South Florence Wins Rematch In The AAAA Football Finals With Thrilling Come-From-Behind 42-41 Win Over Westside High

Billy Baker • December 16, 2024

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Orangeburg—Had ESPN aired the SCHSL Class AAAA football state championship game, won by South Florence over Westside, 42-41 at South Carolina State University on December, 13th,  it would have given a national audience of sports fans a first-hand view of just how strong football truly is in the Palmetto State.


It was a shame either team had to lose this Prize Fight quality rematch of last year’s AAAA title game when Westside High rallied to win (34-32) after getting down 20-7 to the Bruins after the first quarter.


After this year’s big win, South Florence’s five- year coaching veteran, Drew Marlowe, shared his thoughts from the field. “This team just kept fighting and fighting throughout the game, and they were not going to be denied,” said Coach Marlowe. “You have number 16 (LaNorris Sellers) already a legend at South Florence, and now number 17 (brother Jayden Sellers) is also a legend in our program with his great performance tonight.


“Our quarterback’s ability (Messiah Jackson) to check plays, check protection, and to get us into the right calls is unreal also,” said Coach Marlowe. “Most high school quarterbacks are not as intelligent as he is and he has worked hard to get better every week.


“I told Jayden all week not to feel like he had to win the game for us,” said Coach Marlowe. “I told him to let the game come to you and it did.”


Coach Marlowe was also proud of the Bruns offensive line. “I felt like they were dominant all game and they were physical and nasty with 9 and 10 bodies in there,” said Coach Marlowe. “We told them at half-time, if we want to win the game that we have to break them. We have to control the tempo of the game, and I thought our line and our running backs  accomplished that.”


Coach Marlowe’s comments on the play of Woods, “I told him after the game that it has been an honor to play against him. It has also been a pain also.”


Coach Marlowe talked about how his team handled the two-point loss to Westside in the finals a year ago, as they prepared for the 2024 season knowing, in their minds, it could be a match-up with the Rams once again in the finals. “I think you can take those experiences, and you can let them humble you, crush you, or fuel you. Another thing we talked about is that it is okay to be upset about it, and angry about it, but let’s make sure that it is a controlled rage that we come to practice with every day.”


Coach Marlowe said that when “Sellers & Sellers” become teammates at South Carolina next season positive things will be happening. “They love playing together and they love playing for each other,” said Coach Marlowe. “They make each other better.” 


Coach Marlowe said he and his staff made few half-time adjustments but he was to the point with his charge to the team. “Down seven, with two quarters to play, I told them we have to break them. We are not just trying to win a football game, but we have to win a street-fight and we have to break them with hard-nosed physical play.”


South Florence football will be graduating 21 seniors. “Most of them have played together in 45 games the past three seasons and we miss everyone of them,” said Coach Marlowe.


Brian Lane is the head coach at Westside High. After the hard-fought game he told the HSSR, “It was a great game, and going for two at the end was the right call,” said Coach Lane. “You have to execute big plays with the game on the line and we came up one point short.


Coach Lane’s thoughts about Wood’s 411 passing yards and six TD passes: “What a great young man who has been a tremendous leader for us throughout his career and I am very proud of him and what he has meant to our program,” said Coach Lane. “He has a tremendous future ahead of him.


“Our kids put it on the line tonight and I am proud of each and everyone of them,” said Coach Lane. “The plan is to keep winning, and to keep building the program, and I have enjoyed 35 years of playing and coaching the great game of football.”


Cutter Woods also spoke with the HSSR after the game, “It was great to have Bomar and Weaver transfer into the program (from Byrnes) this season and they are so fast they can get behind the defense on most plays and they did that again tonight,” said Woods as USC quarterback LaNorris Sellers stood near him. “I left it all on the field tonight.


“I liked the two—point play call and give credit to the South Florence defense for making a great play on the ball,” said Woods. “Although we came up a couple points shy, I am excited for them.

“I am just thankful to God for allowing me to be a Westside Ram and I will always have Him first and foremost in my thoughts going forward,” said Woods. ”I always tried to give it my all, and whether or not I deserve the credit, I love the game and look forward to my future.”


