By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Goose Creek – The class AA top ten is full of perennial state powers as well a couple of surprises in second ranked Mid Carolina and 10 th ranked Battery Creek, however, looming on the horizon is defending state champion Strom Thurmond. The Rebels are currently 6-0 after defeating AAAA Aiken 28-14.They have dominated their first six opponents by outscoring them 215 to 47. The defense has been especially stingy as they have held four of their opponents to 7 points or less while offensively the Rebels are hitting their stride. They have gotten off to the great start despite only returning 10 starters from last year’s team.  “The standard is the standard. We have good players, some are playing for the first time - it's our job to get those guys ready to play. Our seniors set a goal in the spring to win it again and we are working as hard as we can to help them accomplish their goals,” said head coach Andrew Webb. Coach Webb continued “We have guys who have been in big games and tough situations and their leadership helps us tremendously. They help us to just keep focusing on the next play. Our defense has been very consistent for us and our offense continues to improve.” Wy'Trayvious Dugar, Kaden Wigfall, Gregory Moore, and Bralen Searles are the corner stones of the “Blue Steel Defense.” They are all returning All-Region performers with Dugar and Wigfall being three-year starters. Moore and Dugar are one/two in tackles on the team with 34 and 46, respectively. Wigfall has moved to safety from linebacker, he is also the Rebels second leading rusher with 479 yards, and he is tied for the team lead with 9 touchdowns. Newcomer Mekhi Quiller has been strong at corner with a team high six passes defended. Offensively, junior Zy Rouse has been a jack of all trades as he has played RB, WR, QB and Safety in the first six games. He leads the team in rushing with 559 yards and ha has scored 9 touchdowns. He was a key player in last years run to the championship said coach Webb. Transfer quarterback AJ Hillary continues to improve for us at QB. He has had some games where he has been really sharp. He has thrown for 535 yards and three scores. Returning along the offensive line are seniors John Laster and Hezekiah East . They are the leaders of an offensive line that has paved the way to over 1400 yards rushing as a team. Senior Jakari Gordon is the team’s top receiver with 13 catches for a 227 yards and a score. Junior Preston Holmes has touched the ball 24 times for 367 yards and three touchdowns. “We have to continue to get better in every phase of the game. We have seen growth in a bunch of areas and there are things that we are still working relentlessly at to improve,” said coach Webb. “The Good Lord has blessed us to allow us to play football where football is important. We take a lot of pride in representing the people from the Peach Fields.” The Mid-Carolina Rebels check in at number two as they have gotten off to 5-0 start as they head into region play. Offensively, they are averaging over 40 points a game led by seniors quarterback Davis Ruff , running back Ryker Woolstenhulme and wide outs Cash Knight and Kayden Trappier. Defensively, the Rebels have posted two shut-outs and are allowing only 11 points per game. Woolstenhulme is the teams top tackler while senior defensive lineman Connor May has controlled the line of scrimmage and leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss. They open region play on the road at Chester (2-3). Third ranked Marlboro County moved to 5-0 as they held off Conway 33-30. They are averaging over 38 points a game behind junior quarterback Tre Blakeney as he has accounted for over 1400 yards of offense and 15 scores. Senior linebackers Jamorie Williams and Myjae McCoy have been the leaders on the defense that is allowing 16 points a game. They will host Waccamaw (2-3) in their region opener. They will tangle with 4 th ranked Dillon in four weeks in a game that could determine the region title, provided neither team slips up. The Wildcats of Dillon are 3-1 on the season after an opening game loss to Camden they have won three straight as they get set to host Lake City in their region opener. The Cats are averaging 35 points per game. Seniors Noah Singletary has been the leader on offense while senior linebacker and strong safety Kelvion Manning has been the leader on defense. That unit is giving up 16 points a contest. 10 times state champion Woodruff is ranked number 5. They are 3-2 after dropping their last game to undefeated Chapman. The Wolverines are led by senior Connor Davis, who leads an offense averaging 37 points per game. The Defense is still rounding into shape and is giving up 26 points per. The unit is replacing 10 starters. They will host Landrum (3-2) in their region opener. The sixth ranked Tigers of Saluda are coming a 55-54 loss to Emerald (5-1) that dropped their record to 3-2. They are five points from being undefeated. They are putting up 44 points a game while allowing 26 points but they have played much better. Senior running back Tristan Daniels leads the offense while the defense is led by twin brothers Jayden and Jahmeer Myers. The Tigers will open region play by hosting American Leadership Academy (2-3). The 7 th ranked Woodland Wolverines (4-1) are hosting pre-season top ten Philip Simmons (2-3) in a big region opener for both teams. The Wolverines have played outstanding defense holding four of their five opponents to less than 10 points. Linebacker George Perry (HSSR #94) leads the defense while HSSR’s #79 player quarterback Jervaze Salley leads an offense averaging 31 points a game. The Clinton Red Devils (3-2) check in at number 8. They will host Southside Christian (3-2) in their region opener. The Red Devils are averaging 34 points per game while they are giving up 27 points per game. Senior quarterback Owen Glen leads the offense and senior linebacker Ajavian James is the leader of the defense. Checking in at number 9 are the Eagles of Chesnee, they picked up their fourth win on the year beating Blue Ridge (1-5) 35-19. They will be on the road in their region opener against Mountain View Prep (2-3). Senior quarterback Evan Lawte r leads an offense that is averaging 40 points per game. Defensively, they are giving up 15 points a game. Rounding out the top ten is the surprise team of the year the Battery Creek Dolphins. They are sitting at 5-0 after beating area rival Beaufort 42-18. They will travel to Academic Magnet (4-1) in their region opener. The Dolphins are averaging 37 points per game and allowing 16. They are led by seniors Michael Cohen and Eddie Heyward?

