Guide to SC football state championships: Players to watch, schedule, predictions
The 2025 South Carolina High School League football state championship games are Friday and Saturday at S.C. State’s Oliver Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg.
State Championship Schedule
——Friday, Dec. 5——
Class 3A: Oceanside Collegiate vs. Belton-Honea Path, 12:06 p.m.
Class A: Bamberg-Ehrhardt vs. Lamar, 4:06 p.m.
Class 5A Division II: Irmo vs. Northwestern, 7:36 p.m.
——Saturday, Dec. 6——
Class 4A: South Florence vs. South Pointe, 12:06 p.m.
Class 2A: Hampton County vs. Strom Thurmond, 4:06 p.m.
Class 5A Division I: Summerville vs. Dutch Fork, 7:36 p.m.
Ticket, spectator information
Tickets are $20 can be purchased at gofan.co or through each of the schools before gameday. Tickets are good for the entire day. Everyone must have a ticket — except a toddler or infant who can sit in a lap.
Gates will open for fans at 11 a.m. each day. Home fans with tickets will enter through Gate 1. Visiting fans with tickets will enter through Gates 1 and 2 and walk across behind the endzone. Upper State schools are the home teams for this year’s games.
A clear bag policy in place for all spectators. No outside food or drink, or coolers are allowed in the stadium.
Parking lots open 10 a.m. both days and cost is $10 per car. Parking passes are available through Gofan.co. Vehicles with trailers, pull behind grills and RVs cost $50. Restrooms and power access available.
Entrance for all traffic is Entrance 5 off Highway 21 (Chestnut St) and Entrance 4 (Goff Avenue).
How to Watch: TV and streaming
All six games will be carried on Sinclair Broadcasting stations across South Carolina. Affiliates are WMYA (My40 Asheville-Greenville), WACH Fox digital channel (57.2/1250/Columbia), WCIV (MyTV Charleston) and WWMB (CW21, Florence/Myrtle Beach).
All six games also will be streamed on www.nfhsnetwork.com. A subscription ($13.99) is required but is good for all of the games and a month’s subscription.
The Games, Predictions
Belton-Honea Path (14-0) vs. Oceanside Collegiate (12-2)
Coaches - BHP: Russell Blackston (16th year); OC: Brent LaPrad (1st year)
BHP Stat Leaders: QB Nate Thomas (2,807 total yards, 43 TDs), RB MJ Earl (1,209 rushing yards, 24 TDs), WR Tajeh Watson-Martin (53 rec., 996 yards, 10 TDs), LB Ty Dubose (74 tackles), DB Demarion Chester (4 TDs)
OC Stat Leaders: QB Aiden Manavian (3,875 passing yards, 43 total TDs), RB Zakhi Muncey (1,176 rushing yards, 12 TDs), WR Terence Johnson (55 rec., 1,139 yards, 17 TDs), Anthony Williams (59 rec., 995 yards, 11 TDs), LB Rhys Meredith (92 tackles), CB Cole Gaspar and Damonte Green (4 INTs)
Notes: Rematch of last year’s championship game, won by Oceanside Collegiate (35-17). Oceanside is looking for its third straight championship and is in its fourth straight championship game, second in 3A with the other two in 2A. Brent LaPrad is looking to join father Steve as father-son duo to win state titles. Steve LaPrad coached 20 seasons at Fort Dorchester and won the 2015 state title. BHP is looking for its first state title since 2004 and is one of two unbeaten teams in title games. Oceanside won the final 12 games after an 0-2 start.
Prediction: Oceanside Collegiate
Lamar (12-2) vs. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (14-0)
Coaches - L: Tyler Boyd (1st year at Lamar); B-E: Corey Crosby (4th year)
Lamar Stat Leaders: QB Zori Pierce (2,444 total yards, 35 TDs), RB Zygel Eaddy (1,271 rushing yards, 17 TDs), WR Julian Morris (27 rec., 567 yards, 8 TDs), LB DQ Green (101 tackles, 5 INTs), DE Mont Williams (12 sacks)
B-E Stat Leaders: QB Brian McMillan (4,673 total yards, 66 TDs), RB Jalen McGraw (1,155 yards, 11 TDs), RB MJ Cann (1,044 rushing yards, 16 TDs), WR Charles Williams (48 rec., 1,263 yards, 17 TDs)
Notes: Second meeting between the two schools. B-E won, 10-7, in the 2005 playoffs. Lamar is making its 11th championship appearance and looking for its sixth state title, first since 2016. Bamberg-Ehrhardt is in its 10th title game. The Raiders’ lone state title came in 1990. B-E is one of two unbeaten teams in the championship games. Lamar coach Tyler Boyd is looking to join father JR as father-son duo to win state titles. JR Boyd coached two different stints at Lamar, winning three straight state titles from 2002-04. B-E is averaging 564.5 yards per game on offense.
