South-Carolina
South Carolina High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams – Oct. 21
The South Carolina On3 Massey Ratings Top 25 list as of Oct. 21 saw minimal changes, especially in the top half of the rankings. With the state tournament fast approaching, here’s how the best squads in South Carolina high school football fare after another round of games.
The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory. According to the model, two teams from South Carolina rank inside the nationwide top 100.
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The Silver Foxes remain the top team in South Carolina after their seventh consecutive victory. What’s more impressive is that they’ve completed their fifth shutout victory in seven games against Lexington. While they’ve kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard, quarterback Ethan Offing threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns. KJ Smith, Braydon Johnson, and Isaac Shine had one touchdown each. The 22nd-best team in the country will put their undefeated record on the line against River Bluff on Nov. 1.
The Trojans trampled over Rock Hill to secure their ninth victory in as many matches. Northwestern scored 55 points against the Bearcats, led by Finley Polk’s two passing and three rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, CJ Broughton contributed 109 passing yards and a touchdown. South Carolina high school football’s best offense also generated touchdowns from Nigel Smith, Daniel Caldwell, TD Knox, and David Flood. With the 28th-best team in the nation scoring at least 55 points in each of their last five games, Indian Land might have trouble slowing them down during their Nov. 1 matchup.
The Yellow Jackets are at 8-0 after defeating the 17th-ranked White Knoll. Their victory over the Timberwolves marks the fifth time they’ve scored 35 points this season. From a 14-all count at halftime, Irmo dominated the second half thanks to three rushing touchdowns while limiting White Knoll to seven points. Irmo’s season continues by hosting Chapin on Nov. 1.
The Indians improved to 6-0 after escaping with a one-possession victory against Riverside. Jamarcus Smith toyed with the Warriors defense, tallying 14 carries for 203 rushing yards and a touchdown. Andrew Ruppe and Trason Smith also crossed the goal line for touchdowns. Meanwhile, Gaffney’s defense contributed 12 tackles and four sacks, three courtesy of Kendaris Bailey. The Indians proceed with their campaign as they face Dorman on the 25th.
The Vikings marched to a four-game winning streak after a home victory against Boiling Springs. Spartanburg scored 27 points in the first half, but the Bulldogs couldn’t match that total. What’s more impressive is that the Vikings have limited their last four opponents to single-digit scores. The fifth-best team in South Carolina high school football will try to limit James F. Byrnes’ scoring when they clash on Oct. 25.
That’s six straight victories for the Rams after a 49-19 explosion against Fountain Inn. In the opening quarter, Westside scored touchdowns off a pass from Cutter Woods to Armoni Weaver, a blocked punt return by Ja’nyzae Allen, and a rushing TD by Dreson Evans. Westside’s defense deserves credit because Fountain Inn didn’t score until the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, scoring 41 points or more in their last five games made the Rams the state’s fourth-best offense. Westside’s season continues with a trip to Laurens on the 25th.
The Green Wave survived their grittiest challenge as of late, beating Ashley Ridge by one point, 49-48. Jaden Cummings’ rushing touchdown and the PAT had Summerville ahead in the second overtime, 49-42. However, the Swamp Foxes failed to score on a two-point try, giving the home team an 8-0 record. Jayven Williams dominated Ashley Ridge with 268 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Summerville will aim for their ninth consecutive victory when they host West Ashley on Oct. 25.
While the Stallions couldn’t sustain their streak of shutout victories, they are still on a four-game winning streak after their 42-13 win over Lancaster. Cam McMillon was on point against the Bruins, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns while missing only four attempts. Meanwhile, Lancaster couldn’t stop Mason Pickett-Hicks, who finished with 291 rushing yards and three touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Aakil Brown and Tamareon Williams combined for 6.5 of South Pointe’s ten sacks. The Stallions can extend their winning streak with a road win over Dreher on the 25th.
The Gamecocks haven’t been challenged in their last six victories, settling an average victory margin of 31.5 points. In their 49-20 win over Blythewood, John Peeples and Kameron Fortune combined for 219 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jayden Kennedy finished with three catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. Next for Sumter in the 2024 South Carolina high school football season is another home game against Westwood on Nov. 1.
The Yellow Jackets re-enter the top ten after a 42-20 home victory against J.L. Mann. They’ve won three of their last four games and have scored over 40 points in back-to-back matches. They’ve also increased their average winning margin from five points in their first two wins to 25 in their next two games. At 4-2, T.L. Hanna can improve its record with a road win over Eastley.
