Williamsburg Defeats Thomas Heyward, 37-20, To Advance To SCISA Class A Finals This Saturday At SC State

Billy Baker • November 17, 2025

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Kingstree-Williamsburg Academy junior running back Grant Small rushed for 272 yards on 37 carries, including a touchdown, helping lead the Stallions to a 37-20 win over Thomas Heyward, to advance to the SCISA Class A Finals against Colleton Prep.


The SCISA Class A finals game will take place at South Carolina State University on Saturday November 22 at 3:30 p.m. Colleton Prep advanced with a 22-16 win over Dorchester Academy.


This will be the 5th year in a row the Stallions have made it to a SCISA state finals game. They made the SCISA AA finals in 2021, losing to Hilton Head Christian. They won the AA title in 2022 with a win over Colleton Prep. In 2023, they lost to Bethesda Academy in the AA finals. In 2024, they competed in the SCISA Class A finals and lost to Thomas Heyward.


In school history, the Stallions have won two state football titles, the other one was in 2013 against Colleton Prep also. They have won 13 regions titles in school history also.


After the big win over the Rebels, head WA coach Will Furse shared his thoughts on the win. “It feels great right now, and this is what you want to strive for when the season begins, and at our school competing for a state championship is always a goal, and while we try not to think about it too much, it is always in the back of our minds,” said Coach Furse.


“We still have a lot of work to do in preparing to play for Colleton Prep because they are a really good team,” said Coach Furse. “We have our hands full competing against them this week.”


Coach Furse was pleased with the effort of Small, who came into the game with over 1,600 yards to his credit. “Grant ran hard and he has been very consistent from game-to-game this season, and he does a great job of understanding the blocking schemes of our offensive line and I have to give them praise also,” said Coach Fuse. “We have really good linemen like Mason Cribb at left tackle, Sammy Tomlinson at left guard, Poppy Livingston is at center, Connor Morris and Michael Ard take turns at right guard, and Marlin Morris plays at right tackle.


“Our tight ends also block extremely well,” said Coach Fuse. “Those guys are Charlie Caulder, Jay Kellahan and Seth Cherinko also plays there.


“We also have some excellent assistant coaches who work with these guys on offense,” said Coach Fuse. “Ken Kellahan is our offensive line coach and John Floyd works with our tight ends, and they have done a good job developing our blocking schemes on offense.”


Coach Fuse also praised the play of senior quarterback Micah Balder who has been on the team for four years. “Micah can do anything we ask him to do, and he is a tremendous passer,” said Coach Fuse. “He also runs the option well and he makes good reads.”


Caulder, a junior wing caught a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone against Thomas Heyward and Coach Fuse said that “he is a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses.”


The defense has allowed teams just over 13 points a game this season. Ard, a junior MLB, leads the Stallions defense coming into the game with THA with 114 tackles, including three sacks. Kellahan, a senior OLB, was next on the index with 76 tackles, followed by Caulder, an OLB with 52 tackles and 13 TFL along with junior FS Hall Dukes who came into the game with THA with 39 tackles and a team leading five interceptions. Balder had 38 tackles and two picks after 10 games.


Junior OLB Seth Cherinko and soph DB Lane Patrick each had 35 tackles after 10 games followed by nose guard Marlon Morris who had 31 tackles and three TFL. Soph DB Gamble Wilson had 28 tackles and four picks after 10 games. Freshman DB Caden Morris, a top catching prospect in baseball, had 29 tackles and one pick while Tomlinson, a junior DL, had 26 tackles and two TFL. Soph FS Weston McKenzie contributed 15 tackles and one TFL coming into the THA game.


Thomas Heyward head coach Daniel Bryan told the HSSR after game. “I am 100 per cent proud of my boys from start to finish this season,” he said. “We are 180 degrees better from where we were when we started the season.


“We are going to miss a group of hard-working seniors like Tony O’Banner, Dodge Peeples, Josh Gibson, Jayden Powell and Miles Stanley, who played a bunch of football for us the past few years,” said Coach Bryan. “We had 12 total seniors on the team. The others are Mackie Bowers, Drew Willis, Jace Bessinger, Tyler Hymon, Owen Palazzo, Antonio Grether, Tanner Reed, and our first- year senior who played well is Mackie Bowers.


