South Pointe head coach Bobby Collins looking to lead Stallions to second straight AAAA title

           Sumter – As is always the case when it comes to the South Carolina High School League and its biannual reclassification, there are always plenty of shakeups. It’s just the nature of the beast.

           However, the AAAA classification in this year’s reshuffling has a much newer look to it. That’s because the AAAAA class was top-heavy the two previous seasons with two different divisions. This year the split is happening with the smaller schools with Class A having two divisions.

           That means the split among the larger schools will be more equitable. There are 44 schools playing AAAA football this year. Twenty of them were classified AAAAA last year, 22 are returning AAAA schools, one was a AAA school last year and another is a brand new school altogether.

           The two teams that played for the title last year – defending state champion South Pointe and runner-up South Florence – remain in AAAA. In fact, the last six state champions – A.C. Flora in 2020, South Pointe in ’21 and ’25, South Florence in ’22 and ’24 and Westside in ’23 are all still AAAA schools.

Here’s a breakdown of each of the seven regions and a look at some of the standouts on each of the 44 teams.

            REGION 1

           EASLEY

           Easley was 3-7 last season as a AAAAA school. The Green Wave lost their season opener to Pickens in a 61-41 shootout.

           Sophomore quarterback Whitley Rodgers completed 21 of 45 passes for two touchdowns and one interception. Sophomore Chase Wimpey had 10 catches for 96 yards and the two TDs, while sophomore Layton Scott had four catches for 124 yards.

           Senior Preston Bivens rushed for 133 yards and two scores on 14 carries.

FOUNTAIN INN

Fountain Inn was 6-5 last season at AAAA. The Fury opened its season with a 24-20 triumph over fellow AAAA school Greenville.

Fountain Inn is led by senior quarterback Sam Holliday, who returns for his fourth season as a starter. Holliday completed 153 of 231 passes for 2,069 yards and 23 touchdowns while running for 785 yards and 16 more scores.

Fellow senior Bojack Johnson is back after running for 707 yards and eight TDs. The teams two leading receivers from a year ago are back in seniors Ben Rowe and BJ Curenton. Rowe had 45 catches for 637 yards and seven touchdowns, and Curenton had 35 catches for 458 yards and two scores.

GREENWOOD

Greenwood went 9-2 in AAAAA last season, losing in the second round of the Division II playoffs. The Eagles opened their season with a 35-7 triumph over Riverside, which is a AAAA school this year after playing AAAAA last year.

Junior defensive back Desiray Christian is a Greenwood standout. Some other key returnees are quarterbacks Quay Justesen  and Zatavion White and running backs Martavious Hamilton and Cassidy Lee.

LAURENS

Laurens has won only eight games over the last four years, going 1-9 last season in AAAA, However, the Raiders opened this season on a bright note with a 43-34 triumph over J.L. Mann.

Sophomore quarterback Logan Bragg completed 22 of 32 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 80 yards and another score on 12 carries in the win over Mann.

Another sophomore, Travion Robinson, had 78 yards and a score on 16 carries. Senior Brayden Patterson was the leading receiver with six catches for 94 yards and a score. Senior Quinton Watts had three catches for 73 yards and a score, and Robinson, junior Kaleb Gilchrist and junior Elijah Cheeks each had three catches with 50, 51 and 59 yards, respectively.

T.L. HANNA

After several years at the AAAAA level, T.L. Hanna will be AAAA this season. The Yellow have won 10 games in four of the last five years with the other season ending in nine wins.

Hanna opened the season with a 17-14 triumph over 2-time defending AAA state runner-up Belton-Honea Path.

The Jackets rely mainly on their running game, spreading the wealth among several running backs. Senior Brian Cole is back after rushing for a team high 808 yards to go with six touchdowns on 96 carries. Junior Esailas Carroll rushed for 46 yards and the two TDs in the win over BHP, while Cole ran for 69 yards on 12 carries.

Handling the duties at quarterback is senior William Mayfield.

WESTSIDE

           Westside “only” went 9-5 last season, but playing 14 games meant the Rams reached the upper state championship game.

           The Rams opened their season with a 31-14 triumph over West Ashley. Sophomore quarterback Bear Woods completed 13 of 19 passes for 187 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore Jae White had three of the scoring receptions, finishing with five catches for 56 yards.

Senior Tajeh Watson-Martin, who is a Virginia commitment, had five catches for 56 yards and a score, and senior Elijah Lipsey had two catches for 48 yards and the other TD catch. Senior Damauri Robinson had 10 catches for 121 yards and a score.

Defensive lineman Christian Webb-Scott is one of the top juniors in the state.