South Florence’s Jayden Sellers led the Bruins on offense with three touchdown receptions. He told the HSSR after the game, “We have been working towards playing Westside again since Week one,” said Sellers. “It has been a blessing to play for South Florence and I just thank God for the strength to work hard early in the mornings and late into the night.


“The coverage was tight on me tonight but I consider myself a play-maker and it is my job to make plays regardless,” said Sellers. “Our quarterback throws to a spot and it is up to me to make a play on the ball.


“I am looking forward to joining my brother at South Carolina next season,” said Sellers. “We have been playing football together since we were little kids and I am looking forward to the future.”         

     

Westside quarterback Cutter Woods, a South Carolina signee, certainly did all he could do to help his team compete to defend their title. He completed a 11-of-19 passes for 411 yards and six touchdowns. The Rams lost by a mere point when Woods hit Chamarryus Bomar with a 50-yard scoring pass with 1:52 to close the deficit to a mere point. A trick play calling for a wide receiver reverse pass to the end zone was well defended to preserve the victory for South Florence.


This year it was Westside High that led 21-14 and the Bruins were the team that rallied to win.


The game was a tale of two extremes. While the Rams passed for 411 yards, and ran just 27 plays the entire game, the Bruins ate the clock with 361 rushing yards and they ran 77 plays. The time of possession favored South Florence 38:45 to 9:15.


The Bruins were led on the ground by senior running back Tre Leonard who rushed for 191 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown, Zion Gilbert rushed for 114 yards on 20 carries and quick-football quarterback Messiah Jackson added 49 yards on 14 carries and two rushing touchdowns.


Westside scored first with 5:41 left in the opening period when Bomar ran a streak route and Woods delivered a well-time pass right on target for a 38-yard score. Brayden Burnette made the first of his five PAT’s during the game to put the Rams up 7-0 early.


With 2:06 left in the first period South Florence tied the game 7-7 on Jackson’s 18-yard scoring pass to Jayden Sellers. Evan Holland made the first of his six PAT’s for the game.


The Rams went up 14-7 with 1:45 left in the first when receiver Dreson Evans scored a 74-yard home run ball by Woods that hit him on stride for a touchdown. The PAT was good.


Then with 9:53 left in the second quarter, the strong and deftly accurate arm of Woods struck again, catching Bomar behind the defense on a 69-yard scoring pass that looked like money when it was in the air coming towards him. The PAT was good and it was now 21-7 after the made PAT. One year ago, South Florence had led by 21-7 about the same time in that game.


South Florence closed out first-half scoring, to close the deficit to 21-14, following a double-digit drive, when the speedy Jackson scored on a two-yard run with just 39 seconds left. The PAT was good.


In the second half the South Florence senior dominated line began to win the battle of the line of scrimmage. The Bruins scored with 10:37 left in the third period  on Jackson’s one yard scamper and Holland’s PAT to tie the game at 21 each.


On Westside’s next possession, Woods once again showcased his golden arm with a 74-yard “Dan Marino” looking touchdown pass to Armoni Weaver with 10:03 left in the third. The PAT once again gave the Rams a 28-21 lead.


Then with 2:55 left in the third period, Jackson showed off his own arm’s accuracy with a 22-yard touchdown strike to a well-covered Sellers and the made PAT tied the game again at 28-28.


Here comes Woods again, on the Ram’s next possession. This time he hit Bomar for a 56-yard scoring strike at the 1:41 mark of the third period, and the made PAT by Burnette, gave Westside a 35-28 lead heading into the final period.


With 9:08 left in the game, Jackson tossed his third touchdown pass of the game to Sellers, South Carolina signee, from 31-yards and the PAT to tie the game at 35 each with the made PAT.


Then after finally slowing down the “Woods Express” the Bruins took over after a quick kick. In another clock eating drive, Bruin running back Tre Leonard, who rushed for 191 yards on 25 carries during the game, scored on a four-yard run with 2:12 left in the game to put the Bruins up 42-35 (PAT good) to give them their first lead of the game as their fans began to rock the foundation of Oliver C. Dawson on the home side of the stadium.


“The Woods Express” took only 20 seconds to cut the deficit to 42-41 with 1:52 left in the game on a 50-yard strike to Bomar who looked like his pass route running ability was launched out of a cannon. Going for the win the Rams trick play on a wide receiver reverse pass two- point play failed after a mass pile-up of humanity in the end zone.


