Class AAAA has Depth with Quality Teams

Dennis Brunson • August 27, 2025

Gray Collegiate's Michael Boulware.


 

 By Dennis Brunson

           hssr.com Associate Editor

 

           Sumter South Florence High School has established itself as the best football program in AAAA over the past few years. After all, the Bruins have won two of the past three state championships and missed making it three straight and consecutive 15-0 seasons by just three points.

 

           All that being said, the degree of separation between South Florence and the other top teams in the classification is small. Westside, which beat the Bruins 34-32 to claim the 2023 championship, just missed winning two straight championships by falling 42-41 to the Bruins last year.

 

           SFHS may be the defending state champion, but it isn’t the defending Region 5 champion. That honor belongs to Hartsville, which beat the Bruins convincingly during the regular season only to fall to them in the third round of the state playoffs.

 

           The team SFH beat in the lower state championship game was North Augusta, and that was only by a 27-20 count.

 

           Let’s take a look at each of the teams in the six regions and try to figure out who will be who when the playoffs come around.

 

           REGION 1

`          1. Westside 2. Wren 3. Emerald 4. Fountain Inn 5. Laurens 6. Southside

 

           WESTSIDE

 

           The Rams, who were ranked third in the High School Sports Report AAAA preseason poll, will be having to move forward without Cutter Woods as their quarterback for the first time in three years. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a Woods behind center. Cutter, who is now at South Carolina, is being succeeded by little brother Bear Cutter.

 

           Bear will still have key playmakers Zyon Paul and Kaylan Powell around him for distribution.

 

           WREN

 

           The Golden Hurricanes were ranked 10th in the preseason poll, but is having to replace the quarterback and running back from last year’s dynamic offense. They had a 3-way battle going on for the quarterback job while Jojo Mosley will be the lead ball carrier. 

 

           What Wren does have back, however, is four offensive linemen. Back on defense are cornerback Jacob Lewis, safety Nick Owens  and linebacker Adin Hickerson.

 

           FOUNTAIN INN

 

           The Fury went 6-5 in just their third season of existence, finishing fourth in the region. They return seven starters on defense, including linebackers Chase Lundy and EJ Lundy.

 

           On offense, 1,000-yard rusher Bojack Johnson returns at running back. Junior Sam Holliday is back at quarterback.

 

           EMERALD

 

           Emerald will be looking to take another big step forward after improving to 5-6 last season after going 1-10 in 2023.

 

           The Vikings have sophomore Beau Hite back at quarterback with Chris Dean coming out of the backfield and Camelle Hill and Colton Moreno lining up at wide receiver.

 

           Emerald returns its entire linebacker unit, led by Chris Foster, who finished with 156 tackles.

 

           LAURENS

 

           Laurens will be trying to take a big step forward this year after consecutive 9-loss seasons. The Raiders will have a freshman at quarterback in Logan Bragg. Leading rusher Neno Fernandez will be back.

 

           Laurens will be looking to shore up its defense after allowing an average of 42.0 points per game.

 

           SOUTHSIDE

 

           Ater going 0-10 last season, Southside will be in its first season under the leadership of William “AJ” Mills. `     

           The Tigers will be looking to make drastic improvements on both sides of the football ater allowing 45 points per game while scoring just 13 a game.

 

           Brayson Sullivan and Ashton Pearson are battling for the quarterback job.

 

 

           REGION II

1. Daniel 2. Seneca 3. Greer 4. Blue Ridge 5. Pickens 6. Berea 7. Travelers Rest

 

DANIEL

 

           The Lions are ranked sixth in the preseason poll, but will be moving forward without Jeff Fruster as the head coach. Fruster, who led Daniel to three AAA state titles, has been replaced by Chris Stone, who was the head coach at Walhalla.

 

           The Lions will return 10 starters from last season’s 11-2 squad. The quarterback will be sophomore Jace Grass, who played for Pendleton last season.

 

           SENECA

 

           Seneca is ranked 11th and returns 16 starters, eight on both sides of the football. The Bobcats have Gavin Thomas back for his third year as the starting quarterback to go along with 1,200-yard rusher Amari Verner.

