Just For Fun The HSSR Projects Our Predictions For SCHSL & SCISA Football Champions This Season

Just For Fun The HSSR Projects Our Predictions For SCHSL & SCISA Football Champions This Season 

Moncks Corner---The 2026 SCHSL and SCISA state football championships will once again take place at South Carolina State University with SCISA teams competing in their finals November 20-21, while the SCHSL finals will crown their champions on Dec. 4-5, at the same venue.

While there are a lot of high school football left to play, with region competition just starting last week, numerous teams have distinguished themselves as serious contenders already, at this point of the 2026 season. There are numerous undefeated teams at this point also. The HSSR always acknowledges “turnaround teams” from season to season also.

One of the best “turnaround teams” is Chapman and they are currently 7-0, after going 1-10 a year ago! Battery Creek deserves a high-five for being 6-0 right now, after going 2-9 in 2025.In SCISA, Northside Christian is now 7-0 after finishing 3-8 in 2025. We salute all the turnaround teams but these three jumped off the page at us.     

About this time of the year the HSSR always has a little fun forecasting teams that could be in the state finals. Perhaps this will give some folks something to talk about, debate, and to discuss. Time will tell, it always does.

In the SCHSL AAAAA classification, Dutch Fork (6-0), Dorman (6-0), and James Island (6-0) are the only three undefeated teams left in AAAAA as of games played through October 2.

Coach Knotts was hired at Dutch Fork in 2010 and media reports at that time gave him a career record of 296-60 after coaching stints at Harding, Independence, and West Charlotte High Schools. Since coming to SC, Coach Knotts is 186-30-1. He has won an incredible 10 state titles at Dutch Fork, after having won seven state titles in North Carolina before his departure to the Palmetto State.

When the HSSR asked AI what Coach Knott’s career record the answer was 503 career wins. However, if the 296-60 career record was accurate when he came to Dutch Fork in 2010, his incredible record in the midst of his 44^th year as a head coach is 482-90-1 coming into the Silver Foxes game at Chapin on October 9.

As a member of region 3-AAAAA Dutch Fork will compete in the upper state playoffs after the regular season. The HSSR predicts that the Silver Foxes will face James Island in the AAAAA finals on Saturday December 5 at 8 p.m. Dorman, currently 6-0, would have to defeat Dutch Fork in the upper state finals in late November and we just dop does not see that happening, but you never know.

In the SCHSL AAAA there are no undefeated teams left in South Carolina. There are currently 11 different teams, either 6-1 or 5-1, making AAAA wide open to even predict which two teams might meet in the finals.

The one loss AAAA teams with the best offenses thus far are Dreher (273), North Myrtle Beach (237), North Augusta ((232), and Indian Land (230).

The AAAA teams with the best defenses to date are South Aiken (61), Gaffney (91), North Augusta (107), and Indian land (110). North Augusta’s win over Irmo (25-16) on October 2 put the Jackets in the driver’s seat to win 3-AAAA, a hybrid region.

The HSSR new AAAA ranking, after Oct. 2 games will now have the top four teams as: 1. Gaffney, 2. Hilton Head, 3. North Augusta and 4. South Aiken. We feel the final two AAAA meeting in the state finals at SC State on Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. will come from among these four teams.

In AAA there are four undefeated teams right now. They are traditional power Daniel (6-0), and the Lions have dominated teams 257-88 along with Chapman (7-0) and they have defeated teams 291-67. Upstart Pickens, who were 3-8 a year ago, are 6-0 having defeated teams 294-117. From the lower state is Bishop England (7-0)   



Emerald (275-176) and Wren (219-88) are both 5-1 and members of Region 2-AAA. They meet at Wren on Oct. 9 with the winner in the driver’s seat to capture a region title. One has to consider these two teams potential state finalists also.

The HSSR still feels like AAA lower State teams Camden (3-2) and Oceanside Collegiate (2-3) can’t be counted out for a deep playoff run either.

The SCHSL AAA state finals take place at SC State at 4 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 5. Expect either Daniel or Chapman from the upstate to play Camden or Oceanside Collegiate from the Lower State. Yes, tough early season schedules do matter.

In SCHSL AA, the HSSR is confident that Strom Thurmond (6-0) who have defeated quality teams (215-47) will represent the Lower State in the state finals to be played at SC State on December 4 at 4 p.m. Certainly, a current undefeated lower state team like Marlboro County (6-0), could upset Strom Thurmond but time will tell. One can never count out Dillon (5-1) either.

From the Upper State AA, Mid-Carolina (6-0) has defeated teams 234-59 mid-way through the season, and they have a very strong defense. They will be challenged by current one-loss teams like Chesnee and St. Joseph’s in the upper state. In the end the HSSR predicts Storm Thurmond meets either Marlboro County or Dillon in the AA state finals.

SCHSL Class A, having two divisions this year, has become somewhat of a challenge to follow, must less predict. To date there are only two undefeated teams in Class A Div. I in Fairfield Central (6-0) and Central (6-0) in the upper state and they are 1-2 in the current HSSR ranking.

Bamberg-Ehrhardt (5-1) is the top-rated lower state Class A Div. I team and the HSSR feels like the Raiders will face Hampton County in the lower state finals and end up playing either Central or FC for the state title at noon on Saturday Dec. 5 at South Carolina State.

Blackville-Hilda is the heavy favorite to win it all in SCHSL Class A Div II and will be the upper state Div. II champions. In the lower state Div. II, it looks like Lake View, Scott’s Branch, and even Cross could emerge as the opponent for B-H at SC State at noon on December 4 at South Carolina State. Yes, do not count Cross out of it yet.

SCISA is much more defined, based on tradition with few huge surprises this season. Undefeated Hammond is going to be in the SCISA AAAA finals and then it is just the luck of the draw that will help determine their opponent at SC State in a time TBD on Nov. 21-22. The HSSR feels that opponent is going to be either Pinewood Prep or Northwood Academy.

In SCISA AAA, the HSSR forecasts Bethesda Academy (4-1) playing against either Hilton Head Christian or Northside Christian (7-0) in the finals. In SCISA AA, matters are a little tricky. Calhoun Academy (7-1) has the top scoring offense with 304 points scored while Williamsburg Academy (4-1) is the top defense only having allowed 54 points. Greenwood Christian and Colleton Prep have only one loss also right now. Do we value defense? We shall see.

There are currently only two winning teams in SCISA Class A, Dillon Christian (5-2), and Dorchester Academy (5-2). Keep it simple: look for these two teams to meet for the state title in late November at SC State.

In SCISA 8-man, we are confident that Jefferson Davis Academy will stay undefeated and compete for the 8-man state title, to be played at a TBD neutral site. What we are not certain about is their opponent. Laurens Academy (7-0) and W. W. King (6-1) are the teams in great shape to face JDA. JDA defeated WW King earlier this season.

P.S. Please do not hold anything I have forecasted against me in this little forecast Editorial. I wrote most of this article while watching the South Carolina versus Kentucky college football game. After USC jumped ahead, 17-0 in the first quarter, the Wildcats came back and won 35-34 in OT.

As a 1977 University of South Carolina journalism graduate, and after three straight SEC losses, my stress level in quite off the chart as I conclude this writing exercise.

No kidding, my oldest grandson is named “Connor” after Connor Shaw, and my oldest granddaughter is named Caroline, after the university itself! We consider ourselves a close-knit Gamecock family.

I have some strong opinions right now, but it is best that I keep my sanity, and hold my opinions close to the vest! Meanwhile, best of luck to all times striving to finish the 2026 season as state champions.

I do “predict” that USC will be a spoiler to some SEC team before the 2026 season is over!