Bamberg-Ehrhardt's Chaz Breeland in action about to split the uprights again.

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Goose Creek – The class AA top ten is full of perennial state powers as well a couple of surprises in second ranked Mid Carolina and 10 th ranked Battery Creek, however, looming on the horizon is defending state champion Strom Thurmond. The Rebels are currently 6-0 after defeating AAAA Aiken 28-14.They have dominated their first six opponents by outscoring them 215 to 47. The defense has been especially stingy as they have held four of their opponents to 7 points or less while offensively the Rebels are hitting their stride. They have gotten off to the great start despite only returning 10 starters from last year’s team.  “The standard is the standard. We have good players, some are playing for the first time - it's our job to get those guys ready to play. Our seniors set a goal in the spring to win it again and we are working as hard as we can to help them accomplish their goals,” said head coach Andrew Webb. Coach Webb continued “We have guys who have been in big games and tough situations and their leadership helps us tremendously. They help us to just keep focusing on the next play. Our defense has been very consistent for us and our offense continues to improve.” Wy'Trayvious Dugar, Kaden Wigfall, Gregory Moore, and Bralen Searles are the corner stones of the “Blue Steel Defense.” They are all returning All-Region performers with Dugar and Wigfall being three-year starters. Moore and Dugar are one/two in tackles on the team with 34 and 46, respectively. Wigfall has moved to safety from linebacker, he is also the Rebels second leading rusher with 479 yards, and he is tied for the team lead with 9 touchdowns. Newcomer Mekhi Quiller has been strong at corner with a team high six passes defended. Offensively, junior Zy Rouse has been a jack of all trades as he has played RB, WR, QB and Safety in the first six games. He leads the team in rushing with 559 yards and ha has scored 9 touchdowns. He was a key player in last years run to the championship said coach Webb. Transfer quarterback AJ Hillary continues to improve for us at QB. He has had some games where he has been really sharp. He has thrown for 535 yards and three scores. Returning along the offensive line are seniors John Laster and Hezekiah East . They are the leaders of an offensive line that has paved the way to over 1400 yards rushing as a team. Senior Jakari Gordon is the team’s top receiver with 13 catches for a 227 yards and a score. Junior Preston Holmes has touched the ball 24 times for 367 yards and three touchdowns. “We have to continue to get better in every phase of the game. We have seen growth in a bunch of areas and there are things that we are still working relentlessly at to improve,” said coach Webb. “The Good Lord has blessed us to allow us to play football where football is important. We take a lot of pride in representing the people from the Peach Fields.” The Mid-Carolina Rebels check in at number two as they have gotten off to 5-0 start as they head into region play. Offensively, they are averaging over 40 points a game led by seniors quarterback Davis Ruff , running back Ryker Woolstenhulme and wide outs Cash Knight and Kayden Trappier. Defensively, the Rebels have posted two shut-outs and are allowing only 11 points per game. Woolstenhulme is the teams top tackler while senior defensive lineman Connor May has controlled the line of scrimmage and leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss. They open region play on the road at Chester (2-3). Third ranked Marlboro County moved to 5-0 as they held off Conway 33-30. They are averaging over 38 points a game behind junior quarterback Tre Blakeney as he has accounted for over 1400 yards of offense and 15 scores. Senior linebackers Jamorie Williams and Myjae McCoy have been the leaders on the defense that is allowing 16 points a game. They will host Waccamaw (2-3) in their region opener. They will tangle with 4 th ranked Dillon in four weeks in a game that could determine the region title, provided neither team slips up. The Wildcats of Dillon are 3-1 on the season after an opening game loss to Camden they have won three straight as they get set to host Lake City in their region opener. The Cats are averaging 35 points per game. Seniors Noah Singletary has been the leader on offense while senior linebacker and strong safety Kelvion Manning has been the leader on defense. That unit is giving up 16 points a contest. 10 times state champion Woodruff is ranked number 5. They are 3-2 after dropping their last game to undefeated Chapman. The Wolverines are led by senior Connor Davis, who leads an offense averaging 37 points per game. The Defense is still rounding into shape and is giving up 26 points per. The unit is replacing 10 starters. They will host Landrum (3-2) in their region opener. The sixth ranked Tigers of Saluda are coming a 55-54 loss to Emerald (5-1) that dropped their record to 3-2. They are five points from being undefeated. They are putting up 44 points a game while allowing 26 points but they have played much better. Senior running back Tristan Daniels leads the offense while the defense is led by twin brothers Jayden and Jahmeer Myers. The Tigers will open region play by hosting American Leadership Academy (2-3). The 7 th ranked Woodland Wolverines (4-1) are hosting pre-season top ten Philip Simmons (2-3) in a big region opener for both teams. The Wolverines have played outstanding defense holding four of their five opponents to less than 10 points. Linebacker George Perry (HSSR #94) leads the defense while HSSR’s #79 player quarterback Jervaze Salley leads an offense averaging 31 points a game. The Clinton Red Devils (3-2) check in at number 8. They will host Southside Christian (3-2) in their region opener. The Red Devils are averaging 34 points per game while they are giving up 27 points per game. Senior quarterback Owen Glen leads the offense and senior linebacker Ajavian James is the leader of the defense. Checking in at number 9 are the Eagles of Chesnee, they picked up their fourth win on the year beating Blue Ridge (1-5) 35-19. They will be on the road in their region opener against Mountain View Prep (2-3). Senior quarterback Evan Lawte r leads an offense that is averaging 40 points per game. Defensively, they are giving up 15 points a game. Rounding out the top ten is the surprise team of the year the Battery Creek Dolphins. They are sitting at 5-0 after beating area rival Beaufort 42-18. They will travel to Academic Magnet (4-1) in their region opener. The Dolphins are averaging 37 points per game and allowing 16. They are led by seniors Michael Cohen and Eddie Heyward?

