Powdersville leaves no doubt in AAA boys soccer as it repeats as state champion

  Columbia – For most of the 2026 soccer season, defending state champion Powdersville High School and 2-time defending Lower State champion Oceanside Collegiate Academy were considered the heavy favorites to reach the AAA state finals. Neither team disappointed.

However, once the finals arrived it was Powdersville that proved once again to be the top dog. And it was impressive.

          The Patriots scored early and often in posting a 6-1 win with senior Brody Pike accounting for five goals in his final high school game.

         “As a coach I never expect anything. I hope we play our best and if we do or we don’t we will ultimately get what we deserve.” Powdersville head coach Jeremy McCall said. “In watching film, I thought that Oceanside had a strong team, obviously to be back into the state championship game. I thought if we played well we would have a chance to win. Ultimately having a player (Pike) score five goals is something that you never expect in a match, much less the state championship game.”

         McCall states the obvious when he says he had a wealth of talent on this year’s team. But he also feels strongly that it takes more than talent to win the biggest games. This team, he says, had the great intangibles.

        “The strengths of this team was the bond and love that they all have for each other. You hear the term “brotherhood” used often but this group is definitely different than any other group I have ever coached. They truly love one another and I like to say that is what make us different. 

       “There are countless stories of things that this group did off the field to help a teammate out that might be going through a tough situation to pick them up and pat them on the back or even just say you know what, give me that burden, you don’t worry about it. That is what makes this group special and their love for one another was the strength of this team. “

       Pike was the obvious leader on the team with help from co-captain Jud Scrivner. But, as the coach says, two leaders won’t get it done alone.

      “They both accomplished many great things in their careers at Powdersville High School. However, the guys that I counted on were all 18 on the roster. There were games this year where we were missing Jud or Brody so it was important that the guy that was going to play in their spot was someone that not only I could count on but someone their teammates believed in.”

     If there is a rebuilding year coming, it could be next year. Then again, maybe not. The team had 11 seniors this season, leaving many holes to fill. However, the junior varsity team was 28-3-2 over the last two seasons.

     “I am excited to see some of those guys that are ninth- and 10^th-graders get their chance playing at the varsity level next year to leave their mark on the program and to continue growing as a team.”