Westside did get the ball back on a tremendous 42-yard punt by Jackson to the one-yard line with 39 seconds left. The South Florence defense stiffened, and the game ended on a 14-yard pass completion from Woods to Weaver as time expired. 


The stats leader for SF included Jackson who completed 9-of-11 passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns. Sellers caught all three scoring passes and he netted 121 yards on seven catches. Malik Robinson and Lennix Valerie each had one catch also.


Behind the Bruins leading rusher Leonard, Zion Gilbert ran well, finishing with 114 yards on 20 carries and Jackson added 49 yards on four carries with two rushing touchdowns. Sellers had four carries for 13 yards.


The SF defense was led by Willie Kennedy and Terry Gordon with three and two tackles respectively. Clemson five star defensive end commitment Amare Adams had one tackle an done sack for the game.


Bomar led Westside receivers with four catches for 213 yards and four receptions resulted in touchdowns. Weaver finished with four catches for 115 yards and one touchdown. Evans had one catch for a 74-yard TD and Sharode Richardson and Da’Maysa Dawson each added a catch.


Woods and Richardson each gained 27 yards rushing for the Rams. Woods had two quick kicks for a 52-yard average and Jaxson Barbee added a 46-yard punt for the Rams.


The top tackler for the Rams included Jameson Wilson with 16.5 total tackles, RJ Livingston added 10 total tackles along with Dreson Evans (7.5), Weaver (six) and Malachi Peterson (5.5) as leaders on the Rams hit index. 


LADY PATRIOTS READY FOR ANOTHER TITLE RUN

By Gerald Doolittle • December 18, 2025
Wardlaw Academy senior Taylor Hill during the 2025 championship game.

Thomas Heyward’s O’Banner ends stellar career

By David Shelton • December 18, 2025
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White Knoll girls a work in progress under new coach

By Worthy Evans • December 18, 2025
By WORTHY EVANS Contributing Writer  Columbia - Last season the White Knoll girls basketball team broke through with 17 wins and made the 5A Division 2 playoffs. Shortly afterward, head coach Coretta Ferguson left to coach the Irmo girls. Also departing the Timberwolves were seniors Shaelyn Hayes , who averaged 14.4 points per game, and Emory Waters - Inman , who averaged 11.9 points. Under first-year head coach Mark Luster , the 2025-2026 White Knoll girls have a lot of returners on the roster, but are considerably young. Even so, Luster is hopeful that the team (2-4) can come together in time for Region 4-5A play. The Timberwolves opened the season with a 63-22 loss Nov. 21 to a powerful Rock Hill team led by senior guard Chloe Hudson , but held their own in a 43-29 loss against another top team, Sumter , Nov. 22 “The Rock Hill game, we got handled, but we played Sumter pretty well,” Luster said. White Knoll scored its first victory of the season with a 65-26 win over Aiken Dec. 1, but a 79-34 loss to Blythewood came Dec. 2 and a 45-27 loss to Lower Richland came Dec. 5. The Timberwolves got victory No.2 with a 50-22 defeat of Aiken Dec. 10. “We’re a young team and we’re still making mistakes, but we’ve played some good competition that’s been a lesson for us,” Luster said. “The good thing about it is that we’re going to see how well we’ve improved when we play these teams the second time around.” Having played Aiken twice, the Timberwolves traveled to Lower Richland Dec. 12 and to Blythewood Dec. 13. White Knoll heads to Laurens Dec. 16 and plays Brookland - Cayce Dec. 19 before opening region play against River Bluff Jan. 9. While losing Hayes and Waters-Inman, White Knoll has a returning leader in senior point guard Sidney White . White has been benched with an ACL injury last year. “She’s one of our better players even though she hasn’t played a game yet,” Luster said. “She’s been practicing with the team and hopefully get cleared if she passes an exam tomorrow (Dec. 12).” Another of the team’s more experienced players is junior guard Jaliyah Daniel , who played on the varsity team her freshman and sophomore years. “She’s our leading scorer right now,” Luster said. “With the ball in her hand as a point guard, she’s stepped up to be a great leader.” With White and Daniel poised to lead the team this season, the rest of the team is competing for starting slots. “Not a lot of the girls have logged varsity time,” he said. “We had some girls play in some spots for a while, but I think we’ve got some girls who can start. Valentina Paniagua is a junior and she stepped up for us and we’re looking for some good things from her. She’s had some injuries but she had a good game last night (the second win over Aiken).” Freshman Center London Thompson is one of the better players in the class of 2029. “She’s come along really well and is a great rebounder,” Luster said. “She’s going to go quite a bit further with her skills development before she leaves us.” Junior guard Desiree Butler has been a part-time starter for the Timberwolves. Luster said she’s struggled a bit but added that he likes what he’s seen from her and will likely be a regular on the floor. “Other than that, we’ve got a lot of little pieces to fit,” Luster said. “We’ve got to figure out what they can do.” White Knoll looks to have as balanced a team as it can be on the court by the time region play opens in 2026. With Luster taking the job so late in the cycle, he said he wasn’t able to put the team through summer and fall camps. “November was the first time I got the team out on the court,” Luster said. “We go out on the court against teams who have had a whole summer and fall, and we’re still installing and learning stuff. We know we’re behind the 8-ballbut we’re playing hard.” Luster said the goal for the team is to be .500 going into region play. By then he thinks the team will be playing its best basketball, and would head into the second round of region play holding it’s own. “It doesn’t get any easier for us, but I like that we have a talented group of juniors and freshmen,” Luster said. “I think we can surprise teams. We have a bright future. We’re excited about the season.” The White Knoll boys are coming off a 13-14 season in which they reached the 5A Division 2 playoffs but lost to Myrtle Beach in the first round. The Timberwolves (5-3) got off to a 1-3 start but have won four straight, including wins over 5A Division 1 state runner-up Blythewood (68-66) Dec. 2 and Lower Richland (70-50) Dec. 5. White Knoll played at Lower Richland Friday and at Blythewood on Saturday, and plays Laurens, Brookland-Cayce, and North Augusta before heading into the Lexington Roundball Classic Dec. 26-28.

