SCISA Has 40 Teams Fighting for Titles

By: Gerald Doolittle

Goose Creek, S.C. - At this writing on 11/4 the South Carolina Independent Schools Association 2026 Football Playoffs in five classifications will start with 40 schools fighting for Titles.

Northwood Academy (8-2) will try to defend their Class 4-A title and W.W. King Academy (8-1) will try to defend their 8-Man title. Class 3-A, 2-A and 1-A will crown new Champions as their 2025 champs all moved up in Classification.

Pinewood Prep (8-2) last year’s 3-A winner is now in 4-A. Bethesda Academy (7-1) last year’s 2-A winner is now in 3-A. Williamsburg Academy (8-1) last year’s winner is now in 2-A.

Hammond (10-0) will be trying to reclaim the 4-A title. Northwood Academy (8-2) and Pinewood Prep (8-2) will be strong contenders.  Ben Lippen (6-3), Laurence Manning (6-3) and Porter-Gaud (6-4) come in as spoilers. Augusta Christian (5-5) and Heathwood Hall (5-5) would love to pull sneak attacks on Hammond and Northwood Academy.

Class 3-A is now wide open for the taking. Bethesda Academy (7-1), First Baptist (8-2) and Northside Christian (8-2) are the top three contenders. Florence Christian (7-3), Wilson Hall (7-3) and Hilton Head Christian (7-3) will try to stop the top three. Spartanburg Christian (4-6) and Trinity (3-5) would love to be the big spoilers.

Class 2-A is also wide open for the taking. Colleton Prep (10-1), Williamsburg Academy (8-1) and Calhoun Academy (9-2) are the top three contenders. Greenwood Christian (7-3), Patrick Henry Academy (6-3) and Pee Dee Academy (6-4) will work hard to win over the top tier teams. Orangeburg Prep (3-7) and Cross Schools (3-7) would love to be spoilers. 

Class 1-A will have all eight schools in the playoffs. Dorchester Academy (8-2) and Dillon Christian (8-2) were the only two teams with winning records. Clarendon Hall (4-6) and Thomas Heyward (4-6) are the second tier contenders. Beaufort Academy (3-7), Lee Academy (3-7), Holly Hill Academy (2-8) and Carolina Academy (1-8) all will work hard to be competitive.

The 8-Man playoffs will have Jefferson Davis Academy (11-0), W. W. King Academy (8-1) and Laurens Academy (8-1) in the top tier of contenders. Newberry Academy (5-4) and Richard Winn (5-5) with a few breaks could be spoilers. Wardlaw Academy (2-7), Andrew Jackson (2-8) and Cambridge Academy (2-8) will work hard to be competitive.

The top 15 SCISA rushing stars are :

Isaiah Scott-Palacious (Greenwood Chr.) 1713 yds,

Jordan Blackmon (Dillon Chr.) 1541 yds,

Reed Almers (Dorchester) 1529 yds,

Marquel Williams (Jefferson Davis) 1522 yds,

Joseph Morse (W W King) 1335 yds,

Landen Olson (Lee Academy) 1193 yds,

Kai Sobey ( Patrick Henry) 1123 yds,

Andrew Pritcher (Clarendon Hall) 1114 yds,

Parker Kizer (Holly Hill) 1000 yds,

Caleb Hardy (Laurens Ac.) 905 yds,

Michael Polite (Northwood) 847 yds,

Cale Owens (Colleton Prep) 823 yds,

Jordan Turner (Bethesda) 821 yds,

Mills Wallace (Dillon Chr.) 777 yds,

Judson Martin (Pee Dee) 743 yds.

The top 15 SCISA Quarterbacks are:

Silas Brawner (Pinewood) 2841 yds,

Cam Werntz (Porter-Gaud) 2532 yds,

Cale Owens (Colleton Prep) 2116 yds,

Ethan Collins (Laurens) 1996 yds,

Kres Langhals (Hilton Head Chr) 1879 yds,

Kevin Johnson (Northwood) 1770 yds,

Gibbs Isom (First Baptist) 1728 yds,

Jordan Blackmon (Dillon Chr) 1580 yds,

Cade Amell (Hammond) 1543 yds,

Harris Janik (Augusta Chr.) 1436 yds,

Jordan Turner (Bethesda) 1352 yds,

Cholly Williams (Orangeburg Prep) 1257 yds,

Caden Morris (Williamsburg) 1202 yds,

Carter Beeks (Dorchester) 1179 yds,

Tyler Mapes (Cambridge) 1010 yds.

The top 10 SCISA pass receivers are:

Amir Chisolm (Porter-Gaud) 1151yds,

Tre Green (Pinewood) 1013 yds,

Lavoris Lucas (Pinewood) 921 yds,

Drew Wolfe (Northwood) 891 yds,

Wilson Yarborough (Porter-Gaud) 848 yds,

Joshua Bradley (First Baptist) 779 yds,

Jimmele Smith (Ben Lippen) 781 yds,

Caleb Hardy (Laurens) 736 yds,

Thomas Corbett (Colleton Prep) 726 yds,

Gentry Phillips (Cambridge) 723 yds.

The top 10 SCISA leaders in tackles made are:

Luke Sobey (Patrick Henry) 115,

Allen Chisolm (Porter-Gaud) 110,

Jake Harrington (Jefferson Davis) 106,

Jacob Bussey (W W King) 103,

Mac Strickland (Orangeburg Prep) 103,

Stone Porter (Ben Lippen) 103,

Beanie Brown (Porter-Gaud) 99,

Caleb Hardy (Laurens) 94,

Tyer Green (Holly Hill) 83,

Jensen Tarver (Laurens) 83.