 

           Noah Hamm is one of the leading returners on defense for Seneca, which went 8-3. He had seven interceptions.

 

           GREER

 

           Greer will be looking to get off to a faster starter than last year. The Yellow Jackets lost their first three games before rebounding to finish second in the region and reaching the second round of the playoffs.

 

           Greer is ranked 12th in the poll. It returns 10 starters but will be breaking in a new quarterback in sophomore Dawson Fowler. He will have wide receiver Tucker Hudson, AJ Jackson and Quantez Miller returning.

 

 BLUE RIDGE

 

           After winning just one game in 2023, Blue Ridge won four last season and reached the state playoffs. The Tigers hope to take another big step forward under 3-year starting quarterback Gavin Forrester.

 

           Blue Ridge returns seven starters on defense.

 

           PICKENS

 

           The Blue Flames won five games last season. However, they lost 20 seniors rom that squd.

 

           On the bright side, quarterback Brooks Dow returns for his second year as a starter.

 

           BEREA

 

           The Bulldogs will have to remember how to live life without 4-yeaer starter Amazay Robinson at quarterback. Either Johnny Mitchell or Jayden Scates will be the quarterback, and Berea will be operating out of the Wing-T after running the spread.

 

           TRAVELERS REST

 

           Travelers Rest went just 1-8 last season, losing starting quarterback Colby Epps in the third game. Epps returns this season.

 

           Xavier Hagerman returns at linebacker to lead the defense.



           REGION 3

1. South Pointe 2. A.C. Flora 3. Camden 4. Lancaster 5. Richland Northeast 6. Dreher 7. York

 

SOUTH POINTE

 

The Stallions are a preseason No. 2 pick and that comes despite the loss of 2,600-yard rusher Mason Pickett-Hicks. However, they do return senior quarterback Cameron McMillan, who tossed 31 TD passes against just four interceptions.

 

           South Pointe, which played for the upper state title, has South Carolina commitment J’Zavien Currence back in the secondary along with heavily recruited junior transfer Kaiden Watkins.

 

           A.C. FLORA

 

           Senior Roper Wentzky is back for his third year starting at quarterback for the Falcons, who were the preseason No. 8. He threw for 2,684 yards and 28 touchdowns.

 

           Flora also has Wentzky’s favorite target back in senior Kendall Byrd. He had 83 catches for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns.

 

           CAMDEN

 

           The ninth-ranked Bulldogs will have junior Greyson Rimpf, the son of head coach Brian Rimpf, back in his first full year as the starting quarterback. Tylin Drakeford will return at wide receiver after coming up with 56 catches for 938 yards and 11 TDs.

 

           Camden was 9-4 last season and reached the third round of the playoffs after starting 4-3. It returns 12 starters, including all of the offensive backfield and four seniors on the defensive line.

 

           LANCASTER

 

           The Bruins went 4-7 last year and were close to being much better. They lost 1-score contests to both A.C. Flora and Camden. Lancaster also reached the state playoffs.

 

           Lancaster will be trying to get the ball into the hands of Anthony Williams as much as possible. He splits time between quarterback and wide receiver.

 

           RICHLAND NORTHEAST

 

           For the first time in fou7r years, Richland Northeast will not have Will Wilson taking snaps at quarterback. He is now at North Carolina State.

 

           However, the cupboard isn’t bare for the Cavaliers. Senior Kamarion Willingham and sophomore Isaac  Austin were battling for the QB job, and whoever wins it will have plenty of receiving options along with most of the offensive line.

 

           DREHER

 

           The Blue Devils are coming off of a 3-7 season that came up just a few points short of a .500 record. Dreher will have Walker Rowe and Chris Baker both seeing time at quarterback. They were splitting time last year before Baker was lost for the year in the early going with an injury.

 

           Dreher has a massive offensive lineman to run behind in 6-foot-5-inch, 325-pound senior Chanston Evans.

 

YORK

 

           York went just 2-8 last season, missing out on the state playoffs. That’s something that doesn’t sit well with veteran head coach Dean Boyd.

 

           The Cougars return Tyson Freeman at quarterback.