Fox Creek boys hope to continue success

By Dennis Brunson • December 18, 2025
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor North Augusta – The Fox Creek High School boys basketball team won four of its first six games and is in hopes of having another strong season The Predators have won 39 games over the past two seasons and reached the quarterfinals of the AAA state playoffs both years. FCHS was averaging 69 points a game with three players scoring in double figures. Senior Chanze Allen was leading the way at 14.0 followed by junior Justin Vining at 12.5 and junior Kobe Sims at 11.5 Junior Randy Robinson was the leading rebounder at 5.7 while scoring at a 6.8 clip. Senior Keori Atwell was averaging 6.7. Vining was the assists leader at 3.2. FOX CREEK GIRLS OPEN 4-5 The Fox Creek girls basketball team won four of its first nine games. However, points have been hard to come by for the Predators as they are averaging just 37 points a contest. Fox Creek returns its top three scorers from last season. Junior Jada Jennings , who averaged over 10 a game last season, is leading the way with 9.2 per game. Sophomore Mia Price , who led the team with a 10.6 average last year, is off to a slow start. She is only putting up 3.6 a game. The second leading scorer is senior Avery Schwarz at 8.3 per game. She is also the second leading rebounder at 5.6 The leading rebounder is junior Maya Kryshtalowych at 7.9. As she was last year, Kryshtalowych is the third leading scorer at 5.2. Jennings is averaging 4.2 rebounds. Fox Creek is looking to improve upon a 9-14 overall record and a 4-4 mark in region play. The Predators had to go on the road in the firt round of the playoffs and lost to Hanahan 45-38. 2 PREDATORS SELECTED FOOTBALL ALL-REGION Running back Bryson Crawford and offensive lineman/defensive lineman John Truesdell were the Fox Creek football players selected to the All-Region 4-AAA team. Crawford, who is a junior, had a tremendous season. He rushed for 1,391 yards and 21 touchdowns on 198 carries. He also caught three passes for 21 yards and a score. Truesdell, a senior, finished with 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, a team high six sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Predators who were honorable mention were junior athlete Mehki Quiller , senior outside linebacker Noah Gaines , senior offensive lineman Alec Beck , sophomore outside linebacker Kamal Grant , senior defensive back Riley Howell and junior defensive back Char’tavious Weaver .

