Midpoint Highlights of South Carolina High School Football Season

Columbia, South Carolina, October 3, 2025

News Summary

As the South Carolina high school football season reaches its midpoint, teams face challenges and triumphs. Defending champions Dutch Fork and Hammond struggle, with losing streaks impacting their records. In contrast, teams like Irmo and Newberry excel, boasting impressive undefeated records. Upcoming games will further shape playoff scenarios as teams push for victories in the second half of the season.

Columbia, South Carolina – The South Carolina high school football season has reached its midpoint, with many teams currently playing their fifth or sixth games. The regular season is set to conclude on October 31, followed by playoffs beginning the next week. As the competition intensifies, some teams, once expected to maintain championship streaks, have faced unforeseen challenges this year.

Defending champions Dutch Fork and Hammond are among the teams struggling to keep up with expectations. Dutch Fork saw a significant setback when they ended their impressive 24-game winning streak with a 24-20 loss to Oceanside Collegiate on September 20. Recently, Dutch Fork had a bye week, allowing them to regroup as they transition into region play. Notably, last year, Dutch Fork endured a rocky start with a 2-5 record but rebounded to win the final eight games, ultimately securing the state title.

On the other hand, Hammond faced a tough blow when their 28-game winning streak came to an end with a 23-10 loss to Northside, marking their first defeat against a SCISA team since 2020. This season, Hammond’s offense has been underwhelming, averaging only 21 points per game, with a majority of these points scored during a single 56-0 victory against Hilton Head Christian.

In contrast to the challenges faced by Dutch Fork and Hammond, teams like Irmo are thriving, currently holding a 5-0 record. Despite losing several key players from last year, Irmo has achieved victories against strong teams like Byrnes and Oceanside, gaining the top spot in the SC High School Media Poll for the second consecutive week.

Newberry is also making headlines with an impressive 6-0 record, marking their best start since 2017. They haven’t made an appearance in a state title game since 2015. Newberry’s star quarterback, Kenton Caldwell, has been pivotal, racking up 1,947 all-purpose yards and throwing 27 touchdowns. Their strong offensive line and defensive highlights such as players like Julian Senn and Kaden Goff are contributing factors to the team’s success.

Gray Collegiate recently pulled off an impressive win against previously unbeaten North Augusta, defeating them 41-31 with freshman quarterback Xavier Wright achieving 376 passing yards and throwing for five touchdowns.

Injury challenges have hindered Ridge View, which is managing a 3-2 record. Junior quarterback Tre Howard suffered a dislocated foot early in the season, but the team has shown resilience with Ashton Chapman stepping up in the quarterback role.

Swansea Tigers have turned around their program, now boasting a 6-0 record under coach Willie Fox. Meanwhile, Eau Claire is enjoying a resurgence with a 4-2 record after struggling in previous seasons, led by quarterback Jacory Sumpter.

North Central has started positively with a 5-1 record, reflecting high hopes for their season after previous struggles. Westwood is trending upwards at 4-2, aiming to surpass last year’s win total with aspirations for a seven-win season. Conversely, Richland Northeast and Chapin are facing difficulties, with RNE sitting at 0-6 and Chapin at 0-5.

Key upcoming games to watch include South Pointe at Camden on October 3, Ridge View at Sumter on October 24, Dutch Fork at Irmo on October 31, and Swansea at Newberry on October 31.

The current mid-season top-10 power rankings are as follows:

1. Irmo (5-0)
2. Dutch Fork (3-1)
3. Ridge View (3-2)
4. Gray Collegiate (3-2)
5. Newberry (6-0)
6. AC Flora (5-1)
7. Camden (5-1)
8. White Knoll (4-1)
9. Hammond (5-1)
10. Fairfield Central (4-2)

This season features fierce competition, with many teams making strong pushes for playoff berths in the second half.