REGION 2

GAFFNEY

Gaffney is dropping down to AAAA after years of being in the highest classification. As they’ve been over the last few decades, the Indians will be right in the mix of things in AAAA, likely one of the favorites.

Gaffney opened with a 24-20 victory8 over longtime rival Spartanburg. Senior running back Amire White had a huge game. The transfer from Irmo rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.

Senior Kendaris Bailey rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Senior quarterback Corey Taylor completed 11 of 17 passes for 82 yards.

Senior offensive lineman Calvin Brooks is an Alabama-Birmingham commitment.

Defensive back Zion Dawkins is the top-rated junior in the state, according to High School Sports Report.

A key defensive performer for Gaffney is senor lineman Marquell Smalls.

GREENVILLE

            Greenville went 7-5 at the AAAAA level last season. The Red Raiders lost to Fountain Inn 24-20 in the season opener.

Junior Kilshawn Farrow is back at quarterback. The junior completed 102 of 170 passes for 1,086 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also the leading rusher with 751 yards and 10 touchdowns on 112 carries.

Also returning is sophomore Deandre Dogan. He rushed for 576 yards and two scores.

GREER

            Greer went 4-7 last year competing in AAAA. The Yellow Jackets opened their season with a 45-31 victory over Woodmont.

            Sophomore Xavier Sammett completed 14 of 17 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 130 yards on 12 carries. Senior Calvin McCoy rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries.

Sophomore Zay Moseley had six catches for 93 yards.

RIVERSIDE

Riverside went 4-7 last year as a AAAAA team. The Warriors opened the season with a 34-7 loss to Greenwood.

Senior quarterback Gideon Merhib returns after completing 182 of 288 passes for 2,361 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 822 yards and eight touchdowns on 155 carries.

Senior Keyon Knowles is back as well after running for 878 yards. Knowles had 314 receiving yards on 32 catches. Also back is junior Peyton Stevenson, who had 53 catches for 667 yards and six touchdowns. 

Senior Marques Skinner is a top tight end.

TRAVELERS REST

Travelers Rest went 2-8 last season playing at the AAAA level. The Devildogs opened their season on August 28 against Blue Ridge.

Key returnees for Travelers Rest are quarterbacks Colton Sorsby and J.T. Pochard and middle linebacker Aiden Garrett.

WADE HAMPTON

Wade Hampton lost all 19 games it played at AAAAA over the past two seasons. The Generals return to AAAA in the midst of a 24-game losing streak.

Wade Hampton opened its season on August 28 at home against Southside.

Some of the key returning performers are quarterback Walker Kay, running back Coleman Batson and defensive end Demetrius Massey.

REGION 3

CATAWBA RIDGE

Catawba Ridge is one of six York County schools in the region with a Lancaster County outlier in Indian Land.

The Copperheads went 6-6 in the second of two years in AAAAA. They opened this season with a 24-6 triumph over Blythewood.

Junior quarterback Will Gambrill threw for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory. Junior Lucas McCauley had the two TD catches and four receptions for 80 yards.

Senior Defensive end Alex Johnson is a Boston College commitment.

CLOVER

Clover has gone down to AAAA after going 5-6 last season. The Eagles opened this season with a 28-7 loss to Fort Mill.

Senior Grady Stone rushed for 112 yards and Clover’s only touchdown on 18 carries. Senior Aaron Shealey is the starting quarterback.

INDIAN LAND

           Indian Land went 11-2 last season, losing in the AAAAA Division II upper state title game to Northwestern.

The Warriors beat Harding University of North Carolina 49-0 to open the season. Junior quarterback Matt Kucia completed 15 of 20 passes for 229 yards and five touchdowns.

Junior Kenneth Wilson III had five catches for 65 yards, two of them going for touchdowns.

Senior linebacker Jackson Conner, a Marshall commitment, led the defense with 10 tackles.

LAKE WYLIE

Lake Wylie is the new school with its first ever football team. The Chargers, under the tutelage of former White Knoll head coach Nick Pelham, beat Ballantyne Ridge of Charlotte 41-35 in their first game.

Sophomore quarterback Landon Robinson passed for 358 yards and two ttouchdwns and ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Rhyan Watson had eight catches for 283 yards and three touchdowns.

NATION FORD

Nation Ford went 4-7 last year as a member of AAAAA. The Falcons opened this season with a 21-14 loss to Gilbert.

Senior quarterback Asher Becker passed for 150 yards and ran for 152 in the opener. Junior Graham Lee had three catches for 64 yards.

Senior defensive lineman Kaydin Green is a team leader.

SOUTH POINTE

South Pointe went 14-1 in winning the AAAA crown last season, losing to Hough of North Carolina 14-10 in the season opener. The Stallions lost a load of talent from that team, but return a good deal as well.