Florence Christian’s Schwab wins defensive award

By Dennis Brunson • December 18, 2025
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Florence – Florence Christian School junior defensive lineman Hayden Schwab was selected as the SCISA Region 2-AAA Defensive Player of the Year. Schwaub, who was the only returning starter on the D line for the FCS football team, had team highs in tackles with 97, tackles for loss with 11 ½ and quarterback sacks with eight, returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown, caused two fumbles and recovered another. The Eagles finished the year with an 8-3 overall record and reached the semifinals of the state playoffs. Veteran head coach Neil Minton was pleased with the team’s performance. “We had a great season,” Minton said. “We played five games against teams who played for state titles (AAA state champion Pinewood Prep in the semifinals, AAA runner-up and region foe Wilson Hall , AAAA runner-up Heathwood Hall , AA runner-up Pee Dee Academy and Class A state champion Williamsburg Academy ). Our young people battled and competed with great determination and character. I am proud of our growth and will really miss our seniors.” The Eagles were 2-3 in the games against the five title contenders. They beat Heathwood Hall 14-13 and Pee Dee 21-0 while losing to Williamsburg 34-21, Wilson Hall 34-15 for the region title and Pinewood Prep 45-6. Florence Christian had five other players selected to the All-Region 2-AAA team. They were senior Brooks Poston , senior Pierce Boykin , senior Parker Watson and juniors Josh Davis and Andrew Miller . Poston, who started in the secondary on defense, finished with 40 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defended and two fumbles caused. As a wide receiver and running back on offense, Poston caught 11 passes for 187 yards and a score and had 84 carries for 502 yards and seven touchdowns. Boykin had five sacks, 72 tackles and 10 ½ TFLs as a defensive lineman. Davis and Miller both were starting running backs on offense as well as starters in the secondary. Defensively, Davis had 37 tackles, 5 ½ TFLs, one PD and caused three fumbles, while Miller had 37 tackles, five TFLs and three sacks. Miller was FCS’ leading rusher with 884 yards and 14 touchdowns on 143 carries. Davis had 82 carries for 389 yards and four touchdowns. Watson was the starting left offensive tackle and was a 2-year starter. The Eagles look to have eight starters back on defense and six on offense. One of the returners on offense will be sophomore quarterback Riley Minton , the coach’s son. In his second season as a starter, Minton completed 68 of 113 passes for 978 yards and four touchdowns while running for 163 yards and five scores on 45 carries.

Ashley Ridge finished season strong

By Roger Lee • December 18, 2025
Ashley Ridge quarterback Trevor Kalisz threw for approximately 1,900 yards and nine touchdowns this season while rushing for more than 500 yards and a TD. Photo by Roger Lee

