Summerville aims to remain a top team for 5A football
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.
