Strom Thurmond looks to achieve final goal in AA state championship game

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • December 5, 2025

Rebels to take on Hampton County for state crown

Johnston – After going 10-3, winning a region title and reaching the quarterfinals of the AA football state playoffs in both 2022 and 2023, Strom Thurmond High School went 6-4 and lost in the first round of the playoffs in ’24.

 

 “Last year we had a chance to win each of those four games in the fourth quarter,” said Rebels head coach Andrew Webb. “We discovered the difference between winning and losing was taking care of the little things. That was something the seniors had to live with after the season.”

 

So, the Class of ’26 set a goal of going undefeated at home this year. Check. It wanted to win the Region 2 title. Check. The final goal is winning the school’s first state title since 2005.

 

 Thurmond will get to see if it can put a check in that box on Saturday. The Rebels won the upper state title with a 15-13 victory over Fairfield Central and will face lower state champion Hampton County at South Carolina State’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg beginning at 4:06 p.m.

 

“It’s really special,” Webb said of reaching the title game. “This is a group of seniors who’ve worked really hard. I know the pride they take in being a part of Rebel football. I’m excited for the team, the school and the community.”

 

 The Rebels are 12-2 and have won nine straight games. After losing close games to region foes Batesburg-Leesville and Saluda  last season, Thurmond won close games against those two to go undefeated in winning the region title.

 

The win over B-L was by a 28-26 score in overtime. However, Thurmond trailed 14-0 entering the fourth quarter. Webb points to this game as the key to the season.

 

“It was just a gutsy win,” said Webb, who is in his fourth year as head coach. “They fought back and found a way to win in overtime. Since then, we’ve played really good football.”

 

           In the win over Fairfield Central, the Griffins scored a touchdown on the last play of regulation to make the score 15-13. They obviously went for the 2-point onversion. However, the Rebels came up with a stop to set off a massive celebration.

 

           Webb said there hasn’t been any kind of hangover from the exhilarating victory.

 

           “We’ve had some games that ended with a lot of excitement and we were able to refocus on the upcoming week,” he said. “We’re excited about the accomplishments, but the players feel like their jobs are not finished.”

 

           Thurmond is averaging 36.5 points per game and has a run-oriented attack. It is led by senior running back Deonte Phillips and sophomore running back Kaden Wigfall. Phillips, who has been selected to play in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl all-star game as a linebacker, has rushed for 1,054 yards and 23 touchdowns on 152 carries. Wigfall has 700 yars and eight TDs on 70 carries.

 

           Sophomore Zy Rouse also sees plenty of action in the backfield. He has 71 carries for 540 yareds and 13 scores.

 

           Three seniors anchor the offensive line in left guard Amari McCelleny, right tackle Carter Boatwright  and right guard Micah Warren. The other starters up front are junior center John Laster and junior left tackle Hezekiah East.

 

Another key component in the blocking scheme is junior H back Braylon Searles.

           

           “Our offensive line seems to get better each week,” Webb said. “We’ve really relied on them in the playoffs, and we’ve ran it pretty well down the stretch. When we’ve thrown it guys have made plays for us.”

 

           The Rebels throw the football an average of just over 12 times a game. Senior quarterback Brishaun Lee has been very efficient, completing 101 of 174 passeas for 1,776 yards and 19 5ouheowns against nine interceptions.

 

           Lee’s top targets are senior wide receivers Shy Williams  and Kaleb Simpkins. Williams has 45 catches for 762 yards and eight touchdowns, while Simpkins, also a Touchstone Bowl selection as a defensive back, has 34 receptioisn for 690 yards and seven scores.

 

Defensively, Thurmond has been particularly stout since the Batesburg-Leesville game. The Rebels has allowed just 66 points over that 8-game stretch.

 

           Thurmond operates out of a 4-man front with Searles and senior Grady Stone starting at the tackles and seniors Grayson Smith and Kobe Windless  starting at the ends.

 

                       Smith leads in tackles for loss with 18 and is tied for the lead in quarterback sacks among his 59 tackles. Stone has 60 tackles, 17 TFLs and two sacks, Searles has 38 tackles, seven TFLs and one sack, and Windless has 21 tackles and three TFLs.