Belton-Honea Path dominates Region 1-AAA awards

By Dennis Brunson • December 18, 2025
 By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Honea Path – Belton-Honea Path High School came up just shy of a football state title again this year. The Bears fell to Oceanside Collegiate Academy in the AAA championship game for the second straight season, this time by a 28-7 count. Longtime Bears head coach Russell Blackston said he couldn’t be prouder of his team, the seniors in particular. “I mean they finished 14-1, and I’m so proud of these guys and what they’ve been able to do,” he said. “They have 50 wins in their careers, and the sun’s going to come up tomorrow.” The Bears dominated the awards for Region 1-AAA as well as its All-Region team. Junior Tajeh Watson-Martin was selected as the Region Player of the Year, senior Kylan Dixon was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Year, senior Keylan Dixon was the Lineman of the Year, senior Benji Ward was the Special Teams Player of the Year and Blackston was named the Coach of the Year. Watson-Martin was selected to the All-Region team as both a wide receiver and defensive back. He had 58 receptions for 1,101 yards and 11 touchdowns while coming up with 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback sack and four interceptions at cornerback. Kylan Dixon, a defensive tackle, finished with 41 tackles, 14 TFLs and five sacks. His brother, Keylan, was the leader of an offensive line that helped the offense average 45.7 points per game. He was a 4-time All-Region pick. Placekicker Ward scored 89 points, connecting on 80 of his 86 extra point attempts while going 3-for-4 on field goals with a long of 40 yards. The other All-Region selections were senior Noah Thomas both at quarterback and punter, junior Brody Riddle at tight end, senior MJ Earl at running back, junior Jaden Glenn and senior Jacus Paul at wide receiver, senior center Brady Spearman and junior right tackle Carter Burgess on the offensive line, juior noseguard Kamation Glenn and senior ends Ty Rainey and Kanaza Bryant on the defensive line, senior Jakyri Anderson , junior Ty Dubose and senior KJ Miles at linebacker, junior strong safety Dee Chester at defensive back and senior free safety Grady Melton as a defensive all-purpose player. Thomas threw for 2,221 yards and 33 touchdowns while rushing for 762 yards and 11 scores. As a punter, Thomas averaged 36.0 yards on 22 attempts. Earl rushed for 1,246 yards nd 24 touchdowns, while Jaden Glenn had 25 catches for 339 yards and seven TDs, and Paul had 19 catches for 177 yards and four TDs. On defense, Miles had 66 tackles and nine TFLs, Dubose had 78 tackles, two picks, three sacks and 11 TFLs, Melton had 35 tackles and two TFLs, Chester had 28 tackles, four picks and four TFLs, Anderson had 56 tackles and 10 TFLs, Rainey had 27 tackles, eight sacks and 12 TFLs, Kamarion Glenn had 28 tackles and 11 TFLs, and Bryant had 18 tackles, three sacks and nine TFLs.

Summerville aims to remain a top team for 5A football

By Roger Lee • December 15, 2025
By Roger Lee Contributing Writer Summerville – Dutch Fork has stood in the way of the Summerville Football program’s mission of winning a state championship the last few years, but nothing last forever. The Green Wave (11-3) fell to the Silver Foxes (12-1) 40-20 during the 2025 5A, Division 1 Football Championship at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg Dec. 6. The loss marks the second consecutive year Summerville has fallen to Dutch Fork in the state finals. “You can’t turn the ball over in a state championship game,” said Summerville coach Ian Rafferty . “We turned the ball over three times and they only turned it over once, but I’m proud of our kids. I don’t think the final score indicates what type of game it was. It just kind of got away from us at the end.” The good news for Green Wave fans is Summerville should return some talented starters next season. Junior running back Javyen Williams rushed for more than 2.000 yards and 24 touchdowns this season and had 18 receptions for nearly 200 yards and another two TDs. Senior Cam Grayson rushed for more than 500 yards and 12 TDs. Junior receiver Jaiden Kelly-Murray led the Wave receivers with more than 1,000 receiving yards and 14 TD receptions. “Jaiden Kelly-Murray is one of the best athletes on our team,” Rafferty said. “He plays his guts out. A lot of people don’t realize late this season he played almost every single snap on offense and defense and played special teams. He is phenomenal.” Sophomore receiver Teru Davis had more than 500 receiving yards and three TDs. Senior quarterback Max Stafford threw for approximately 2,000 yards and 20 TDs. Senior QB Cooper Kafina threw for approximately 700 yards and five TDs. Junior linebacker Eli Pressley and senior JT Williams were the leading tacklers. Senior Josiah Taylor had a team-high four interceptions. The team’s feeder programs have a long history of preparing athletes for the varsity gridiron.  “Our JV team finished the season 10-0 and outscored their opponents by an average score of 40-6,” Rafferty said. “I feel good about the future of Green Wave Football. We’ll be back. We will get back to work and keep coming until we get a championship. Wave Wrestling Summerville is out to a strong start on the wrestling mat. This month, Green Wave coach Daryl Tucker surpassed the 350-wins bench mark for his wrestling coaching career. As of Dec. 13, he has led Summerville to 359 dual wins. Tucker already had the most coaching wins in program history. “That’s a big number, but I tell people all the time I don’t do this by myself,” Tucker said. “I’ve had a lot of great wrestlers along the way. I’ve had some really good assistant coaches and a really supportive administration.” Summerville placed second during last weekend’s 2025 Cane Bay Duals . The Green Wave defeated Hanahan (63-18), Chapin (47-25) and Wando (53-26) to advance to the semi-finals. There, it defeated rival Ashley Ridge (42-30) to advance to the championship match. In the title match, Summerville fell 44-28 to Lugoff-Elgin . Ashley Ridge is ranked third in the 5A, Division 1 preseason poll while Summerville is ranked sixth. Lugoff-Elgin is ranked fourth in 5A, Division 2. It was the first loss of the season for Summerville, which enters this week with a 10-1 record. “We aren’t going to hang our head about losing to Lugoff,” Tucker said. “They have a really good program and there is a lot to learn from losing to a really good opponent.” The win over the Swamp Foxes is Summerville’s most prestigious of the season. “It was a really good high school match,” Tucker said. “The first three or four matches were decisions so it was tight until we hit 165.” Summerville had one wrestler too sick to wrestle, a few injuries and the members of the team who also play football have only been able to participate in a few practices so overall the team’s performance in the event shows promise. “My 150-pounder, Kayleb Pinckney , is wrestling on another level,” Tucker said. “He has really put some things together and he does things I can’t coach because he is so athletic. Another senior, Brayden Herman , had five wins today. won all five of his matches Ridge Rollison and Mason Whisenhunt stepped up at 157. Right now, we are just trying to get some guys more consistent and get better one day at a time.” Seth Seprish and Dexter Chavous are grapplers expected to make a difference in heavier classes this season. Trinton Morris didn’t participate at Cane Bay, but is expected to help strengthen the middle part of the lineup when he returns from injury.

