Laurens Academy volleyball team chasing fourth straight state title

Cavaliers getting several players back coming down homestretch of season

Lady Barons own 18-7 record as state tournament draws near

Blackmon passes for 157 yards and 3 TDs, runs for 120 and another score

Goose Creek - While there is still a lot of football to play in the 2025 regular season, Friday night’s region 7-AAAAA game between Berkeley and Stratford had the feel of a championship game. Certainly, the winner of the game would be in position to win the region, and it was obvious that both teams had that idea. Stratford scored 21 unanswered points in the second-half to claim a 21-17 win, improving to 5-1 on the season. The Knights won for just the third time in the last 10 meetings against their county rivals. Berkeley fell to 4-2 in a game that saw the Stags dominate the first half to claim a 17-0 halftime lead. Stratford running back Maliq McGowan finished with 227 rushing, most coming in the second half rally. McGowan, who transferred to Stratford from Goose Creek in July, was not selected to play in either of the state’s two all-star games. “Berkeley was kicking our butt in the first half,” Stratford head coach Dennie McDaniel said. “We told the kids at halftime that we couldn’t score 17 points on one play. We had to one play at a time. This is a resilient group. They just kept playing. “I feel like they got a little tired in the second half so their pass rush slowed down. Our kids didn’t give up. I am really proud of them.” The first quarter was basically a stalemate until the Stags took a 7-0 lead on a 34-yard pass from Henry Rivers to Elijah Mitchell with :40 seconds remaining in the quarter. Rivers finished the night with 101 yards rushing and 116 yards passing. Stratford’s offense struggled to get going throughout the first half but that would change. Berkeley turned a blocked punt into a score in the second quarter. Jahmir Heyward blocked the punt and later scored a touchdown on a two-yard run. Ryland Curwen added a 35-yard field goal with six seconds left in the first half for Berkeley’s final points of the night. Early in the third, McGowan got his game going, breaking off a 38-yard run to the Berkeley 14. However, the Knights ended up losing a fumble inside the five-yard line. Berkeley could not move out of their own one and a punt gave the Knights great field position at the Berkeley 35-yard line. The Knights turned that into a score as Jachin Davis hit DQ Crosby on a nine-yard touchdown pass midway through the third period. McGowan’s 25-yard run later in the quarter set up a 16-yard pass from Davis to McGowan, cutting the Berkeley lead to 17-14 with 1:18 left in the period. Berkeley returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown but a penalty nullified the score. The Stags were penalized several times during the second half. With 5:52 to play in the game, McGowan ripped of a 44-yard scoring run to push Stratford to a 21-17 lead. Berkeley was unable to move the ball and Stratford ran out the clock inside the Stags’ 10. Stratford will play at Lucy Beckham next week while Berkeley will play at Goose Creek.

