Gilbert, Lower Richland, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, and of course cross-town rivalry, Brookland-Cayce.

Airport Head Coach and Athletic Director Kirk Burnett said the Eagles have used the summer to get ready for the new experience.

“The guys spent a lot of time together during the summer,” Burnett said. He said the time to bond will help them play together.

On offense Airport has some returnees, including speedy senior Kerryon Richardson who has offers from several colleges to play after high school.

Brett Burnett, Burnett’s son, will play the Quarterback position in 2016. He missed most of 2015 with an ACL injury last year. Burnett is a very capable field general, and the Eagles are glad to have him back.

CJ Wright will play wide receiver and Anthony Calhoun is another receiver, Burnett has mentioned as a contributor to the Eagle’s offense.

The Eagles are solid at kicker with Paxton Brooks filling that role.

On defense, Airport lost a lot of players from 2015. And some players will play defense and offense.

One other thing that will be a change, but the same is Brookland-Cayce on Airport’s schedule.

Airport and BC play, but only once it 2016, and it will not be a conference game.

But even being out of conference, expect it to be intense at AHS’s Bob Mooneyhan Field for the season opener on Aug. 26.