“I thought we hung with them until the fourth quarter until we took some shots that didn’t work out and that is what you try to do once you get behind,” said Coach Bryan. “I was proud of the effort of my players, but it just didn’t work out fore us tonight.”


O’Banner, a highly regarded RB scored on a 55-yard touchdown in the game, and he finished off a five-year career with around 7,000 total rushing yards and over 100 touchdowns scored.


Thomas Heyward led 6-0 early in the game when Josh Gibson returned the opening kick-off for an 88- yard score. Gibson scored a second TD on an 80- yard run and O’Banner’s 55-yard sprint down the Stallion sideline accounted for the Rebel’s three scores and 20 total points all in the first half.


After the Rebel’s scored on the opening kick-off the Stallions answered on their first drive marching 61 yards in 8 plays with Balder scoring on a keeper from seven yards out. The PAT failed and the score was tied at six with 8:22 left in the first quarter.



By half-time, WA held a 22-20 lead as RB Eli Brown scored from one-yard with 5:20 left in the second period and Caulder caught a two-point conversion pass that put WA up 14-6 at the time. Caulder caught a five-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left in the first half, and Caden Morris caught a two-point conversion pass that gave the Stallions the lead for good, 22-20 at the break.


In the second half WA got a five-yard rushing TD from Small, and he also ran in a two-point conversion to put the Stallions up 30-20 with 7:43 left in the third period. WA scored their final touchdown of the game on a pass from Balder to Caulder in the back of the end zone with 4:12 left in the game. Small ran in the two-point conversion to make the final score 37-20.


In a post-game reception in the WA cafeteria after the game, several players were interviewed about the win, and the upcoming state championship game.


Grant Small said, “I run hard and follow my blocking and when I make contact with the defense I turned my pads into them. I like the spin move, but I do not know if it is necessary. I also like to hurdle over tacklers. I will be running the 400 meters this Spring in track. The win was great tonight, but we must finish it this week at SC State.”


Micah Balder: “I have been on the varsity for four years and this being my senior year it would be great to go out with a state championship. We were really concerned about this game tonight, and we prepared really hard for it. I have a good offensive line, good receivers, and it helps that we can run or pass on about every play.”


Connor Morris: “I have worked hard in the weight room, and I am benching around 475 now. This is my second year on the varsity, and I enjoy playing with my younger brother. This was a great win tonight, but our focus now is on our gamer Friday night. We are going to leave it all on the field I promise you.”


Note: Due to extreme loudness in the room (celebrations) several other interviews could not be transcribed coherently.

 

   

   

 

SCHSL Release 2026-2028 Realignment Final

By Staff Reports • December 22, 2025
SCHSL Release 2026-2028 Realignment Final Columbia, SC (12-19-25) -- The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) has finalized the classification placement of all schools beginning with the 2026-27 school year. This classification placement will be in effect for two years. The guidelines established by the Reclassification/Realignment Guidelines Committee served as the blueprint for schools’ placements. Schools were assigned based on their enrollment count, to include district additions and the 3.0 multiplier. Flexibility, as approved by the Reclassification/Realignment Guidelines Committee, was also used with consideration given to geographics and travel. “Appreciation is expressed to those who served on the Reclassification/Realignment Guidelines Committee,” said Dr. Jerome Singleton, Commissioner of the SCHSL. “Classification placement of schools is the initial phase of the process. The next step for the League staff is to place the schools into regions in their respective classifications.” The SCHSL’s Executive Committee will meet January 13-14, 2026, to hear appeals regarding the classification placements. The final reclassifications are attached.