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Charleston – Phillip Simmons and Woodland entered Friday’s contest looking to open Region 6 Class AA with a win and it was the Iron Horses who imposed their will and controlled the game from start to finish as they handed the Wolverines their fourth consecutive loss 39-14. “It was a huge win for our team. Getting the first region win sets the tone for the rest of the season,” said Phillip Simmons head coach Eric Bendig. The win was the fourth straight for the Iron Horses after dropping their first two contest and this win puts them atop the region standings with Andrews and Timberland. Coach Bendig, “We’ve been building momentum so to come out and execute as we did against a good Woodland team shows are kids are locked in. The growth from those early games has been visible and our guys have been locked into the plans and they play for the right reason. They love each other and it is a great locker room.” The Wolverines have been going in the opposite direction as they dropped their third straight after a 3-0 start. Their losses have all been to ranked (HSSR POLLS) opponents in Bishop England ( 5 th AAAA), Bamberg Ehrhardt (1 st A) and Friday night’s loss to 7 th ranked AA Phillip Simmons. “We have to a better job of not turning the ball over and playing better third down defense. I thought our defense played well in the first half but we didn’t play complementary football,” said Woodland head coach Eddie Ford. Coach Ford continued, “We have played three really good football teams that past three weeks and while the scores may not show it we have gotten better. I feel like if we can iron out the issues we can make run towards the playoffs.” The Iron Horse’s defense set the tone for the game on Woodlands first possession of the game allowing only 11 yards. In fact, counting the 11 yards the Wolverines gained just 18 yards on their first four possessions. Leading the charge for the Iron Horses were senior linebacker Ethan Chisum, and juniors defensive ends Alex Tchoryk and Diavante Irving, and defensive tackle Christian Cromedy. Cromedy clogged the middle forcing the Woodland’s runners to the outside where Tchoryk and Irving would make a play or force them back inside to meet Mr. Chisum. Chisum led the team with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery while Irving forced two fumbles to go with five tackles. “Our defense has been playing lights out. We challenged them to be more physical as a unit and they responded. They forced Woodland into uncomfortable situations all night. They deserve a lot of credit for setting the tone of this game,” said coach Bendig. The offense followed up the defense first stop with a 5-play , 62-yard drive to take a 6-0 lead. The drive was highlighted by the Iron Horses version of the “Triplelets” in juniors quarterback Hayes Goddard, wide receiver Ashton Kellermann, and running back Omonte Taylor . Taylor had three carries for 25 yards while Goddard and Kellermann connected twice for 44 yards and a touchdown. Woodlands defense would come up big on the next Iron Horse possession. The Iron Horses drove the ball to a first and goal at the Wolverine four-yard line. A holding penalty whipped out a touchdown and moved the ball back to the 14. The Wolverines got pressure up the middles on Goddard and forced a fumble which recovered by the Wolverines Chandler Fogle turning away the Iron Horses. After a Woodland punt out to the 50. The Iron Horses needed one play to extend their lead when Goddard and Kellermann connected on a beautiful 50-yard touchdown pass. Senior CJ Falotico added the extra point and the lead was 13-0. Woodland’s offense finally showed some life on their fifth possession. Behind Kymonte Goodwin and Jeraze Salley they moved from their 35 to a first down at the Iron Horse 13. On first down Chisum came up with a three-yard tackle for loss putting the Wolverines behind the chains. A fourth down incompletion turned the ball back over to the Iron Horses. The Wolverine defense followed the Iron Horse defense by turning over the Iron Horse offense on downs. Taylor started the drive by ripping off a 31-yard run to the 48. Goddard would connect Blake Johnson for 28-yards down to the Wolverine 37. But then the Wolverines defense forced four straight incompletions to stop the drive. Woodlands best chance to score came on the final possession of the first half. After picking up a first and then a roughing the passer penalty moved the ball to the Iron Horses 25. Salley’s threw into the endzone on third down but the Iron Horses Montrell Mungin went up and picked off the pass in the endzone with 17 seconds remaining. The Iron Horses put the game away in the third quarter when they scored on their first three possessions of the second half. The first was a two-play drive after the second half kick-off. Goddard hit Kellermann for a 19-yard gain and then connected with Patrick Clarke for a 33 -yard touchdown strike. After a Irving forced a fumble that was recovered by Chisum gave the Iron Horses the ball at their 20. On second down the Goddard to Kellerman combo struck again for a 58-yard catch and run. The drive would stall but Falotico would make sure the Iron Horses scored as he nailed a 34-yard field goal to make the score 23-0.