11. JL Mann
12. South Florence
13. Hillcrest
14. DW Daniel
15. River Bluff
16. Byrnes
17. White Knoll
18. Greenwood
19. Dorman
20. Belton-Honea Path
21. Boiling Springs
22. Wren
23. Ridge View
24. Clover
25. Hartsville
The South Carolina Gamecocks baseball program is entering a new era, as head coach Kevin Schnall was hired earlier this month. The Gamecocks are coming off of a program-low 35 losses this past season, as head coach Paul Mainieri resigned early in the season.
As such, several South Carolina players opted to enter the transfer portal as the program undergoes a huge transition.
One of those was infielder Will Craddock, who spent his true freshman season with the Gamecocks. Over the weekend, Craddock announced via a post on his Instagram that he would be joining the Mississippi State Bulldogs following his lone season in Columbia.
The Anderson, S.C. native had a big season for South Carolina even as a true freshman, hitting .260 with 10 home runs across 51 games for the Gamecocks. But South Carolina struggled throughout the season, so you can’t blame Craddock for wanting a fresh start. In a recent interview with 247Sports, Craddock thinks the experience he had playing in the SEC will help him in 2027 and beyond.
“Having that experience will be huge,” Craddock said. “I had a pretty good year last year, but I obviously battled some ups and downs, and I think that will ultimately help me become a better player. In this league, you are going to get beaten up, face adversity, and just go through the gutter sometimes, but you have to find a way to fight out of it.”
Although South Carolina’s baseball schedule has not been released just yet, the Gamecocks will likely face their former player. The Gamecocks played Mississippi State in a three-game series last year, getting swept in all three games.
As for what this means for South Carolina, losing a player like Craddock hurts, but the Gamecocks are bringing in some big hitters over from Wake Forest. In recent days, the Gamecocks have landed commitments from the likes of JD Stein, and Luke and Andrew Costello.
Best of luck to Craddock on the next phase of your career!
ALSO READ: South Carolina target Davion Jones moves up commit date following visit with Gamecocks
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South-Carolina
What exactly was Ted Cruz doing in SC for Alan Wilson? Dreaming of the White House, perhaps.
COLUMBIA — Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was very clear when he told people his reason for being in South Carolina this past week: he wanted to help Alan Wilson become the next governor of the Palmetto State.
For a full day in the blazing South Carolina heat, Cruz and Wilson traveled across the Midlands June 22 to deliver the closing argument for Wilson’s candidacy, from lakeside ice cream socials to full VFW halls and closed-door meetings with law enforcement.
They posed for photos with seemingly everyone who packed into the dining room of a Columbia barbecue restaurant owned by local Republican powerbroker Kirkman Finlay. The Texan played to the crowd with a quip that the state made some “mighty fine barbecue.”
And Cruz — putting his money where his mouth was — directed a quarter-million dollars in cable television advertising support to boost Wilson’s candidacy in opponent Pamela Evette’s backyard of Greenville County through his Truth and Courage political action committee.
“My philosophy is simple: I support the most conservative candidate who can win,” he told the crowd in Columbia the night before voters went to the polls.
Cruz takes so far:
1) All Democrats are socialists
2) Trump administration doing great
3) South Carolina barbecue is pretty good. (See below.) pic.twitter.com/4WF9c1gT0E— Nick Reynolds (@IAmNickReynolds) June 22, 2026
The political play
But what was Cruz really doing here? Reporters tried to find out, but had little luck.
Was it a play for 2028?
Cruz side-stepped the question, noting he had campaigned for conservative candidates in multiple states since his election to the Senate more than a dozen years ago.
“I care deeply who the leaders are that have the responsibility with steering our nation — with steering our states — in the right direction,” he told reporters after more than one hour shaking hands with supporters.
But plenty already think he is.
Texas U.S. Senate colleague John Cornyn said he believes Cruz covets the presidency during a recent interview with D.C. outlet Semafor. Others say his recent actions show Cruz “is clearly running for president,” as Vice President and potential 2028 candidate J.D. Vance said during a podcast appearance with conservative commentator Megyn Kelley on June 17. The local press seemed to think so too.
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“Sen. Ted Cruz makes Iowa appearance, fueling speculation about another presidential bid” Texas Tribune — May 2, 2026
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“Is Ted Cruz building up to another presidential run?” San Antonio Express-News — April 14, 2026.
Was it a jab at President Donald Trump?