Stratford’s Davis Leads South Carolina to 17-7 Win in 89th Shrine Bowl

By David Shelton • December 21, 2025
By David Shelton Senior Writer Spartanburg – Stratford quarterback Jachin Davis threw a pair of touchdown passes and South Carolina defeated North Carolina, 17-7, in the 89 th Shrine Bowl all-star game in Spartanburg on December 20. Davis , named the offensive most valuable player for the Sandlappers, completed 10 of 15 passes for 184 yards in the game. He is headed to Liberty University as an early enrollee. “Great experience and great to get a win,” Davis said. “Playing with all of these great players was something I will never forget.” South Carolina dominated the game defensively, allowing only 136 total yards. The Tarheels completed just five of 19 passes. Stratford running back Maliq McGowan , a late addition to the roster, finished as the leading rusher for South Carolina with 42 yards on nine carries. West Ashley’s Bristol Biegenzahn played on the defensive front for the Sandlappers while Berkeley’s Zion Britt started on the offensive line. Cross safety, and South Carolina signee Caden Ramsey , Berkeley linebacker Gehad Sneed , and Timberland offensive lineman Desmond Green, who is headed to Florida, also played for the Sandlappers. “You win all-star games with defense and our defense was outstanding,” said SC head coach Paul Sutherland , who retired as the head coach at Liberty High after the season. “Glad to get the win for South Carolina. The kids were great. I am very blessed to have had this opportunity.” It took less than 10 seconds for the Sandlappers to score the game’s first touchdown as Davis combined with Dillon receiver Zay Robertson , heading to North Carolina , on an 80-yard bomb on the first play of the game for a quick 7-0 lead. Robertson finished the game with four catches for 131 yards. “He’s a great player,” said Davis of Robertson. “Getting that first touchdown was a tone setter.” South Carolina lost fumbles on their next two possessions, the second miscue leading to North Carolina’s game-tying touchdown after a 23-yard drive. Spartanburg’s Will Love , heading to Virginia Tech , kicked a 35-yard field goal late in the second quarter for a 10-7 halftime lead for the Sandlappers. South Carolina’s last play offensive snap in the game was Davis’s nine-yard touchdown pass to Jude Hall of Christ Church with :59 seconds left on the game clock. Chester linebacker Terry Rayford , who had 11 tackles, was the defensive most valuable player for the Sandlappers. Dorman's Kentavion Anderson and Ridge View's Jordan Best recorded interceptions The win gives South Carolina a 48-34 lead in the series. There have been seven ties.

SCHSL releases proposed reclassification for 2026-27, '27-28 school years

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • December 20, 2025
Proposal has AAAAA going from 54 schools to 40 and not being split into divisions

Hilton Head Christian Overcomes Adversity

By Dennis Brunson • December 19, 2025
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Bluffton – The 2025 football season was an unusual one for the Hilton Head Christian Academy football team. The Eagles, who had won three SCISA state titles in the five previous seasons, got off to a 2-5 start. On top of that, starting quarterback Reid McCollum left the school in the middle of the season. With the reshuffling, Hilton Head Christian lost its first game. However, the Eagles responded with four consecutive wins, including a 42-20 win over Trinity Collegiate in the first round of the AAA state playoffs. The season came to an end the next week with a 50-29 semifinal loss to Wilson Hall . Eagles head coach Ron Peduzzi is happy with the way his players rebounded to finish with a 6-6 record. “I was really proud of our guys, the way they rallied around the team and each other,” Peduzzi said. “They literally battled the second half of the year every play. “It was a very tough season. A lot of guys stood up and elevated their games. They had to stand up and become leaders also, so I was really happy with that.” HHCA had four players selected to the All-Region 1-AAA offensive first team in junior wide receivers Joey Houpt and Jackson Richardson , sophomore wide receiver Sam Strom and senior kick returner Tommy Gehm . Those on the first-team defense were sophomore defensive lineman Hayne Burden , junior linebacker Kres Langhals , sophomore linebacker Chase White and senior linebacker Finn Ussery . Houpt, who was named HHCA’s outstanding offensive contributor, was the leading pass catcher with 69 receptions for 1,313 yards and 13 touchdowns. Richardson had 45 catches for 645 yards and five scores, while Strum had 31 catches for 415 yards and five scores. Gehm returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaged 21.1 yards per return on 24 attempts. He returned six punts for 46 yards. Burden, who was named Hilton Head Christian’s outstanding defensive contributor, led the team in tackles with 105, tackles for loss with 13, quarterback sacks with four and quarterback hurries with 21. Langhals, who was the quarterback in the second half of the season, had 39 tackles, five TFLs, 2 ½ sacks, two interceptions, two caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries. White, who received HHCA’s Sledgehammer Award, had 82 tackles, five TFLs, one sack and one interception. Ussery, who received the team’s Captains Award, had 87 tackles, five TFLs, one sack and one interception.. Ussery and Gehm played in the SCISA North-South Seniors All-Star Game, while Houpt, Richardson, Strom, Burden and Langhals played in the Futures contest. Senior running back Hudson Baker , sophomore offensive linemen Caleb Altizer and Josh Koepke and sophomore cornerback Keyvon Aiken were selected second-team All-Region. Baker received the team’s Coaches Award and Burleson Award, and freshman Max Zwilsky earned the Lunchpail Award. Peduzzi believes good things await the Eagles in 2026. “We have a very large sophomore class that will be juniors next year, so I look forward for to next season,” he said. “We do need to elevate the number of players in our program playing, so that’s something we’ll be working on.”

