SCISA's Weekend of Champions set with five title games

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • November 18, 2025

Hammond won't play for a stte title for the first time since 2016

       Sumter – When the five SCISA state championship football games are played this weekend, two teams will be defending their titles. And Hammond isn’t one of them.

 

           The Skyhawks, who had won eight straight state championships, saw their run come to an end last week, falling to Heathwood Hall 16-13 in the AAAA semifinals. The Highlanders will meet Northwood Academy on Friday at 7 p.m. at South Carolina State’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg.

 

           The AAA, AA and Class A games will be played on Saturday in Orangeburg, while the 8-man title game will be played on Friday in Greenwood.

 

           The AAA and AA games will feature a rematch of the 2024 title games. In AAA, defending champion Pinewood Prep will face Wilson Hall at 7:30 p.m. Pee Dee Academy will try to defend its AA crown against runner-up Bethesda Academy beginning at noon. The Class A game will have defending runner-up Williamsburg Academy taking on Colleton Prep Academy beginning at 3:30 p.m.

 

           The 8-man championship will pit defending runner-up Laurens Academy facing undefeated W.W. King at the Greenwood Christian School beginning at 7 p.m.

 

AAAA: Heathwood Hall (9-3) vs. Northwood (), Friday, 7 p.m.

 

           The winner of this game will be just the second school to hoist a AAAA state championship trophy. Hammond won the first three.

 

           Heathwood got three field goals from James Richardson to get the victory. Quarterback Patrick Belk compleed 28 of 48 pases for 268 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 34 yards on five carries.

 

           Jamonie Batts had six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Keon McKinney had 12 catches for 96 yards, and Charlie Hudson had our catches for 47 yards.

 

           Northwood is 10-1 with one of those victories being a 39-20 triumph over the Highlanders. The Chargers beat Poter-Gaud 45-20 in the semifinals.

 

           Kevin Johnson completed 18 of 26 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns to lead NA. Aydan Hogan had eight catches for 125 yards and a score, while Drew Wolfe had six receptions for 116 yards and a TD.

 

           Jordin Carter led the running game with eight carries for 80 yards and a touchdown, Kaven Ford had 59 yards and a score on 13 carries, and Bryson Ford had a touchdodwn.

 

           AAA: Wilson Hall (10-1) vs. Pinewood Prep (9-3), Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

 

           Pinewood Prep will bring a 9-3 record into the rematch against 10-1 Wilson Hall. The Panthers won last year’s title game 24-21, but WH got a measure of revenge earlier this season, handing Pinewood one of its losses in a 28-21 win.

 

           Silas Brawner completed 9 of 15 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Panthers in their 45-6 semifinal win over Florence Christian School.

 

           Grayson Salego had 11 carries for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and Lavoris Lucas had nine carries for 41 yards and a TD. Lucas also had a TD catch among his three catches for 41 yards. Jayden Alexander had two catches for 75 yards and a TD.

 

           Wilson Hall will be playing in its third straight AAA title game. The 10-1 Barons are wanting to return to Sumter with a championship trophy.

 

           The Barons beat Hilton Heah Chris5ian Academy 50-29 in the semifinals. Ben McLaurin rushed for 275 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries, while quarterback Ford Wilder ran for 108 yards and three TDs on 15 carries,

 

           Peyton Gilley led the defense with seven tackles and two interceptions, while McLaurin had six tackles, one tackle or a loss and one pick.

 

           AA: Pee Dee vs. Bethesda, Saturday, noon

 

           After rolling to the AA title last year with an undefeated season that ended with a 52-14 triumph over Bethesda, Pee Dee will bring an 8-3 record into this year’s tilt. The Blazers are the undefeated team this time with an 11-0 record. One of those was a 49-0 triumph over the Golden Eagles.

 

           Bethesda beat Greenwood Christian 32-14 in its semifinal game. Jordan Turner completed 7 of 15 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 43 yards and another TD on seven carries.

 

           Jeffrey Armstrong was he leading rusher with yards on 11 carries. Rain Wesley returned a kickoff for a TD had two catches for 26 yards and a score. Luke Larson had a 37-yard scoring catch.

 

           PDA edged Hilton Head Prep 34-33 to reach the title game again. Tristan Heckman rushed for 259 yards and four scores on 29 carries. Judson Martin had 10 carries for 80 yards.

 

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

 

           Williamsburg will be playing in its fifth consecutive state title game, the last two in Class A. The Stallions only won one of those four, claiming the AA title in 2023.

 

           WA improved to 10-1 by knocking off defending champion Thomas Heyward Academy 37-20 in he semis.

 

           Grant Small was a workhorse for Williamsburg, rushing for 272 yards on 37 carries. Quarterback Micah Balder rushed or 63 yards on 10 carries and completed 8 of 10 passes for 95 yards and two TDs.

 

           Charlie Caulder had five caches ro 41yards, and Jay Kellahan had two catches for 38 yards.

 

           Colleton Prep reached the title game with a 22-16 win over Dorchester Academy. The War Hawks are 9-2.

 

           Quarterback Cale Owens completed 11 of 18 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 58 yards and two scores on 12 carries. Thomas Corbett caught six passes for 104 yards and a TD, Hartman Fisk had three catches for 44 yards, and Tanner Wolf rushed for 90 yards on 18 carries.

 

8-Man: Laurens Academy (9-2) vs. W.W. King (), Friday, 7 p.m.

 

           W.W. King comes into the title game with an 11-0 record after beating Jefferson Davis Academy 74-28 in a semifinal matchup.

 

           Joseph Morse rushed for 216 yards and four TDs on 15 carries. Blake Rabar had nine carries for 55 yards and two touchdowns, while Elijah Hutto had two TD runs.

 

           Hutto completed 3 of 6 passes for 108 yards and a TD. Dallas Hill had the three caches.

 

           LA comes into the game with a 9-2 record with both o the losses coming to the Knights. King won the first meeting 60-34 and the second game 44-22.

 

           The Crusaders will be facing an undefeated team for the second straight game. They beat Bolly Hill Academy 30-24 in the semifinals.

 

           Caleb Hardy rushed for 160 yards and two scores 22 carries. Ethan Collins rushed or 67 yards and two scores while completing 7 of 12 passes for 126 yards. Hardy also had four catches for 85 yards.

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