AAAAA Honor Roll Henry Rivers, Berkeley, 14 of 16, 236 yds, 4 TD Max Stafford, Summerville, 205 yards passing, 2 TD Cam Grayson, Summerville, 105 yards rushing, 2 TD Teru Davis, Summerville, 111 yards receiving Spencer Bobian, Ridge View, 191 yds rush, 2 TD Easton Crocker, Lexington, 162 pass yds, TD; TD rush Jiralyn Staley, Greenville, 100 yds rush, TD James Veasey, Blythewood, 215 all-purpose yds, 2 TD pass, TD rush Chance Johnson, Blythewood, 128 receiving yards, TD Zach Williams, Lugoff-Elgin, 321 yds pass, 3 TD Shamil Shaddiq, Lugoff-Elgin, 13 rec, 206 yds, 3 TD EJ Richardson, Lugoff-Elgin, 310 all-purpose yds, TD rush, TD rec, TD pass Nigel Smith, Northwestern, 153 yds rush, 3 TD Jamol Horton, Indian Land, 3 rush TD Jabez Thomas, Dorman, 2 int., rush TD Franklin Richardson, Sumter, 223 rush, 92 pass, 6 TD Banks Bouton, Gaffney, 63 yds pass, 80 yds rush Trey Burke, Spartanburg, 137 [ass yds, 2 TD; 43 yds rush Trenton Lynch, Spartanburg, 146 yds rush, TD Caine Rogers, Byrnes, 151 pass yds, 2 TD Tristan Lewis, Greenwood, 91 yds pass, 66 yds rush, 2 TD Jackson Free, Hillcrest, 260 yds pass, 3 TD Luke McCourry, Hillcrest, 141 rec. yds AAAA Honor Roll Quinn Mahoney, Bishop England, 191 yards passing, 4 TD Brody Tonon, Bishop England, 102 yards rushing, TD Zack Balog, Bishop England, TD reception, punt return TD Mike Doe, North Augusta, 329 yds rush, 3 TD Corey Gleaton, Gray Coll., 182 yds rec, 2 TD Xavier Wright, Gray Collegiate, 376 yds pass, 5 TD Grayson Rimpf, Camden, 197 pass yds, 4 TD Navier Boykin, Camden, 134 rush yds, TD Kingston Bibb, Daniel,150 yds rush, 2 TD Gavin Forrester, Blue Ridge, 190 pass yds, 3 TD; 123 rush yds, 3 TD Anthony Atkins, Christ Church, 2 TD rush, int. Thad Czarnecki, Hilton Head, 15 tackles, TD rush Sean Mitchell, May River, 206 yds rush, 3 TD;TD rec. Preston Smith, Midland Valley, 229 yds rush Andrew Frick, Brook-Cayce, 202 yds pass, 61 yds rush Jacob Owings, Wren, 111 yds rec. Qa Brannon, Union Co, 261 yds pass, 68 yds rush AAA Honor Roll Jordan Wright, Oceanside Collegiate, TD reception, interception return TD Tripp Gallus, Hanahan, 185 yards passing, 2 TD Isaiah Snodgrass, Hanahan, 126 yards rushing, 2 TD Quamell Grant, Hanahan, 130 yards receiving, 2 TD Aiden Manavian, Oceanside Collegiate, 222 yards passing, 2 TD Kenton Caldwell, Newberry, 2 TD pass, TD rush Drelyn Brown, Silver Bluff, 219 yds rush, 3 TD Noah Thomas, BHP, 190 yds pass, 2 TD;57 