OCA Wins Third Consecutive State Title with 28-7 Win Over BHP

By David Shelton • December 19, 2025
Oceanside senior WR, Terence Johnson, a Shrine Bowl all-star game selection, had 57 catches for 1,153 yards and 17 touchdowns plus 9 rushing touchdowns this season.

Panthers aim to remain a contender

By Roger Lee • December 19, 2025
Running back Grayson Salego is one of several starters who should return to the Panthers’ football team next season. Photo by Roger Lee. 

Timberland girls basketball team off to torrid start

By Rob Gantt • December 19, 2025
Timberland's Zion Prioleau, named on of Class AA's top seniors by the SC Basketball Coaches Association, averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.8 steals per game in 2024-20225.

Wilson Hall senior class 32-7 last 3 years

By Dennis Brunson • December 19, 2025
 By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Sumter – The Wilson Hall football team played in its third straight SCISA AAA state championship game in November. And for the third straight year, the Barons came out on the short end of the stick. WH lost to Pinewood Prep for the second consecutive year, falling by a score of 55-13. That being said, Wilson Hall head coach Adam Jarecki could only praise his team, especially the 17-man senior class. “This group of seniors graduates with three trips to the state championship and not many people can say that,” Jarecki said of the Class of 2026, which went 32-7 over that 3-year stretch. “I’m extremely proud of them. They’re our leaders at the school. They’re the influential people at our school. We’d love to see them go out with success in the end, but what they accomplished is pretty special, and they’ve got to take pride in that. “They had a great year (finishing with an 11-2 record for the second straight year) and they’ve had a great career. It’s tough not to come out on top, but they know what it takes to get here and they bought into it.” Six of those seniors were among the eight Barons named to the All-Region 2-AAA team. Leading the way was quarterback Ford Wilder , who was selected as the Region Offensive Player of the Year. Wilder completed 41 of 79 passes for 565 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 483 yards and 12 TDs on 87 carries. Senior running backs Ben McLaurin and Milling Galloway were selected. McLaurin rushed for 1,234 yars and 16 scores on 121 carries. Galloway rushed for 585 yards and 11 touchdowns 62 carries despite missing three games and the majority of a fourth due to injury. The other senior All-Region picks were free safety Harris Naylor and defensive linemen Walker Wilson and Andrew Howle . Naylor had 35 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions and three pass deflections. Wilson had 39 tackles, seven TFLs, two quarterback sacks and one PD. Howle had 28 tackles, a team high nine TFLs and two sacks. The other two All-Region selections were junior defensive lineman Reese Wilson and junior linebacker Peyton Gilley . Reese Wilson shared the team lead in sacks with four to go with 21 tackles, eight TFLs, one PD and one fumble recovery. Gilley had a team high 61 tackles and shared the team lead in interceptions with three, returning one for a touchdown, to go with three sacks and six TFLs. Along with being All-Region picks, each of the eight were All-State selections and were chosen to play in the SCISA North-South All-Star Games.