 


           REGION 4

1. North Augusta 2. Gilbert 3. Gray Collegiate 4. Midland Valley 5. Brookland-Cayce 6. South Aiken 7. Airport 8. Aiken

 

NORTH AUGUSTA

 

           The Yellow Jackets were ranked fifth and had 1,800-yard rusher Michael Dow among many key returning players from last year’s 12-2 squad. Colin Tillman and AJ Hillary were vying for the quarterback job.

 

GILBERT

 

 Gilbert was ranked 14th. The Indians return just three starters on offense but have eight back on defense. That includes senior defensive backs Wynn Meetze, RJ Kearse and Demarion Brown and senior linebacker Gray Gunter.

 

           GRAY COLLEGIATE

 

           Gray Collegiate will be trying to rebound from a season that ended with it forfeiting all of its victories for the use of an ineligible student-athlete and the suspension of first year head coach DeAngelo Bryant for recruiting violations.

 

           The War Eagles will be led defensively by linebacker Michael Boulware.

 

           MIDLAND VALLEY

 

           The Mustangs had all of its wins from a year ago come in region play, which was good for third place. Brent Dorn returns for his first full season as head coach, having served in an interim capacity last year. Also back is junior quarterback Xavier Geter.

 

           BROOKLAND-CAYCE

 

           Former Camden offensive coordinator Louis Clyburn is now in charge of the Bearcats, inheriting a 4-7 team. He has Andrew Frick at quarterback. Running the offense will be former USC assistant coach GA Mangus.

 

           SOUTH AIKEN

 

           The Thoroughbreds are coming off of a solid 6-5 season, but they are having to replace a slew of outstanding seniors. That list includes 2,400-yard rusher Jevon Edwards and quarterback Tucker Bryan.

 

           Junior WR Kyson Mcleod is back after coming up with 42 catches for 580 yards and seven TDs.

 

           AIRPORT

 

 The Eagles will be in their first season under head coach Chris Napier after going 2-9 last season. Junior Talon Harlin is the quarterback.

 

           AIKEN

 

           The Fighting Green Hornets will be trying to win a game on the field this season for the first time since 2022. Last season’s triumph came via Gray Collegiate’s forfeit.

 

           Steve Hibbitts is in his first season as head coach and inherits a lot of returnees on both sides of the football. Tanner Padgett returns at quarterback.

 


           REGION 5

1. South Florence 2. Hartsville 3. Crestwood 4. Darlington 5. Lower Richland 6. Lakewood 7. Wilson

 

SOUTH FLORENCE

 

           The Bruins have gone 41-4 the past three seasons and are in position for another strong season. Messiah Jackson returns at quarterback ater passing for 2,080 yards and 30 TDs last season.

 

           Linebacker Terry Gordon returns after coming up with 87 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss. Fredrick Cooper  is back to lead the secondary.

 

           HARTSVILLE

 

           Hartsville has six starters returning on offense and just our on defense from the region title team. Kylif Miller and Tristan Spann will be focal points on offense while Chris Price, Rod Cranford and Ziyon Mason will lead the way on defense.

 

           CRESTWOOD

 

           Crestwood went 5-6 last season after having to replace a load of experience. The Knights will be young again but talented with only 13 seniors on the roster.

 

           Sophomore Jayden Martin returns after moving around the offense last season between quarterback and wide receiver. Freshman Brayden Boults will make his debut and already has some Football Bowl Subdivision offers after summer amps.

 

           The defense is experienced and is led by defensive back Da’shan Scriven, who had five picks last season.

 

           DARLINGTON

 

           The Falcons return a combined 14 starters from last year’s 6-win team that reached the second round of the state playoffs. Nine of those starters are back on defense and are led by Oreion Small and Adarius Martin.

 

           Quarterback Jaylen Augustus is back on offense.

 

           LOWER RICHLAND

 

           The Diamond Hornets won five games last year and have a senior-laden team this year. They return all five starters on the offensive line in Chama Sabb, Jeremiah Goodwin, Adrain Davis, Tyler Robinson and Zayair James.

 

 The defense returns practically its entire unit led by co-leading tacklers Ophir Hill and Daniel Gee.

 

           LAKEWOOD

 

           Lakewood is in its third season under head coach Willie Offord. The Gators went 2-9 last season.