yds rush, TD MJ Earl, BHP, 119 yds rush, 3 TD Tajeh Martin, BHP, 143 yds rec., TD Aiden Gibson, Woodruff, 115 rush yds AA Honor Roll Quay Peoples, North Cenral, 101 yds rush, 2 TD; blocked punt Alan Moore, Pelion, 211 yds pass, 2 TD Tre Jackson, Pelion,149 rush yds, 2 TD Brady Cottingham, Pelion, 118 yds rush, TD Andre Wooden, Bates-Lees, 2 TD rush, 99-yard kick ret TD Reese Boehke, Bates-Lees, TD pass, Int. punt ret. TD Bryce Adams, Chesterfield, 188 yds pass Noah Crump, Buford, 157 yds pass, TD Caleb Feaster, Chester, 160 yds rush, TD Jakari Holloman, Central, 118 yds rush, 2 TD Ashten Wilson, Central, 131 yds rush, TD Ty Foster, Landrum, 162 yds pass, TD Class A Honor Roll Mah’ky Green, Cross, 141 yards rushing, 2 TD Drayden Franklin, Baptist Hill, 254 yds pass, 3 TD Martrell Wright, Baptist Hill, 166 rec yds, 2 TD Kevin Smalls, Baptist Hill, 19 tackles, 5 TFL Cameron Middleton, Baptist Hill, 13 tackles, 4 TFL Jairym Conyers, Scott’s Branch, 253 yds pass, 6 TD; TD rush Darrell Harper, McBee, 185 yds rush, TD Kaiden Howard, McBee, 141 yds rush, 2 TD Kendrick Patterson, Great Falls, 131 yds rush, 2 TD Demais Stevens, Great Falls, 127 yds rush, TD SCISA Scott Tibbals, Porter-Gaud, 123 yards rushing, TD; 57 yards passing John Whetsell, Dorchester Academy, 269 yards rushing, 3 TD Silas Brawner, Pinewood Prep, 268 yards passing, 5 TD Grayson Salego, Pinewood Prep, 125 yards rushing, 4 TD Lavoris Lucas, Pinewood Prep, 118 yards receiving, 2 TD Kevin Johnson, Northwood Academy, 220 yds passing, 2 TD JOSEPH MORSE W W KING RUSHED 18/268 3 TDS 1 SACK PATRICK BELK HEATHWOOD HALL PASSED 15/28 223 3 TDS RUSHED 9/48 ALLEN CHISOLM PORTER-GAUD 10 TACKLES 1 SACK WILL HUGHES AUGUSTA CHRISTIAN 10 TACKLES 1 INT HARRIS JANIK AUGUSTA CHRISTIAN PASSED 19/35 168 BEN MUELA KISER HAMMOND PASSED 13/21 108 1 TD RUSHED 12/75 ETHAN COLLINS LAURENS ACADEMY PASSED 11/16 179 4 TDS RUSHED 3/46 1 TD CALEB HARDY LAURENS ACADEMY RUSHED 17/135 1 TD RECEIVING 6/110 2 TDS 14 TACKLES NATHAN BELL LAURENS ACADEMY 15 TACKLES G. VAUGHN LAURENS ACADEMY 14 TACKLES HALL SEASE ANDREW JACKSON ACADEMY RUSHED 14/149 2 TDS GRAYSON HAY ANDREW JACKSON ACADEMY 13 TACKLES 3 SACKS ELI MATHYS ANDREW JACKSON ACADEMY 20 TACKLES 2 SACKS EVERETT ULMER ANDREW JACKSON ACADEMY 20 TACKLES 4 SACKS REID MCCOLLUM HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN PASSED 14/27 249 3 TDS PARKER KIZER HOLLY HILL ACADEMY RUSHED 25/288 3 TDS