 

           The starting linebackers are seniors Bryston Coleman and Mason Johnson and junior Gregory Moore. Coleman is the leading tackler with 94 and is tied for the sacks lead to go with 14 TFLs. Moore has 63 tackles, 13 TFLs and two sacks, while Johnson has 48 tackles, five TFLs and one sack.

 

           Phillips has 33 tackles and 10 TFLs.

 

           Simpkins starts at one cornerback slot with senior Jalin Collins at the other. The safeties are Williams and junior Wytravious Dugar. Simkins has two interceptions, 17 tackles and one TFL, while Collins has one pick and 33 tackles. Williams has two INTs, 50 tackles and one TFL, and Dugar has 82 tackles, six TFLs and one interception.

 

           Junior Garrett Pearson and freshman Justus Daly  are sharing the placekicking duties. Pearson is 31 of 41 on extra point attempts while Daly is 9 of 10. Daly has attempted the only field goal, a 28-yarder which was good.

 

           Lee is the punter, averaging 31.2 yards on 26 attempts with three landing inside the opposition’s 20-yard line. Senior Brison Yonce handles the snapping duties.

 

           Sophomore Preston Holmes has returned the most kickoffs, 15 with a 19.5 return average. Williams has returned 11 punts for 110 yards and Simpkins has 10 for 83 yards.

 

OFFENSE

QB -- 3 Brishaun Lee Sr.

RB -- 2 Deonte Phillips Sr.

RB -- 11 Kadin Wigfall So.

H Back -- 8 Braylon Searles Jr.

WR -- 7 Kaleb Simpkins Sr.

WR -- 5 Shy Williams Sr.

LT -- 68 Hezekiah East Jr.

LG -- 72 Amari McCellney Sr.

C -- 78 John Laster Sr.

RG -- 77 Micah Warren Sr.

RT -- 74 Carter Boatwright Jr.

 

DEFENSE

DE -- 18 Grayson Smith Sr.

DE – 8 Braylon Searles Jr.

DT -- 35 Grady Stone Sr.

DT –- 28 Kobe Windless Sr.

LB – 10 Bryston Coleman Sr.

LB – 24 Mason Johnson Sr.

OLB – 15 Gregory Moore Jr.

CB – 7 Kaleb Simpkins Sr.

CB – 6 Jalin Collins Sr.

S – 9 Wytrayvious Dugar Jr

S – 5 Shy Williams Sr.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

PK - 32 Garrett Pearson Jr.

and 94 Justus Daly Fr.

P -- 3 Brishaun Lee Sr.

LS =- 53 Brison Yonce Sr. 


State Championships

At Oliver C. Dawson Stadium

In Orangeburg

Friday, December 5

3A

Belton-Honea Path (14-0) vs. Oceanside Collegiate (12-2), 12:06 p.m.

1A

Lamar (12-2) vs. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (14-0), 4:06 p.m.

5A Division II

Northwestern (12-1) vs. Irmo (12-1), 7:36 p.m.

 

Saturday, December 6

4A

South Pointe (13-1) vs. South Florence (13-1), 12:06 p.m.

2A

Strom Thurmond (12-2) vs. Hampton County (11-3), 4:06 p.m.

5A Division I

Dutch Fork (11-1) vs. Summerville (12-2), 7:36 p.m.

High School Sports Report 40th Annual Prep Football Media Day set for Wednesday, July 22, at USC's indoor practice facility

By Staff reports • July 15, 2026
Players from around the state are invited to the Jeri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Practice Facility from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saluda Football Uses Spring To Build Depth

