Pinewood Prep seeks repeat title run in SCISA AAA

  Summerville – The Pinewood Prep football program won the SCISA Class AAA state title in 2024 and the 2025 team is looking for a repeat performance.

        The Panthers will play Wilson Hall for the title on Nov. 22 in a rematch of last year’s championship game. It will also be the second meeting of this season with Wilson Hall winning the regular season matchup, 28-21, with a last minute touchdown.

        Pinewood Prep head coach Devonte Holloman says his Panthers are playing their best football at the right time.

        “We played our best game in the semi-finals so we feel like we’re peaking at the right time,” the coach said. “This team has done a good job of preparing and improving throughout the season. We started with a lot of new faces and we just kept working. We improved each week and, as a coach, that’s what I wanted to see.”

       The Panthers enter the championship game with a 9-3 record. The other two losses during the season came to AAAA power Hammond and AAAA state finalist Northwood Academy.

       “We learned a lot in those games and we got better by playing really good teams,” Holloman said. “Our players know what it takes to win. I definitely think it helps to play tough games. The players set the tone.”

       One of the new faces on the field this season is at quarterback where junior Silas Brawner has taken over after transferring from Summerville. Brawner has been a huge addition offensively, throwing for 3,083 yards and 40 touchdowns. He topped 300 passing yards in four games this season.

      “He came in and has improved each week,” Holloman said. “It was a process for him coming in here new and he showed growth every week.”

      The passing game has excelled with two key pass catchers, Jayden Alexander and Lavoris Lucas. Alexander has 53 receptions for 1,150 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Lucas has 44 catches for 833 yards and 10 scores. Lucas also has rushed for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns.

     “Those two guys have had great seasons,” Holloman said. “Alexander is our best player. He’s been a great leader as well. Lucas is a guy that can do it all. They’ve been outstanding.”

       Adding depth at receiver are juniors Trey Green (28 receptions, 428 yards, 9 TD) and Heyward Moore (28 receptions, 519 yards, 5 TD).

Grayson Salego, a returner from last season, leads the Panthers in rushing with nearly 800 yards and has scored 13 touchdowns. He has averaged eight yards per carry.

       Seniors McGregor Tuten and Cameron Wren are two solid leaders on the offensive line. Junior Carlie Muckelvaney is starting at center. David Harper and Hayden Presley work along both lines of scrimmage.

       Safety Will Watson is a senior leader on the defensive side of the ball. Preston Holliday and Jacob Sweet are key performers along the defensive front and third-year starter Jayden Parrott is a key leader at linebacker.

      In the regular season meeting with Wilson Hall, the Panthers turned the ball over four times. Holloman says two keys in the title game will be ball security and stopping the Barons’ running game.

       “We can’t win the game if we turn the ball over and we have to stop the run,” he said. “They do a great job running the football. They are well-coached and they block well. We know them well and they know us well. Every time we play them, it’s a good, hard-fought game. I expect the same thing on Saturday.”

       Both teams have championship game experience so Holloman doesn’t see an advantage for either team on Saturday.

       “We both have players who played in the game last year,” he said. “It comes down to which team can execute on offense and get stops on defense. It will be a competitive game for sure. I think both teams have players who can set the tone. We’re evenly matched so it should be a really competitive game, which is what a championship game should be.”

Offensive Starters

QB – 9 – Silas Brawner

RB – 3 – Grayson Salego

WR – 0 – Lavoris Lucas

WR – 1 – Jayden Alexander

WR – 4 – Trey Green

TE – 11 – Heyward Moore

OL – 66 – McGregor Tucker

OL – 50 – Cameron Wren

OL – 62 – Carlie Muckelvaney

OL – 71 – David Harper

OL – 55 – Hayden Presley

Defensive Starters

DL – 71 – David Harper

DL – 55 – Hayden Presley

DL – 54 – Jacob Sweet

DL – 99 – Preston Holliday

DL – 30 – Mason Summers

LB – 24 – Jayden Parrott

LB – 34 – Nathan Good

DB – 2 – Michael Williams

DB – 7 – Will Watson

DB – 21 – Carson Good

DB – 15 – Graydon Fuller

PK/P – 22 – Patryk Dzierzanowski

SCISA Championships

AA

Saturday

at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium

in Orangeburg

Pee Dee (8-3) vs. Bethesda (11-0), noon

Class A

Saturday

at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium

in Orangeburg

Williamsburg (10-1) vs. Colleton Prep (9-2), 3:30 p.m.

AAA

Saturday

at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium

in Orangeburg

Wilson Hall (11-1) vs. Pinewood Prep (9-3), 7:30 p.m.