 

           Brian Brooks will bounce around the offense, including quarterback. Kaiden Brown will likely see a lot o time at quarterback. The offensive line is experienced with Calvin Wells, Keytrelle Griffin, Connor Lee and Charlton McLeod returning.

 

           WILSON

 

           Wilson went just 1-9 and is being led by former Sumter assistant Brian Wilson this season.

 

           Tristen Howard will be the quarterback while senior Myquan McWhite will be a key performer at running back. Senior defensive back Aiden Mack will lead the defense.

 

           REGION 6

1. Bishop England. 2. Bluffton 2. Hilton Head Island 3. May River 4. Beaufort 5. Colleton County

 

BISHOP ENGLAND

 

           The Battlin’ Bishops hope to build on last year’s surprising 9-3 season in its firt year under head coach Logan Hall.

 

 Quinn Mahoney returns at quarterback. He is committed to        Mahoney was a threat with his passing and running ability as he collected 2,950 yards in total offense and accounted for 30 touchdowns.

 

 The top returners on defense include linebacker Hunter Alex  and lineman Matthew Ponkow.

 

Alex was in on 113 tackles and recorded 11.5 tackles for a loss. Ponkow had a remarkable sophomore season last year with 98 tackles. He logged 23 tackles for a loss, including 11 sacks.

 

 BLUFFTON

 

 Bluffton was ranked seventh in the preseason poll after going 6-5 last season. North Carolina commit Carnell Warren is back at wide receive3r and will have quarterback Aedan McCarthy throwing to him.

 

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND

 

Hilton Head was ranked 13th after going 9-3 last season despite starting 10 sophomores. The Seahawks allowed just 14.5 points per game and were led by senior linebacker Will Jimenez.

 

           MAY RIVER

 

           May River was ranked 15th but has just four starters back on offense and three on defense from a 9-3 team. The Sharks return tailback Andrew Johnson and halfback Sean Mitchell on offense. The defense is led by senior end Zavier Polite.

 

 BEAUFORT

 

The Eagles had their first losing season since 2019, going just 2-9. However, they return a load of experience with 25 seniors.

 

           That being said, the offense is inexperienced. The defense is led by junior linebacker Colton Freeman, and senior linebacker James Thomas.

 

 COLLETON COUNTY

 

           Adam Kinloch returns for his third season as head coach of the Cougars. They will be looking for improvement after going 1-9 and not winning a region contest.

 

           Colleton County will be looking to get the football into the hands of wide receiver Keandre Allen as much as possible.

 

 

     