North defeats South, 35-27, in Touchstone Energy Bowl; Northwestern Safety Tamarrion Watkins Named SC Mr. Football

By David Shelton • December 14, 2025
By David Shelton Senior Writer Myrtle Beach – High school all-star football games can be vanilla, but this year’s Touchstone Energy Bowl was a surprisingly entertaining game. The 78 th Touchstone Energy North-South all-star game was won by the North, 35-27, on Dec. 9 in Myrtle Beach. The game featured big plays on offense, defense, and special teams with two blocked punts, and a kickoff return for a touchdown. “We just played an all-star game and threw it to the endzone for a chance to go into overtime and that’s what people want to see,” said South head coach Brian Smith of Barnwell. “Nobody wants to see 7-3 or 10-7 game, and nobody wants a game 40-10 either. I think it was an exciting game. Proud of the way our kids played and proud of the way their kids played.” Pickens head coach John Boggs directed the North all-stars. The win for the North gave them a 42-33 edge in the overall series. “What an effort on both sides,” Boggs said. “One team refusing to give up and the other team refusing to give up. Just two teams battling it out. Heck of a football game. Obviously, I am glad to come out on the winning side but just proud of how hard all these kids played.” Bluffton quarterback Aeden McCarthy was named the South’s Most Valuable Offensive Player while South Florence’s Terry Gordon was the South defensive MVP. McCarthy completed seven of 17 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Stratford receiver JQ Crosby had eight catches for 115 yards. Gordon had six tackles. South Pointe running back RJ Brown was the North Offensive MVP and Indian Land defensive end Mike Foster was the Defensive MVP for the North team. Brown had 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Quarterback Roper Wentsky of A.C. Flora completed nine of 11 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown. Wentsky connected with Stone Furrey (Dutch Fork) on a seven-yard scoring pass to give the North a 7-0 lead with 7:14 left in the first quarter. The South answered with a McCarthy 34-yard pass to Marcus Cann (Bamberg-Ehrhardt) with four minutes left in the quarter. Brown’s six-yard run in the second quarter pushed the North back in front. South kicker CJ Falatico (Philip Simmons) booted a 25-yard field goal with :15 seconds left in the second quarter to make the halftime score 14-10. With 5:18 left in the third , Ware Shoals running back Jayden Johnson scored on a one yard run to make it 21-10 in favor of the North. A blocked punt by Foster set up another North touchdown as Brown’s two-yard run gave the North a 28-10 lead with 3:21 left in the third. McCarthy hit Carter Coleman on a 13-yard pass to make the score 28-17 early in the fourth quarter. Falatico’s 25-yard field goal pulled the South closer to 28-20 with 8:44 left in the game. Clinton’s Javen Cook returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, giving the North a 35-20 lead. Bishop England quarterback Quinn Mahoney’s eight-yard rushing score with 5:06 left in the game made it 35-27. The South had one last possession in the final two minutes and reached the North 13-yard line but was unable to score. Watkins Named Mr. Football At halftime of the all-star game, the South Carolina Coaches Association named Northwestern safety Tamarion Watkins the 2025 Mr. Football honoree. Watkins has signed with Texas A&M. The other finalists for the award included Zay Robertson of Dillon, Zion Guiles of Carver’s Bay, Kentavion Anderson of Dorman , and J’Zavien Currence of South Pointe . “The opportunity to hold this trophy and know it is mine, I am blessed,” Watkins said. “I just thank my community, coaches and family for everything they have done for me.” Watkins had 80 tackles and three interceptions this season. Northwestern won its second straight AAAAA Division II state title on Dec. 5.