Seth Tillman, a 6-4, 300-pound lineman, is committed to Clemson. Another key performer up front is junior Bryce Collins.

YORK

            York went 4-7 playing AAAA last season. The Cougars opened this season with a 26-0 triumph over Westwood.

Junior quarterback Ryan Brochu completed 15 of 23 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Zamarion Isom, senior Brian Davis and junior Caiden Tine each had a touchdown reception.

Senior outside linebacker Hayden Adkins led the defense with 11 tackles.

REGION 4

A.C. FLORA

A.C. Flora went 11-2 in reaching the quarterfinals of the AAAA playoffs last season. The Falcons are in their first season under head coach Willie Offord.

Flora is being led offensively by senior running back Zion Gaddist, junior wide receiver Ziggy Offord and junior quarterback Riggs Scott.

Senior defensive tackle Brennen Williams leads the defense along with junior defensive end Nasir Walker.

DREHER

Dreher went 3-8 last season in AAAA, but opened this season with a big 56-13 triumph over North Central.

Freshman running back Ashton Felder ran for 154 yards and four scores in the victory. Quarterback Aiden Fitzgerald completed 8 of 16 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Hadi Jabali led the defense with 10 tackles.

LANCASTER

Lancaster went 2-9 last year in AAAA. However, the Bruins opened this season with a 49-21 triumph over Chester.

LUGOFF-ELGIN

Lugoff-Elgin played at AAAAA the past two seasons and had a pretty good 2025, going 6-6. The Demons opened this season with a 41-25 victory over Chapin.

Senior running back Tijon Fanning had a big game in the opener, running for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Junior Zach Williams is the quarterback. Senior wide receiver Eric Richardson is a Coastal Carolina commitment.

Junior Cash Majar led the defense with 17 tackles, while Jace Coleman had 13, one being for a loss. Senior cornerback Oliver Coleman is a Coastal commitment as well.

RICHLAND NORTHEAST

            Richland Northeast came into this season on an 11-game losing streak after going 0-10 last year. The Cavaliers took care of the streak in the season opener, beating archrival Spring Valley 38-9.

Sophomore quarterback Zion Farmer completed 11 of 18 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Isaiah Woods and senior Malachi Farmer both had a touchdown reception.

Junior Cameron Ceasar had seven carries for 76 yards and two scores.

WESTWOOD

After two years at AAAAA, Westwood is back at AAAA after going 7-5 in their first season under Stephen Burris as head coach. They didn’t get off to a greatest start this year, suffering a 26-0 loss to York.

Westwood is breaking in a new quarterback in sophomore Kylen Dopson. Others expected to be key offensive performers are seniors Angelo Rios and Jayden Risher.

Senior defensive lineman AJ Veal is committed to East Carolina.

REGION 5

AIKEN

Aiken is one of four schools in this region that was part of Region 4-AAAA last season. The Righting Green Hornets went 2-8 last season, but that was actually the most wins they’d had in a season since 2021.

They opened this season with a 31-7 win over Lakeside from Georgia. Senior quarterback Tanner Padgett completed 12 of 9 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Allen Cummings had eight catches for 113 yards, and senior Tarrant McKenzie and sophomore Michael Francis both had TD catches.

FOX CREEK

Fox Creek was at the AA level just two years but moved up to AAA the past two years because of the student multiplier rule when counting enrollment. The Predators are AAAA this season because of that.

They went 5-6 last year in their final season under Lemuel Lackey. FCHS opened this season under new head coach David Sammonds with a 32-14 loss to Silver Bluff, where Lackey is now the head coach.

IRMO

Irmo is the other newcomer to this region and the only one that made the drop from AAAAA. All the Yellow Jackets did in their two years in AAAAA is play for the Division II state championship twice.

Irmo is having to replace some top players from last season. The Jackets suffered a 24-14 loss to Rock Hill to open the season.

Still Irmo has three of the top five seniors in the state, according to High School Sports Report. They are defensive end Jaiden Bryant, who is committed to Miami, running back Tai Phillips, who is committed to Alabama, and 6-foot-5-inch, 285-pound offensive lineman Nate Carson, who is committed to South Carolina.

Irmo has another commitment in senior free safety Jamar Grissette, who has pledged to Appalachian State. Another key performer for Irmo is senior defensive tackle Tyrone Jennings.

MIDLAND VALLEY

Midland Valley went 7-4 last season in AAAA. The Mustangs opened this season ith a 49-42 triumph over AAAAA Lexington.

Junior running back Preston Smith had a huge game in the opener, rushing for 180 yards and four touchdowns. Senior quarterback Xavier Geter completed 15 of 22 passes for 191 yards and also had 19 carries for 135 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior JJ Shephard led the defense with three tackles for a loss.