By Dennis Brunson July 3, 2026
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Saluda – The Saluda High School football team will have a good amount of experience returning for the 2026 season. The Tigers have six starters back on offense and eight on defense from a team that went 6-6 and reached the second round of the AA state playoffs. However, they didn’t get a lot of work in during spring practice because many of them were on the school’s baseball and track and field teams that made deep runs in the postseason. Saluda head coach Greg Woerner found a silver lining in that though. “We were only able to get eight days of spring practice in and made the most o it and got better learning the offense and defense and developing some depth with the younger guys,” said Woerner, who will be in his second season as head coach. “A lot of our returning starters were making playoff runs in baseball and track, so we got a good luck at our depth.” Saluda returns four players who were selected to the All-Region 2-AA team last year. They are rising junior placekicker Ericson Vasquez , senior running back Tristan Daniels, senior tight end Jahmeer Myers and junior defensive back Ceddion Springs . Vasquez was named the Region 2 Special Teams Player of the year. Woerner is hoping the Tigers can be productive in the month of July leading into the start of fall practice. “For the remainder of the summer we’re really just looking forward to continuing to get stronger but also focusing in more on football,” Woerner said. “We had a good June competing in 7-on-7s (competitions) and getting better at our passing game and pass defense. July will focus more on getting better at the whole game.” The Tigers completed their 7-on-7 competition in June. Their first scrimmage will be on August 6 at Woodland before coming home to scrimmage Gilbert on August 10. Saluda is scheduled to open its season on August 21 at home against Abbeville . The Tigers will be part of a new region in Region 4-AA. The region will include two old Region 2 foes in defending state champion Strom Thurmond and Pelion to go with American Leadership Academy , Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Silver Bluff . MILLER MARTIN SELECTED TO AA ALL-STATE SOFTBALL TEAM Sophomore pitcher Miller Martin , a key figure for Saluda’s AA state championship softball team, was selected to the AA All-State softball team announced by the South Carolina Association for Women’s Sports . Martin had a 15-3 win-loss record and struck out 248 batters in 139 2/3 innings while posting a 0.70 earned run average. At the plate, Martin had a .308 batting average with five home runs and 32 runs batted in. Martin was also named the Region 2 Co-Player of the Year. Martin was joined on the All-Region team by Amy Sorcia , Zoey Springs and Nyla Jordan . Tigers head coach Hannah Towery said the program’s first ever state title sets a precedent for the future. “Future players will walk on to that field knowing a championship can be achieved because this team proved it,” said Towery, who guided Saluda to a 29-3 record. “The banner will hang, the trophy will be displayed, and the record books will always show who did it first. “History remembers champions, but it especially remembers those who paved the way. This team just didn’t win a state championship – they built a legacy.”
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor July 3, 2026
Raiders return everyone along the line from 8-4 team that reached 8-man semifinals
By David Shelton July 2, 2026
Oceanside's rising senior QB, Aiden Manavian is nearing 10,000 career passing yards and threw 42 touchdown passes last season.
By Gerald Doolittle July 1, 2026
By: Gerald Doolittle Contributing Writer, HSSR Batesburg-Leesville, S.C. -W.W. King Academy held its Spring/Winter Athletic Banquet in mid-May to honor their 2025-26 athletic efforts. All the Knight teams were very competitive in their SCISA Class A region where they competed against Wardlaw Academy, Newberry Academy, Cambridge Academy, Richard Winn Academy and Anderson Christian . The Varsity Baseball team won the SCISA Class A Title . The Varsity Softball team was very competitive in the playoffs. Coach Jessica Anderson presented the Varsity Girls Basketball Awards . Blythe Buzhardt won the All-Around Excellence Award. Kenzie Morse won the Defensive Player-of-the-Year Award. Coach Dennis Gibson presented the Varsity Boys Basketball Awards. Spencer McCormick received the Most Outstanding Player Award. Brady Goff received the Sharp-Shooter Award. Coach Allen Guy presented the Varsity Softball Awards. Blythe Buzhardt received the Most Outstanding Player Award. Abby Aull received the Leadership Award and Kenzie Morse received the Iron Athletic Award. Coach Zach Matthews presented five awards to his Varsity Baseball State Champion players. Elijah Hutto received the Offensive Player of the Year Award. Luke Harvey received the Defensive Player of The Year Award. Wyatt Burbank, Zed Watkins and Smith Kirby shared the Team Leadership Award. Athletic Director Kathy Gibson assisted in presenting the Senior Awards. Smith Kirby and Abby Aull received the Senior Student Athlete of the Year Award. Wyatt Burbank and Kenzie Morse received the Athlete of the Year Award. Spencer McCormick and Abby Aull received the Christian Leadership Award. Wyatt Burbank and Kenzie received the Varsity Year-Round Athletes Award.
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor July 1, 2026
Eagles do return Region Defensive Player of the Year in Hayden Schwab