By Dennis Brunson • July 3, 2026
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Saluda – The Saluda High School football team will have a good amount of experience returning for the 2026 season. The Tigers have six starters back on offense and eight on defense from a team that went 6-6 and reached the second round of the AA state playoffs. However, they didn’t get a lot of work in during spring practice because many of them were on the school’s baseball and track and field teams that made deep runs in the postseason. Saluda head coach Greg Woerner found a silver lining in that though. “We were only able to get eight days of spring practice in and made the most o it and got better learning the offense and defense and developing some depth with the younger guys,” said Woerner, who will be in his second season as head coach. “A lot of our returning starters were making playoff runs in baseball and track, so we got a good luck at our depth.” Saluda returns four players who were selected to the All-Region 2-AA team last year. They are rising junior placekicker Ericson Vasquez , senior running back Tristan Daniels, senior tight end Jahmeer Myers and junior defensive back Ceddion Springs . Vasquez was named the Region 2 Special Teams Player of the year. Woerner is hoping the Tigers can be productive in the month of July leading into the start of fall practice. “For the remainder of the summer we’re really just looking forward to continuing to get stronger but also focusing in more on football,” Woerner said. “We had a good June competing in 7-on-7s (competitions) and getting better at our passing game and pass defense. July will focus more on getting better at the whole game.” The Tigers completed their 7-on-7 competition in June. Their first scrimmage will be on August 6 at Woodland before coming home to scrimmage Gilbert on August 10. Saluda is scheduled to open its season on August 21 at home against Abbeville . The Tigers will be part of a new region in Region 4-AA. The region will include two old Region 2 foes in defending state champion Strom Thurmond and Pelion to go with American Leadership Academy , Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Silver Bluff . MILLER MARTIN SELECTED TO AA ALL-STATE SOFTBALL TEAM Sophomore pitcher Miller Martin , a key figure for Saluda’s AA state championship softball team, was selected to the AA All-State softball team announced by the South Carolina Association for Women’s Sports . Martin had a 15-3 win-loss record and struck out 248 batters in 139 2/3 innings while posting a 0.70 earned run average. At the plate, Martin had a .308 batting average with five home runs and 32 runs batted in. Martin was also named the Region 2 Co-Player of the Year. Martin was joined on the All-Region team by Amy Sorcia , Zoey Springs and Nyla Jordan . Tigers head coach Hannah Towery said the program’s first ever state title sets a precedent for the future. “Future players will walk on to that field knowing a championship can be achieved because this team proved it,” said Towery, who guided Saluda to a 29-3 record. “The banner will hang, the trophy will be displayed, and the record books will always show who did it first. “History remembers champions, but it especially remembers those who paved the way. This team just didn’t win a state championship – they built a legacy.”

Jefferson Davis football focusing on the basics over the summer

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • July 3, 2026
Raiders return everyone along the line from 8-4 team that reached 8-man semifinals

OCA Football Sets Sights On Four-Peat

By David Shelton • July 2, 2026
Oceanside's rising senior QB, Aiden Manavian is nearing 10,000 career passing yards and threw 42 touchdown passes last season.

W W King Holds Spring Athletic Banquet

By Gerald Doolittle • July 1, 2026
By: Gerald Doolittle Contributing Writer, HSSR Batesburg-Leesville, S.C. -W.W. King Academy held its Spring/Winter Athletic Banquet in mid-May to honor their 2025-26 athletic efforts. All the Knight teams were very competitive in their SCISA Class A region where they competed against Wardlaw Academy, Newberry Academy, Cambridge Academy, Richard Winn Academy and Anderson Christian . The Varsity Baseball team won the SCISA Class A Title . The Varsity Softball team was very competitive in the playoffs. Coach Jessica Anderson presented the Varsity Girls Basketball Awards . Blythe Buzhardt won the All-Around Excellence Award. Kenzie Morse won the Defensive Player-of-the-Year Award. Coach Dennis Gibson presented the Varsity Boys Basketball Awards. Spencer McCormick received the Most Outstanding Player Award. Brady Goff received the Sharp-Shooter Award. Coach Allen Guy presented the Varsity Softball Awards. Blythe Buzhardt received the Most Outstanding Player Award. Abby Aull received the Leadership Award and Kenzie Morse received the Iron Athletic Award. Coach Zach Matthews presented five awards to his Varsity Baseball State Champion players. Elijah Hutto received the Offensive Player of the Year Award. Luke Harvey received the Defensive Player of The Year Award. Wyatt Burbank, Zed Watkins and Smith Kirby shared the Team Leadership Award. Athletic Director Kathy Gibson assisted in presenting the Senior Awards. Smith Kirby and Abby Aull received the Senior Student Athlete of the Year Award. Wyatt Burbank and Kenzie Morse received the Athlete of the Year Award. Spencer McCormick and Abby Aull received the Christian Leadership Award. Wyatt Burbank and Kenzie received the Varsity Year-Round Athletes Award.