Cruz this election cycle had endorsed opposite Trump in multiple races, lending his backing for Wilson shortly before Trump surprisingly abandoned his “complete and total endorsement” of Evette to co-endorse Wilson in the June 23 runoff.
He has also shown a propensity to criticize Trump behind closed doors, as recordings of conversations with donors detailed by news site Axios earlier this year describe.
But he dodged several attempts by a Post and Courier reporter to lock down the significance of that decision, including a question whether Trump occasionally failed to choose the most conservative candidates available.
“President Trump has been an extraordinary president, and I’m proud to work hand in hand with him,” he said. “He makes his determinations, I make my determinations. They are often usually one and the same; occasionally, they differ.”
So how serious is the prospect of a run for president in 2028? For Republicans and Democrats alike, South Carolina will continue to be a key early primary state in 2028.
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Multiple possible contenders for the Democratic nomination that year — California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Arizona politicians Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker and Silicon Valley-area Congressman Ro Khanna — have already been active here, while Republicans plot their next moves in anticipation of the winding down of the 80-year-old Trump’s hold on the contemporary GOP.
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Cruz has also been here before, appearing with Wilson during a series of town halls the then-attorney general held with multiple presidential hopefuls during Cruz’s bid for the presidency in 2016.
Cruz seems to be playing the long game. Asked one of the essential questions of any candidate seeking South Carolinians’ vote — their preferred barbecue sauce — Cruz remained non-committal.
“The best sauce is no sauce at all,” Cruz said. “Cook the meat right, you don’t need sauce.”
He even continued to decline a response on the crucial follow-up: what sauce he preferred for pulled pork.
“Pulled pork would be delicious,” he said. “Brisket is fantastic. I’m kind of partial to jalapeno and cheddar sausage. That is a quality piece of art.”
Of note: There was, in fact, sauce present at a barbecue spread Cruz prepared for New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand as the result of a wager between the pair of them on the outcome of the recent NBA finals matchup between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
The @nyknicks are champions and @SenTedCruz made good on his bet! pic.twitter.com/OOxKFztgZS
— Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (@gillibrandny) June 25, 2026
Quote of the week
“I’m gonna go donate to him again, to encourage him to run again.”
— State Rep. Jay Kilmartin, R-Lexington, after the House Republican Caucus banded with Democrats to recommit his bill to legalize the over-the-counter sale of human-grade Ivermectin June 25 after previously passing both the House and Senate by unanimous vote.
Kilmartin, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, said the motion by House Majority Leader Davey Hiott to kill the bill was a penalty for his financial support of Statehouse candidate John Allen in his primary bid against incumbent Lexington Republican Rep. Chris Wooten in this past month’s elections.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — The South Carolina State Museum opened its doors Saturday for a day of free admission, live entertainment and hands-on activities as it marked America’s 250th anniversary and unveiled a new exhibit focused on the Palmetto State’s role in the Revolutionary War.
The event, billed as “Salute to 250 Day,” included the grand opening of “American Battleground: South Carolina’s Revolution,” an exhibition exploring South Carolina’s role in the fight for independence.
“When we think of the revolution, of course we think about Bunker Hill, and George Washington, and crossing the Delaware, and in Yorktown and the battles up there,” said Christopher Graham, curator of the Revolution exhibit.
But on two occasions, the British attempted to invade the southern colonies. The first occasion, 1776, South Carolina drove off the attempt and British returned in 1780 and captured Charlestown, and moved into the backcountry attempting to reestablish rural control. That’s when the backcountry militia rose up and begin fighting the British without much government support, and eventually driving the British out of South Carolina into North Carolina and toward their fate at Yorktown.
Organizers said the exhibit is intended to help visitors learn about the Revolutionary War in the South, with artifacts meant to connect people of all ages with the state’s history.
Among the items on display is what Graham described as a significant South Carolina artifact.
“There is an iconic South Carolina artifact in here. It’s the flag of the second South Carolina regiment that was given to the regiment just a couple days after the battle of Sullivans Island, and carried for several year,” Graham said. “It was captured at the siege of Savannah carried back to Britain, where lived for 200 years, and now it’s back and it’s on exhibit.”
Chandler Mack, PR manager for the South Carolina State Museum, said the exhibit is part of a broader effort to begin a year of commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.
“we played a very pivotal role in our nations quest for independence during the revolutionary war. So that’s why we wanted to open ‘American Battleground: South Carolina’s Revolution’ to tell that story and tell the story of what life was like for every South Carolinian,” Mack said.
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