By David Shelton June 30, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Moncks Corner – After a pair of six-win seasons in his first two years , Berkeley head football coach Eric Lodge guided the Stags to a 10-3 record last fall. Lodge is hoping and expecting to see continued growth and development in 2026 and recently put his prospective team through spring drills. The purpose of the spring is to identify roles and hopefully find rising talent that can assist either as backups or starters this fall. “Our spring is about evaluating kids, all of them, to see where they fit in,” Lodge said, “Those practices are very important to the growth of the program. We get everyone involved amd work to get them up to speed. Once we get into the summer, we are working hard to get stronger in the weight room along with seven-on-seven stuff.” Lodge says most of the returning experience is on the offensive side and the Stags should be explosive. Henry Rivers , a senior, will be a fourth-year starter and rates as one of the best in the state. Hethres for more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, adding 803 rushing yards and 16 more scores. Returning at receiver are John Cleveland, Eli Mitchell and Johnathan Mitchell, who combined for more than 60 receptions last season. Anchoring the running game are returners Lawrence Washington, Bryson McGee and Jesse Brown . That trio will work behind a revamped offensive line but Lodge sees potential in the developing unit up front. “I like our depth at running back and receiver, and of course we have a veteran leader at quarterback,” said Lodge. There are significantly more holes to fill on defense. The Stags lost an all-state tackle and three starting linebackers that were three-year starters. There also are three holes to fill on the back endd. “We have identified some young men who we feel will step in and be solid players for us,” Lodge said. “Replacing the experience is tough but we have some guys who will learn and grow over time. We’re not new to having young guys on the field. The talent is there and there are opportunities for guys to get on the field.”
By Roger Lee June 29, 2026
Expectations are high for Pinewood Prep quarterback Silas Brawner.
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By David Shelton Senior Writer Summerville – The last two football seasons have been sub-par for the Cane Bay Cobras but veteran head coach Russell Zehr believes the pieces are in place for a potential resurgence. The Cobras finished the last two seasons with three wins each but did win a region championship in 2024. Zehr and his staff have worked hard in the offseason to develop some up and coming talent. They did so through the weight room and spring practice. “We had a good spring overall,” Zehr said. “We were missing a handful of guys due to track but we had good numbers. We spent a lot of time getting everyone up to speed. It was an opportunity for us to see younger kids that are coming up and find out who can help us this season. We had about 80 kids during the sprng and about 75 of those have been consistent in their workouts over the summer.” The Cobras will have a new quarterback this fall. Zehr says senior Coran Houp e is moving from running back to run the option offense this season. Returning in the backfield are Mayson Samuel and Sam Rolston , with some talented backs coming from the lower levels. The offensive line returns two starters, Isaac Siefken and Eli Taylor . Junior JJ Rose is back as the leader along the defensive front, with ends Devin Cobbs and B rennen Shokes also returning. The linebackers will be new starters with only Jackson Williamson returning with experience. The secondary could be a strength with returners Tyrell Bess, Zion Bryant and Caeden Wilson . The kicking game is a solid strength with senior Aiden Thorne returning. Thorne is a deep threat on kickoffs and field goals. “He’s got a leg and can be a real weapon for us,” Zehr said. Cane Bay participated in weekly 7-on-7 passing league scrimmages during June and will play at The Citadel event in July.
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By David Shelton Senior Writer Hartsville – As he embarks on his 22 nd season as the head football coach at Hartsville High, Jeff Calabrese is anxiously anticipating the upcoming 2026 season. Calabrese, with more than 200 career coaching wins, sys his team has put in good work in the offseason and appears focused on bettering last year’s 7-5 record. “We had a good spring practice, a good offseason all together really,” the coach said. “The numbers were maybe a little down but not far off. We spent a lot of time evaluating every position. If we needed to make a change we did. The focus in the spring and summer is making sure we have the right guys in the right spots. We basically are trying to get everyone on the same page.” Like all the schools in the state, the Red Foxes put in training four days a week from 8:30 to 11 am. Calabrese says this summer has been especially important as four new coaches have joined the program, including new defensive coordinator Neil Smith . “Really excited to have coach Smith. He brings a ton of energy and experience and he has really adapted well here,” Calabrese said. In terms of personnel, the Red Foxes have experience returning in several areas, starting with quarterback. Junior Ford Wallace is back as the starter and continues to develop in his role as a leader on the offense.. Returning at running back is Trace Hillian with CJ Hickmon moving from receiver to the backfield. Anchoring the offensive line is two-time all-region performer Fred Turner . Other returning linemen, who could end up on either side of the ball, include Creighton McKnight, Jake Williams, Jaquan Samuel and Pat Rhode. Rod Cranford returns in the back seven as a third-year starter. Zi’Yon Mason is moving from the secondary to linebacker, as is Jamario Scipio-Bishop. Devaris James and Deon McCall are players to watch in the secondary. “At a school our size, sometimes you have to move some kids around to make it all fit,” Calabrese said. “That’s why the summer is so important, to get those kids a lot of reps, good group to work with. We just need to build some depth.”
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