South Carolina has another outstanding staff coaching our 2026 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas Sandlapper team.

AAA Player of the Week: Loris junior QB Ayden Scott (6-2, 190) passed 344 yards and 4 TDs last week. Photo courtesy of Marissa DaPonte.

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.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Moncks Corner - When Oceanside Collegiate used a highly rated junior quarterback. ( Aiden “Laser” Manavian ) to defeat AAAAA power Dutch Fork back in September, the media boys were about ready to phone in to the engraver at the South Carolina High School League to get the Class AAA trophy ready early for the Land Sharks. This reporter was on hand for that mild upset win at Charleston Southern back in September but there is too much football left to be played in Class AAA just to go ahead and give the trophy to the most talented team in AAA in South Carolina. The AAA SCHSL state finals will take place at high noon on Friday December 5 th at South Carolina State University so you AAA fans go ahead and phone in to your boss about having the flu because this is not a Saturday game. Oceanside Collegiate, coached by Brent LaPrad , advanced this week to host Marlboro County by defeating Georgetown 49-15 last week. The Bulldogs, who have an 180- mile ride to Charleston in front of them this week, advanced with a 49-13 win over Swansea. Do not be surprised if the Bulldogs hang around for three quarters against Oceanside but in the final quarter the Sharks should win with their depth numbers. BHP did survive the graduation of all-world running back Maurquise Henderson , and the number one ranked 11-0 Bears advanced with a 56-7 win over Palmetto in round one. Russell Blackstone’s team has been the most offensive productive team at all levels of prep football in SC with a state leading 558 points! (Wow!) Coach Blackston told the HSSR recently, “It sure is good when you can graduate 8,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in Marquise Henderson, that you can still be very good. There are people who thought we were not going to be anything and that’s okay. I knew we had 23 seniors back and six starters back on both sides. We’re where I thought we would be. We had a tremendous Spring and a tremendous summer.” BHP will host Southside Christian this week. The Sabres defeated Chapman 55-18 to advance. Senior BHP QB Noah Thomas is among the best dual threat athletes in the state. By season’s end Thomas should pass for well over 2,200 yards and he will be close to 1,000 yards rushing. His favorite target is junior stud Tajeh Watson Martin . Third ranked Loris (11-0) beat Dillon for the second year in a row and that got the folks around town pretty whipped up for sure. The Lions whipped Battery Creek 49-14 last week to advance. They will host upstart Orangeburg-Wilkinson this week after the 9-1 Bruins beat Keenan 25-12 last week. This game should be a one possession lead for either team well into the fourth quarter. Dillon has won a state title before with three losses, and the Wildcats have a rising star in 9 th grade QB Khayel Fong Talia (6-2, 200) who recently visited Clemson for the Florida State game. This Under Armour Next Level All-American has helped make talented North Carolina WR commitment and Shrine Bowler Zay Robertson the top WR in South Carolina. Robertson has drawn comparisons to former New England NFL receiver Troy Brown who played high school football at Blackville-Hilda . Dillon is also led by Shrine Bowl LB Daniel Capehart and North-South LB Keryien Brown . Dillon advanced in round one with a 49-8 win over Fox Creek and the Wildcats will host Silver Bluff this week, a 34-13 winner over North Charleston . It seems strange that Newberry (11-0) is competing in the playoffs as a lower state team this season but that is the case. Newberry is led by SC tight end commitment Jamel Howze (6-3,215) and they have dominated teams 470-142 this season. Newberry advanced with a 54-14 win over Aynor last week and they will host Hanahan this week. The Hawks advanced with a 38-21 win over Waccamaw last week. In the upper state , Powdersville advanced with a 66-0 win over Carolina , and they will host Pendleton this week. Pendleton advanced with a 24-21 win over Broome last week. Mountain View Prep (MVP) can be a sleeper but an early season loss to Woodruff exposed some of their weaknesses. MVP had a close 28-21 win over St. Joseph’s in round one to advance and they host Crescent this week. The Tigers advanced with a 52-14 win over Union County . Christ Church won Class A titles under head coach Quin Hatfield (a Manning native) in recent years but moved up to AAA with realignment two years ago. The Cav’s advanced with a 42-7 win over Walhalla last week and they will be at Woodruff this week. The 10-1 Wolverines are ranked 5 th by the HSSR this week and they advanced with a 49-7 win over West-Oak . Woodruff is led by a talented 1-2 punch junior pair on offense. QB Connor Davis (6-2, 210) has completed 147-of-242 passes for 1,904 yards and 23 TD’s coming into the game with Christ Church. Junior RB Amari Gibson has gained 1,284 yards on 159 carries and 19 TD’s. This makes Woodruff a very balanced team on offense between passing and running. While Class AAA might look like a BHP vs OC rematch anything can happen, and most teams are just one unfortunate injury away from a course correction so staying healthy is so important.

Dillon's Zay Robertson.