Florence Christian football team lost a few players to more than just graduation

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • July 1, 2026
Eagles do return Region Defensive Player of the Year in Hayden Schwab

Lodge Begins Fourth Season As Berkeley Coach

By David Shelton • June 30, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Moncks Corner – After a pair of six-win seasons in his first two years , Berkeley head football coach Eric Lodge guided the Stags to a 10-3 record last fall. Lodge is hoping and expecting to see continued growth and development in 2026 and recently put his prospective team through spring drills. The purpose of the spring is to identify roles and hopefully find rising talent that can assist either as backups or starters this fall. “Our spring is about evaluating kids, all of them, to see where they fit in,” Lodge said, “Those practices are very important to the growth of the program. We get everyone involved amd work to get them up to speed. Once we get into the summer, we are working hard to get stronger in the weight room along with seven-on-seven stuff.” Lodge says most of the returning experience is on the offensive side and the Stags should be explosive. Henry Rivers , a senior, will be a fourth-year starter and rates as one of the best in the state. Hethres for more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, adding 803 rushing yards and 16 more scores. Returning at receiver are John Cleveland, Eli Mitchell and Johnathan Mitchell, who combined for more than 60 receptions last season. Anchoring the running game are returners Lawrence Washington, Bryson McGee and Jesse Brown . That trio will work behind a revamped offensive line but Lodge sees potential in the developing unit up front. “I like our depth at running back and receiver, and of course we have a veteran leader at quarterback,” said Lodge. There are significantly more holes to fill on defense. The Stags lost an all-state tackle and three starting linebackers that were three-year starters. There also are three holes to fill on the back endd. “We have identified some young men who we feel will step in and be solid players for us,” Lodge said. “Replacing the experience is tough but we have some guys who will learn and grow over time. We’re not new to having young guys on the field. The talent is there and there are opportunities for guys to get on the field.”

Pinewood Preparing To Move Up A Class

By Roger Lee • June 29, 2026
Expectations are high for Pinewood Prep quarterback Silas Brawner.

Cane Bay Football Looking To Get Back On Track

By David Shelton • June 29, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Summerville – The last two football seasons have been sub-par for the Cane Bay Cobras but veteran head coach Russell Zehr believes the pieces are in place for a potential resurgence. The Cobras finished the last two seasons with three wins each but did win a region championship in 2024. Zehr and his staff have worked hard in the offseason to develop some up and coming talent. They did so through the weight room and spring practice. “We had a good spring overall,” Zehr said. “We were missing a handful of guys due to track but we had good numbers. We spent a lot of time getting everyone up to speed. It was an opportunity for us to see younger kids that are coming up and find out who can help us this season. We had about 80 kids during the sprng and about 75 of those have been consistent in their workouts over the summer.” The Cobras will have a new quarterback this fall. Zehr says senior Coran Houp e is moving from running back to run the option offense this season. Returning in the backfield are Mayson Samuel and Sam Rolston , with some talented backs coming from the lower levels. The offensive line returns two starters, Isaac Siefken and Eli Taylor . Junior JJ Rose is back as the leader along the defensive front, with ends Devin Cobbs and B rennen Shokes also returning. The linebackers will be new starters with only Jackson Williamson returning with experience. The secondary could be a strength with returners Tyrell Bess, Zion Bryant and Caeden Wilson . The kicking game is a solid strength with senior Aiden Thorne returning. Thorne is a deep threat on kickoffs and field goals. “He’s got a leg and can be a real weapon for us,” Zehr said. Cane Bay participated in weekly 7-on-7 passing league scrimmages during June and will play at The Citadel event in July.

Mckoy Continues To Build A Winner At James Island

By David Shelton • June 29, 2026
Head football coach at James Island, Jamar McKoy has worked to build his program into one of the more consistent programs in the state.
More Posts