Dutch Fork Explodes In Fourth To Top Summerville

By Roger Lee • December 8, 2025
By Roger Lee HSSR, Contributing Writer Orangeburg - Dutch Fork captured its fourth consecutive 5A football championship with a 40-20 win over fellow gridiron powerhouse Summerville . For some of the seniors on the Silver Foxes’ team, the win in the 5A, Division 1 Football Championship at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Dec. 6 puts them in a prestigious group. “Four rings, there aren’t that many people in the country who have done that so it shows what a special group this is,” said Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts . The coach now holds a prestigious spot in South Carolina high school football record books since this championship is his 10 th championship with Dutch Fork. That ties him with former Summerville coach John McKissick and former Woodruff coach W.L. Varner for the most state titles in a career according to Palmetto’s Finest . “Well I think it means I’m old, but that’s pretty cool,” Knotts said. “It’s special and a great tribute to those players and the great group of supporters we have. I have a lot of respect for Coach McKissick. I’ve visited him a couple of times and had a great time with him. I learned a little bit from him and I’m honored to be in his company.”  Dutch Fork jumped out to a strong start as safety KJ Dupree intercepted two Green Wave pass attempts, both after a deflection by a teammate, in the opening quarter to help the Silver Foxes jump out to a 14-0 lead. The picks set up a 33-yard touchdown run by Kye Fulton and a 25-yard pass from quarterback Jaxon Knotts to Wyatt Warner . Summerville regrouped and drove 80 yards on its ensuing possession to score on a 6-yard pass from Max Stafford to Jaiden Kelly-Murray with more than nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. Later in the quarter, Dutch Fork blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt and the Silver Foxes took a 14-7 lead into the half. Kellly-Murray got the Green Wave right back in the game in the first two minutes of the third, picking up a Dutch Fork fumble and returning it 43 yards for a touchdown. Unfortunately, Summerville didn’t have as much success running the ball from that point as it did in the first half. “We just played a little more sound defense,” Knotts said. “We had to shut down the run. They were handing the ball off left and right and getting big yardage. Once we kind of shored up the run it made them more one dimensional.” Dutch Fork went on top again when Braydon Johnson took a forward pitch on a misdirection play and dashed 27 yards for a TD. The extra-point kick was wide, leaving the Silver Foxes ahead 20-14. The game was tight up until then, but Dutch Fork scored three touchdowns in the final 12 minutes. The final quarter started with a play that got the Summerville fans riled up as Dutch Fork fumbled the ball on a punt. However, the Sliver Foxes managed to recover the ball and go on to score twice before Summerville could get much going for a 40-14 lead. Knotts rushed for a one-yard TD. Shortly after, Julian Walker recovered a Summerville fumble and returned it 19 yards into the Green Wave end zone. Kyle Henry added a one-yard TD run with 3:01 remaining to seal the victory. “We got some momentum there in the third quarter and we just couldn’t capitalize on it,” said Summerville coach Ian Rafferty . “We had a hard time blocking their guys up front. You know, when you have two Power 4 guys up front it can make it difficult. Still, I’m proud of our kids. We were right there in it and the wheels just kind of fell off.” Summerville had a late touchdown drive that featured a heavy dose of running back Jayvyn Williams . He had a 40-yard run to get the ball inside the 10-yard line and capped the drive with a one-yard TD run. “I told coach Knotts we are going to keep coming,” Rafferty said. “We are going to keep trying.”
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