By Rob Gantt Special to the HSSR HANAHAN - Two Berkeley County football programs locked horns in a controlled scrimmage Thursday, Aug. 6, and both team's leaders came away somewhat pleased with what they saw. Hanahan coach Milan Turner and Stratford coach Dennie McDaniel were less concerned with the scoreboard and more focused on the small things as the Hawks and Knights battled on the turf at Hanahan's Hawk's Nest facility by Bowen's Corner Elementary. "I'm very pleased with our effort," McDaniel said. "Our attitude has to get a bit better. We had some plays where we broke down in some stuff. We've just got to get out of our feelings and play the next play. That's a young team for you. We've got some maturing to do. We'll do that in the early part of the season. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good performance for a young team." The Class 5A Knights are replacing quite a few starters off a squad that won 10 games and advanced to the third round of the playoffs in 2025. The Knights figure to be able to build around their front seven on defense. Offensively they were hit hard by graduation, though. In terms of returning impact players, the Class 3A Hawks are in a better situation on offense. They bring back a three-year starter at quarterback in big junior lefty Tripp Gallus (6-5, 231). A few other playmakers are back, too, including receivers Grayson Mathes and Quamel Grant . Turner's bunch finished 6-6 in 2025. "For me, I want to see a physicality and a toughness from our kids," Turner said about the first scrimmage. "I told them before we started. I said be violent between the whistles. We know they're going to make some mistakes and obviously we want to try to minimize those. We want to see things like running to the football, all the things that don't take talent. Those are the things I have to see. If I don't see those, we've got a lot of work to do. I feel like we saw that." During Hanahan's opening set of offensive plays, Gallus hooked up with Mathes for an 81-yard touchdown pass on a tunnel screen and Grant over the middle for an 80-yard scoring strike. Stratford defensive lineman Kermit Davis got the Knights on the board with a sack and fumble return for a tally. When the situational scrimmage moved to red zone work, Knights running back Malachi Breland reached paydirt twice, while quarterbacks Dathan Haywood and Caleb Lott tossed touchdowns to Denzel Lazo and Jayden Lee. The Hawks recorded three scores from the red zone, with running back Xavier Sabback scoring on the ground and Gallus distributing his third and fourth touchdown tosses to Jesiah Smith and Evan Knight. During goal-line possessions, which capped the scrimmage, Breland crossed the goal line for the third time and Haywood hooked up with Tyrese Simmons for a score. Sabback capped the scoring for the Hawks with a touchdown run out of the wildcat formation. Earlier, Stratford defensive back Jayden Judge and Hanahan safety Landon Hubler snagged interceptions. Mathes snuffed out Stratford's first drive with a pick in the end zone. The Hawks host Cane Bay Friday, Aug. 14, in a scrimmage. "Now, it's about shrinking the amount of mistakes," Turner said. "We've got tape of this. We want to identify those mistakes: what were mental errors, what were physical errors and what did us as coaches do. Maybe it was us that didn't put our kids in position to be successful." Stratford suits up in the Moncks Corner Lions Club jamboree Aug. 14 at Berkeley High School. "It's going to be a quick opportunity for us," McDaniel said. "We've only got two quarters but we want to make it as game-like as possible. I want to see us clean up the silly penalties and get better at just playing the next play."

Athletic director and head baseball coac h Mack Hite will move into the role of interim principal.

Dillon graduate Keith Coward ( 2004) is beginning his 4th season as the athletic director in the tradition rich Wildcat athletic program.

The athletic director at Woodland High is Ty Sibert, wh o grew up in McCormick, SC. and is a role model for all students not just the student athletes.

Tyler Clark is one of six head coaches joining the Green Wave staff next school year.

Patrick Moffitt spent the past two seasons working with a “B” team and a junior varsity team to get prepared for varsity football at the SDS.

Since Estill and Wade Hampton merged to become Hampton County High School they have quickly become one of the top AA programs in the lower state.

Cory Johnson enters his third season as the head football coach and now athletic director, he has brought focus back to football and getting better on the field.

Executive Director of the SCACA, Scott Earley spends much of his time traversing the state to listen to concerns from coaches.

Myrtle Beach High finally filled an opening for athletic director after more than a year, hiring of long-time coach and administrator Hal McManus.

Former head softball coach Henry Lockey will assume duties within the basketball program this season.

Burnette, who played football at Timberland High from 2002-05 has returned to his alma mater as the next head football coach.

De'Angelo Bryant says this about his team and losing 16 seniors from last year's team, "I really like our guys. From a talent standpoint, there’s still some holes, but I think our guys will fill them.”

Back to run the OCA high-powered offense is senior Aiden Manavian, who took over as the starter during the playoffs of his freshman year.

Phil Tobin, who led Pinewood Prep to a state baseball championship in 2012, will once again lead the Panthers into battle.

Heathwood Hall football team had an unforgettable 2025 season, but head coa ch Tymere Zimmerman s aid those graduated seniors left their mark on a revitalized football program.

Nick Dixon will return for year two of his effort to bring continuity to the Rams football landscape.

Laurence Manning senior Lyza Prickelmyer, a grinder her whole life; showed up and converted her investment of hard work, and sheer sweat equity, into four hits, four RBI’s, (including a two-run homer) for LMA's third SCISA SB state title.

The 2026 Prep Football is teed up and getting set for Week Zero to start the regular season.

Barons will maintain same head coaching staff for the second straight year

The only new head coach is Lanitra Bennett with volleyball

Golden Eagles will remain in AA for football, AAA for other sports after SCISA reclassification

Senior shortstop Katie Guilliam (and headed to play for Missouri) led off with a home run as the first Green Wave batter against Byrnes and her two RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to help earn the Green Wave their third state title in recent years.

All of the Patriots ' other varsity head coaches will return for 2026-27

Three SC prep baseball players drafted. Southside Christian pitcher Carson Bolemon drafted at No. 29 by the San Francisco Giants, then James Island OF Taj Marchand picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays at No. 33 and finally, Christ Church INF Bo Lowrance went to the Los Angeles Dodgers as the 40th overall pick to end the first round.

The remainder of the Cavaliers head coaching staff returns for 2026-27 school year

Former Presbyterian head coach takes over both posts from longtime coach Travis Plowden

Football head coach Brandon Iseman has longest tenure as he prepares for his 12th season

Silver Foxes reached Class A state championship game in Boyd's first season

Apicella returns for 28th season as Panthers coach, 18th year in charge of baseball

Morgan Owens new volleyball head coach, Anna Beth Randall to coach softball

GCA “Lineman Jack Armstrong will be a four-year starter for us,” Bryant said. “He has been a tremendous leader for us on that offensive front. He is very versatile guy committed to The Citadel.

Prep level Soccer competition improving in the Palmetto State.

Landsharks have highly regarded 20027 QB Aiden Manavian (6-0,185) waiting to toss his gifted receivers a bunch of deep impact balls during the 2026 season.

Malcolm Long is the athletic director at Gaffney High School, a former star quarterback for the school and at SC State, plus the HSSR Mr. Football in 2006.

Season Recap Reports from Class A to AAAAA.

The twin brother duo of Clark and Brantley Jones culminated their five-year varsity playing experience at Carvers Bay with both players coming on strong late in their senior seasons, and the HSSR has named both of them to the 2026 HSSR Class A all-state baseball team.

Veteran head coach Johnny Waters will be starting his 4th season with the Chargers who recently won the 7-on-7 championship against all teams in June at the University of South Carolina passing league competitive camp.