South Carolina has another outstanding staff coaching our 2026 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas Sandlapper team.

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The athletic director at Woodland High is Ty Sibert, wh o grew up in McCormick, SC. and is a role model for all students not just the student athletes.

Woodland High School's Track and Field Seniors '26.

Woodland head coach Keith Lowman surrounded by seniors Dayton Cloer, Robbie Infinger, Drew Campbell, Luke Crosby, and Jacob Fulton after 7-0 win over Barnwell on April, 8

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Charleston – Phillip Simmons and Woodland entered Friday’s contest looking to open Region 6 Class AA with a win and it was the Iron Horses who imposed their will and controlled the game from start to finish as they handed the Wolverines their fourth consecutive loss 39-14. “It was a huge win for our team. Getting the first region win sets the tone for the rest of the season,” said Phillip Simmons head coach Eric Bendig. The win was the fourth straight for the Iron Horses after dropping their first two contest and this win puts them atop the region standings with Andrews and Timberland. Coach Bendig, “We’ve been building momentum so to come out and execute as we did against a good Woodland team shows are kids are locked in. The growth from those early games has been visible and our guys have been locked into the plans and they play for the right reason. They love each other and it is a great locker room.” The Wolverines have been going in the opposite direction as they dropped their third straight after a 3-0 start. Their losses have all been to ranked (HSSR POLLS) opponents in Bishop England ( 5 th AAAA), Bamberg Ehrhardt (1 st A) and Friday night’s loss to 7 th ranked AA Phillip Simmons. “We have to a better job of not turning the ball over and playing better third down defense. I thought our defense played well in the first half but we didn’t play complementary football,” said Woodland head coach Eddie Ford. Coach Ford continued, “We have played three really good football teams that past three weeks and while the scores may not show it we have gotten better. I feel like if we can iron out the issues we can make run towards the playoffs.” The Iron Horse’s defense set the tone for the game on Woodlands first possession of the game allowing only 11 yards. In fact, counting the 11 yards the Wolverines gained just 18 yards on their first four possessions. Leading the charge for the Iron Horses were senior linebacker Ethan Chisum, and juniors defensive ends Alex Tchoryk and Diavante Irving, and defensive tackle Christian Cromedy. Cromedy clogged the middle forcing the Woodland’s runners to the outside where Tchoryk and Irving would make a play or force them back inside to meet Mr. Chisum. Chisum led the team with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery while Irving forced two fumbles to go with five tackles. “Our defense has been playing lights out. We challenged them to be more physical as a unit and they responded. They forced Woodland into uncomfortable situations all night. They deserve a lot of credit for setting the tone of this game,” said coach Bendig. The offense followed up the defense first stop with a 5-play , 62-yard drive to take a 6-0 lead. The drive was highlighted by the Iron Horses version of the “Triplelets” in juniors quarterback Hayes Goddard, wide receiver Ashton Kellermann, and running back Omonte Taylor . Taylor had three carries for 25 yards while Goddard and Kellermann connected twice for 44 yards and a touchdown. Woodlands defense would come up big on the next Iron Horse possession. The Iron Horses drove the ball to a first and goal at the Wolverine four-yard line. A holding penalty whipped out a touchdown and moved the ball back to the 14. The Wolverines got pressure up the middles on Goddard and forced a fumble which recovered by the Wolverines Chandler Fogle turning away the Iron Horses. After a Woodland punt out to the 50. The Iron Horses needed one play to extend their lead when Goddard and Kellermann connected on a beautiful 50-yard touchdown pass. Senior CJ Falotico added the extra point and the lead was 13-0. Woodland’s offense finally showed some life on their fifth possession. Behind Kymonte Goodwin and Jeraze Salley they moved from their 35 to a first down at the Iron Horse 13. On first down Chisum came up with a three-yard tackle for loss putting the Wolverines behind the chains. A fourth down incompletion turned the ball back over to the Iron Horses. The Wolverine defense followed the Iron Horse defense by turning over the Iron Horse offense on downs. Taylor started the drive by ripping off a 31-yard run to the 48. Goddard would connect Blake Johnson for 28-yards down to the Wolverine 37. But then the Wolverines defense forced four straight incompletions to stop the drive. Woodlands best chance to score came on the final possession of the first half. After picking up a first and then a roughing the passer penalty moved the ball to the Iron Horses 25. Salley’s threw into the endzone on third down but the Iron Horses Montrell Mungin went up and picked off the pass in the endzone with 17 seconds remaining. The Iron Horses put the game away in the third quarter when they scored on their first three possessions of the second half. The first was a two-play drive after the second half kick-off. Goddard hit Kellermann for a 19-yard gain and then connected with Patrick Clarke for a 33 -yard touchdown strike. After a Irving forced a fumble that was recovered by Chisum gave the Iron Horses the ball at their 20. On second down the Goddard to Kellerman combo struck again for a 58-yard catch and run. The drive would stall but Falotico would make sure the Iron Horses scored as he nailed a 34-yard field goal to make the score 23-0.

Chesterfield's junior Guard Marquan Blount.

Ashley Ridge defensive lineman JT King pressures the Woodland quarterback during the 2025 Dorchester County Showdown.