Lee Academy basketball teams start slow

By Dennis Brunson • December 19, 2025
By Dennis Brunson Hssr.com Associate Editor Bishopville – Both the boys and girls basketball teams for Lee Academy got off to 1-3 starts, but neither of the head coaches are close to making a determination on what the season holds for their squads. “I am really excited about the team we have for this season,” said boys head coach Kemp DeWitt , who is in his second season at Lee. “We return four players that gave us crucial minutes last season. Brayden Davis , Cain June , Gavin Makela and Paxton Greene give me a solid base surrounded by the new faces we have this season. “We look to find our identity as a team before we head into Christmas break, so we can come out strong when region play starts.” Davis, a sophomore point guard, and June, a senior small forward, are the two returning starters. Davis was averaging 9.3 points per game, while June was scoring at a 9.0 clip. Makela is a junior center while Greene is a senior shooting guard. The other starter is junior power forward Aiden Fitzgerald . Greene was averaging 6.3 points, Fitzgerald 3.5 and Makela 1.6. Other members of the boys team are senior Collins Drayton , junior Cannon Hopkins , who was averaging 5.0, junior Tucker Rodgers , junior James Watson , junior Matthew Inabinet and junior Keegan Gainey . Girls head coach Kim Langston , a decades-long veteran of the SCISA wars, said she hadn’t seen enough of her team to form an opinion. The Lady Cavaliers are young with just one senior starter in Mazie Tomlinson . The other starters are junior Mallori Frye , sophomore Karagan Melton , freshman Kaisley Melton and eighth-grader Beth Whiteside . Karagan Melton was the leading scorer with a 9.5 average to go with 3.8 rebounds. Tomlinson was averaging 6.3 points, 3.3 steals, 4.3 assists and 9.5 boards, Whiteside was at 5.0 points, 1.0 blocked shots and 6.8 rebounds, Frye was averaging 2.0 points and 3.3 rebounds, and Kaisley Melton was averaging 2.3 steals, 2.3 points and 2.5 rebounds. The rest of the roster includes sophomore Emma Beasley , senior Sara Bell , senior Zana Brazell , senior Raylee Catoe and junior Addie Grace Wilkes . 4 CAVALIERS FOOTBALL ALL REGION The Lee football team had four players selected to the All-Region 1-Class A team. The selections were wide receiver/linebacker Cain June, senior quarterback/defensive back Andrew Bowers , senior offensive lineman/defensive lineman Hampton Layton and senior linebacker/running back Tucker Boyce .

Hartsville Boys Basketball Looks To Be Improved This Season

By David Shelton • December 18, 2025
By David Shelton Senior Writer Hartsville – Now in his third season, Hartsville High boys basketball coach Jason Earle feels his rebuilding project is starting to see positive results. The Red Foxes won four games in Earle’s first season and improved to six wins last season. The 2025-26 season saw Hartsville win their first three games, giving Earle a reason to be optimistic about the chances of improvement. “Most of these guys have been playing for me now for three years,” reports the coach. “We have continued to get better each year. The expectation that I have for this team is to play really hard and make the playoffs.” Most of the heavy lifting this season comes from seniors and juniors who have gained experience while taking their lumps. Junior guard Kayson Dawson and junior forward Derion Gattison are setting the early pace as scoring leaders. Dawson is averaging 14.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game early on while Gattison is at 13.5 points and nearly five boards per game. Dawson averaged 11 points per game a season ago while Gattison scored 5.1 points per game. Senior Zaries Huggins is a starting guard, averaging 7.5 points early on. Senior Tristian Spann also starts as a wing and senior Dorian Mason starts at forward and contributes 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the early going. Earle says the leadership this season comes primarily from Dawson, Gattison and Mason. Sophomore CJ Hickmon is first off the bench and can play guard or forward. Remaining players include junior Kelly Price , junior Zi’yon Mason , junior Karmelo Pooler , junior Jamyari Scipio-Bishop , junior Justin Hines and junior Eli Lynch . Hartsville competes in region 6-AAAA, a highly competitive basketball league. Earle sees Crestwood and Wilson as two of the top teams and is hopeful his team can join in the mix for the region title. “The region should be a real battle every night,” the coach said. The girls team opened the season at 1-1 and also looks to contend for a playoff berth this season. The top returning player this season is junior guard Nay Gibson , who is averaging 17.4 points per game early on. Senior Sha’Niyah Richardson contributes offensively as well, along with junior Ariel Leatch , each better than six points per game.  The only other senior on the girls roster is Kamori Williams . Juniors are Aniyah Robinson, Zariyah Spann, Makayla Chapman, Brianna Watson and Chaniyah Thompson . Rounding out this year’s team are sophomores Zanaya Blakney and Trinity Thomas , and freshman Chassidy Johnson.
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