HSSR Class AA - Sweet 16 Football Poll
HSSR Class AA - Sweet 16 Football Poll
1. Gray Collegiate
2. Oceanside Collegiate
3. Abbeville
4. Woodland
5. Hampton County
6. Saluda
7. Marion
8. Fairfield Central
9. Silver Bluff
10. Strom Thurmond
11. Barnwell
12. Ninety-Six
13. Edisto
14. Andrew Jackson
15. Andrews
16. Lee Central
Congratulations to these two Class AA athletes selected selected to represent the state of South Carolina in the 87th edition of the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
Marion High School - Quay'Sheed Scott, DB
Silver Bluff High School - Jayden Fuller, DL
The game, which pits the best from the Palmetto State against the best from North Carolina, will be played on Saturday, December 16, at Spartanburg High School.
Top AA Ranked Gray Collegiate Playing Nationally Ranked Teams To Get Ready For AA State Title Run
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Moncks Corner — With region play starting those teams who played a very competitive non-region schedule are likely to be rewarded in upcoming games where fourth quarter conditioning, and limited penalties, are rewarded with close wins in toss-up games.
Whether you lose by one point, or 30 points, you still lost. Preparing for success by competing against a strong non-region schedule gives most teams a competitive edge. As the late John McKissick always said, “Winning is positive and losing is negative. Give me players who will stick their noses in the briar patch and we will find a way to win.”
(That sounds painful, doesn’t it?)
The HSSR’s top three teams in AA have been consistent from week-to-week since early in the 2023 season. Talking about a tough schedule let’s justify why we have Oceanside Collegiate (4-2) ranked number two behind sister charter school Gray Collegiate (8-1), even though the Land Sharks have two losses. Oceanside’s two losses were to top ranked South Florence (28-6) on August, 25. On September, 22 head coach Chad Wilkes took his team to his old work place Sumter High and the Land Sharks went toe-to-toe with a AAAAA team, before losing 17-10. Oceanside has also defeated the consensus number one Class A team in South Carolina, the Lewisville Lions by the score of 24-7. Strength of schedule benefits Oceanside for sure.
So, the HSSR feels strongly that Oceanside Collegiate is ready to make a run in their region and another deep run in the AA playoffs. Abbeville, ranked number three in AA defeated Powdersville (35-34 in OT) and then played a competitive game against a 5-1 Westside team before suffering their only loss of the season 48-13. Abbeville, ranked number three, has also gained valuable experience from having played a tough non-region schedule. The Panthers defeated Powdersville and their only loss was to Westside (5-1).
The HSSR’s top ranked AA team, Gray Collegiate, is mired in a charter school controversary with all fellow member schools in Region 4-AA. In an exclusive interview with Gray Collegiate head coach and athletic director Adam Holmes on October 1st, he told the HSSR, “We appealed the decision of schools in our region taking volunteer forfeits (without penalty) not to play us, to both the SCHSL and the Appellate Panel, and neither body chose to make a ruling, or get directly involved in finding a solution to what created the problem.
“In all honesty, I am most surprised as to why a very competitive football program like Fairfield Central (currently 5-1) would not want to play us with a chance to win a region title and get four home games in the playoffs as region champions,” said Coach Holmes.
“They are losing a lot of money and having to go on the road at some point in the playoffs.”
Coach Holmes told the HSSR that Gray Collegiate has asked to be moved up to the AAA classification with realignment happening for the 2024 season.
It is unclear, at this point, what controversy might lie ahead for Gray even if they move up to AAA next season. “The whole issue could be solved with an amendment to the SCHSL by-laws that would prevent any league member from participating in the play-offs in any sport if they voluntarily forfeit a region game,” said Coach Holmes. “Right now, there is no provision in the by-laws for teams who forfeit region games and hopefully after the season this situation can be reviewed.”
Gray Collegiate will play a Top 70 nationally ranked team Clearwater Academy International from Clearwater, Florida on October, 6th. The conflict forced Gray to find new teams to play, which the SCHSL has allowed. They recently travelled to Top 30 national power St. Johns High in Washington DC on September, 16 and lost 42-28.
On September, 29 they Gray defeated Portal High, from Georgia 56-35. Earlier in the season Gray hosted three home games on their brand new on-campus artificial turf field with wins over Christ Church (49-21), Crestwood (62-20) and Camden (30-12). They won an away game at Hammond 52-14.
Counting their forfeit wins, they are currently 8-1 on their way to play Clearwater Academy in Florida. “We are getting paid to play these out-of-state nationally ranked teams, so we are still making money,” said Coach Holmes. “We feel good about having several home games in the playoffs and we hope to compete for a state title.”
Coach Holmes said that beyond the game with Clearwater this week no other games have been picked up just yet. Coach Holmes is still trying to complete a schedule to keep the team prepared for the upcoming playoffs. One idea could be to challenge the IMG Academy team in Bradenton, Florida and that team is among the best in the nation.
About us
Recognizing the achievements of young athletes in South Carolina since 1986.