Wolverines score game's final 20 points to pull out victory

Ruby Cecchini from AC Flora in match play. She would go on to win the #4 Singles Champion.

HSSR 2025 Football Rankings- SCHSL & SCISA (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3- 2025) HSSR Div. I AAAAA Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. James Island 5-0 (194-37) 2. Dutch Fork 3-1 (144-80) 3. Dorman 4-1 (177-90) 4. Summerville 4-1 (190-100) 5. Sumter 5-1 249-110) 6. Stratford 4-1 (235-76) 7. Carolina Forest 3-1 (197-124) 8. River Bluff 3-2 (139-77) 9. Ridge View 3-2 (191-84) 10. Clover 4-2 (193-136) HSSR Div. II AAAAA Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. Irmo 5-0 (222-116) 2. Northwestern 5-1 (283-138) 3. Indian Land 5-0 (195-22) 4. Greenwood 4-1 (171-121) 5. White Knoll 4-1 (158-49) 6. Berkeley 4-1 (200-102) 7. Greenville 4-1 (107-66) 8. TL Hanna 4-1 (149-119) 9. Lucy Beckham 3-1 (133-77) 10. Gaffney 3-2 (125-72) HSSR AAAA Football Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. South Pointe 4-1 (110-62) 2. South Florence 4-1 (201-89) 3. Camden 5-1 (213-123) 4. AC Flora 5-1 (207-69) 5. Bishop England 5-0 (226-35) 6. Daniel 4-1 (168-111) 7. Gray Collegiate 3-2 (128-113) 8. Seneca 4-1 (238-106) 9. North Augusta 5-1 (235-99) 10. Hilton Head 5-1 (175-84) 11. Midland Valley 4-1 (145-119) 12. Bluffton 4-2 (202-121) 13. May River 4-1 (175-84) 14. Wren 3-2 (193-101) 15. Hartsville 2-3 (182-217) HSSR Class AAA Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3--2025) 1. BHP 6-0 (270-44) 2. Mountain View Prep 5-0 (234-66) 3. Oceanside Collegiate 4-2 (224-156) 4. Loris 5-0 (341-48) 5. Newberry 6-0 (273-89) 6. Swansea 5-0 (196-46) 7. Dillon-3-2 (218-103) 8. Orangeburg-Wilkinson 4-0 (170-14) 9. Marlboro County 4-1 (130-66) 10. Christ Church 4-1 (166-117) 11. Woodruff 5-1 (218-120) 12. Fox Creek 5-0 254-38) 13. Waccamaw 4-1 178-53) 14. North Charleston 4-1 (138-77) 15. Powdersville 3-2 (184-166) HSSR Class AA Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. Central 5-0 (176-67) 2. North Central 5-1 (175-96) 3. Timberland 4-1 (117-105) 4. East Clarendon 5-1 (172-52) 5. Fairfield Central 4-2 (189-107) 6. Chesnee (3-2 (147-135) 7. Philip Simmons (3-2 (183-95) 8. Batesburg-Leesville 3-2 (167-88) 9. Strom Thurmond 3-2 (173-101) 10. Saluda 3-2 103-83) 11. Hampton County 3-3 (215-150) 12. Edisto 4-2 (153-122) 13. Philip Simmons 3-2 (183-95) 14. Woodland 3-2 (105-123) 15. Liberty 4-2 (256-174) HSSR Class A Football Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. Bamberg-Ehrhardt 6-0 (282-43) 2. Abbeville 3-2 (155-123) 3. Latta 5-0 (220-68) 4. Cross 5-1 (184-25) 5. Carvers Bay 6-0 (162-92) 6. Johnsonville 5-1 (145-101) 7. Ware Shoals 5-0 (156-68) 8. Dixie 4-1 (152-109) 9. Lamar 3-2 (197-134) 10 Lake View 2-2 (76-76) 11. HKT 3-2 (182-109) 12. Baptist Hill 4-1 (160-76) 13. Scott’s Branch 4-1 (144-101) 14. Calhoun Falls 3-2 (155-123) 15. Lewisville 2-3 (96-127) SCISA AAAA Football Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. Northwood Academy 5-1 (215-76) 2. Hammond 5-1 (126-53) 3. Heathwood Hall 4-2 (111-51) 4. Laurence Manning 3-3 (140-115) 5. Porter-Gaud 2-4 (152-110) 6. Ben Lippen 2-4 (107-144) SCISA AAA Football Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. Wilson Hall 4-1 (181-68) 2. Pinewood Prep 5-1 (296-108) 3. Florence Christian 4-1 (127-81) 4. Trinity Collegiate 4-2 (163-112) 5. Hilton Head Christian 2-4 (169-266) 6. John Paul II 2-3 (86-179) SCISA AA Football Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. Bethesda Academy 4-0 (206-42) 2. Calhoun Academy 5-1 (236-113) 3. Pee Dee Academy 2-2 (80-108) 4. Greenwood Christian 5-2 (189-141) 5. Orangeburg Prep 3-3 (156-162) 6. Spartanburg Christian 2-4 (147-145) SCISA Class A Football Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. Williamsburg Academy 6-0 (187-65) 2. Beaufort Academy 5-1 (227-75) 3. Dorchester Academy 5-0 (180-42) 4. Colleton Prep 5-1 (252-104) 5. Carolina Academy 3-2 (179-163) 6. Andrew Jackson Academy 1-5 (104-197) SCISA 8-Man Football Ranking (Entering Week 6 of Season, 10-3-2025) 1. Holly Hill Academy 6-0 (244-122) 2. WW King 6-0 (296-114) 3. Laurens Academy 5-1 (218-134) 4. Jefferson Davis 3-3 (180-162) 5. Cathedral 3-3 (174-132) 6. Richard Winn 3-3 (209-204)