NORTH AUGUSTA

North Augusta went 11-2 last season, losing in the quarterfinals of the AAAA state playoffs. However, the Yellow Jackets opened this season on a sour note with a 21-7 loss to defending AA state champion Strom Thurmond.

The North Augusta defense is led by 6-1, 305-pound senor tackle Simeon Jones and junior defensive back DJ Johnson.

SOUTH AIKEN

South Aiken had a respectable season last year, going 5-6 in AAAA. The Thoroughbreds opened this season with a 59-6 pounding of Silver Bluff.

Junior quarterback Tommy Burns III completed 8 of 9 passes for 160 yards and four scores. Senior Kyson McLeod , who is committed to Appalachian State, had three catches for 51 yards and two TDs, and junior Blake Goodman had three catches for 91 yards and the other scores.

REGION 6

BEAUFORT

Beaufort is one of five schools that were all members of Region 6-AAAA a year ago. The Eagles are coming off of a 3-8 campaign from a year ago. They opened this season with a 30-22 loss to Hardeeville.

BLUFFTON

Bluffton is coming off of an 8-3 campaign from a year ago. The Bobcats opened this season with a 29-7 triumph over Savannah Country Day of Georgia.

Bluffton is breaking in a new quarterback in junior Jack Calendine. He completed 12 of 24 passes for 198 yards and two TDs in the opener. His top target was senior Amare Patterson, who had seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. Patterson has pledged to North Carolina.

Senior running back Kordell Holley had 77 yards and a TD on 20 carries.

COLLETON COUNTY

Colleton County went 1-9 last season. The Gators didn’t open this season on a good note, falling to defending AA state runner-up Hampton County 33-0.

Keandre Allen is a one of the top senior wide receivers in the state.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Hilton Head Island had an impressive season a year ago, going 11-2 in reaching the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. The Seahawks opened this season in impressive fashion as well, beating South Florence 38-21.

Senior running back Jayvin Risher ran for 103 yards, while senior wide receiver Jeremiah Waiters had 175 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. Senior quarterback Derrick Raniszewski completed 11 of 19 passes for 241 yards and three scores.

Senior outside linebacker Andrew Massey led the defense with 11 tackles.

LUCY BECKHAM

Lucy Beckham is the lone newcomer to the region, where it dropped down from AAAAA after going 7-4 last year. The Bengals opened this season with an impressive 29-6 win over Fort Dorchester.

Lucy Beckham’s top player is 6-6, 300-pound offensive lineman Ty Johnson. He is committed to Georgia.

MAY RIVER

May River is coming off of a nice 7-4 campaign from a year ago. The Sharks were scheduled to open their season on August 28 on the road against Wando.

REGION 7

Conway is one of four Horry County Schools that is dropping down from AAAAA to AAAA.

The Tigers are in their first season under former West Florence head coach Jody Jenerette after going 2-9 last season and winning just six games in three years under Josh Pierce. They didn’t get off to a good start, falling to Loris 41-0.

MYRTLE BEACH

Another of those Horry County schools is Myrtle Beach. The Seahawks went 8-4 last season in AAAAA. They suffered a rough loss in their season opener, falling to Marlboro County 61-20.

MBHS senior Julian Brown is one of the top wide receivers in the state. The quarterback is Camden DeBruhl.

            NORTH MYRTLE BEACH

North Myrtle Beach is another Horry County school. The Chiefs went 3-8 last season, but opened this campaign with a 31-7 win over Socastee in Perry Woolbrght’s return as head coach.

Some of the key returnees are skill position players Reo Stevenson, Jayden Wilson and Jayden Chestnut

ST. JAMES

St. James is the final of the Horry County schools. The Sharks went 4-7 last season. They’ve opened this year with a 22-21 win over Waccamaw.

SOUTH FLORENCE

All of the Florence 1 schools – South Florence, West Florence and Wilson – are all back in AAAA and part of the same region.

The Bruins played for the AAAA state title for the fourth consecutive season, falling to South Pointe. All of those appearances were under Drew Marlowe, who is now the head coach at Sumter.

Senior De’Eric Davis is starting at quarterback with junior Samaj Parker a top wide receiver. The defense is led by junior linebacker Warren Prew.

WEST FLORENCE

After two years in AAAAA, West Florence is back in AAAA. After a slow start, the Knights went 6-6 under Chad Wilkes.

           West Florence opened its season with a 49-38 win over Hartsville.

WILSON

Wilson went 7-5 in its first season under head coach Brian Wilson. The Tigers didn’t open this season on a strong note, falling to Hartsville 55-34.