Prediction: Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Northwestern (12-1) vs. Irmo (12-1)
Coaches - N: Page Wofford (7th year); I: Aaron Brand (7th year at Irmo)
Northwestern Stat Leaders: QB Xavier Means (3,865 total yards, 51 TDs), RB Nigel Smith (1,130 yards 11 TDs), WR Kam Vance (79 rec., 943 yards, 11 TDs), LB Kameri McFadden (70.5 tackles), LB Malik Darby (7 sacks)
Irmo Stat Leaders: QB Drevon Dopson (2,637 total yards, 30 TDs), RB Amire White (1,275 rushing yards, 12 TDs), WR Maleek Miller (1,388 total yards, 19 TDs), LB Brandon Goldsborough (91 tackles), DE Jaiden Bryant (10 sacks), DB Jamar Grissett (7 INTs)
Notes: Northwestern leads all-time series, 7-3, including 34-31 victory in last year’s championship game. Trojans are in their 14th state championship game and looking for their seventh state title. Irmo is in its ninth championship game with its lone title coming in 1980 under Joe Turbeville. An Irmo win would tie the school record for wins in a season with 13.
Prediction: Irmo
South Pointe (13-1) vs. South Florence (13-1)
Coaches - Bobby Collins (3rd year at SP); SF: Drew Marlowe (6th year)
South Pointe Stat Leaders: QB/DB J’Zavien Currence (4,261 total yards, 42 TDs; 81 tackles, 4 INTs), RB RJ Brown (1,025 yards, 20 TDs), WR Dailan Duncan (61 rec., 873 yards, 8 TDs), LB/S KJ Burg (150 tackles); LB Brysen Ginn (10.5 sacks)
South Florence Stat Leaders: QB Messiah Jackson (2,288 total yards, 44 TDs), RB Cameron James (1,434 yards, 16 TDs), WR JayAun Perkins (53 rec, 947 yards, 13 TDs), LB Willie Kennedy (99 tackles), LB Terry Gordon (15 sacks), DB Amare Reaves (8 INTs)
Notes: South Florence is 2-1 all-time against South Pointe with the last meeting coming in 2023. South Pointe is in its ninth championship game and is 7-1 in previous eight appearances with the last title coming in 2021. South Florence is in its fourth straight championship and looking for the program’s third title.
Prediction: South Pointe
Strom Thurmond (12-2) vs. Hampton County (11-3)
Coaches - ST: Andrew Webb (4th season); HC: Robert Hanna (3rd season at HC)
ST Stat Leaders: QB Bri’Shun Lee (1,898 total yards, 19 TDs), RB Deonte Phillips (1,054 rushing yards, 23 TDs), WR/S Shaheed Williams (45 rec., 762 yards, 8 TDs, 50 tackles, 2 INTs), LB Bryston Coleman (94 tackles)
HC Stat Leaders: QB/DB Tarell Grant (1,580 total yards, 20 TDs, 30 tackles, 5 INTs), RB/DB Jaylen Singletary (2,482 rushing yards, 42 TDs, 5 INTs); LB Malik Terry (103 tackles)
Notes: Strom Thurmond is playing in its eighth state championship game and first since winning it all in 2005. The Rebels are going for their third state title. Hampton County is in its first state title appearance since merging Edisto and Hampton High Schools to former Hampton County three years ago. Hampton County has won eight straight games following a three-game losing streak earlier this season.
Prediction: Hampton County
Dutch Fork (12-1) vs. Summerville (12-2)
Coaches - DF: Tom Knotts (16th year at DF); Ian Rafferty (6th year)
DF Stat Leaders: QB Jaxon Knotts (2,616 total yards, 24 TDs), RB Kyle Henry (595 yards, 8 TDs), RB Quentin Wilson (571 yards, 13 TDs), WR Stone Furrey (38 rec, 688 yards, 5 TDs), DE Julian Walker (68 tackles, 10 sacks); DE Jaden Wuerth (11 sacks), DBs Mario Anderson, KJ Dupree and TJ Gibson (3 INTs)
Summerville Stat Leaders: QB Max Stafford (2,087 total yards, 27 TDs), RB Jayven Williams (1,837 rushing yards, 23 TDs), WR Jaiden Kelly-Murray (68 rec., 1,092 yards, 14 TDs), LB JT Williams (141 tackles), DE/LB Demarcus King (12 sacks), DB Josiah Taylor (4 INTs)
Notes: Rematch of last year’s state championship won by Dutch Fork, 35-21. Summerville is looking for its 13th state championship in program history and first since 1998. DF is 8-0 all-time against Summerville. Dutch Fork is in its 10th straight state championship game and 13th in 16 seasons under Tom Knotts. The Silver Foxes are looking for their fourth straight state championship and program’s 10th state championship. The 10 titles would tie Knotts with Summerville’s John McKissick and Willie Varner for most football championships in SC history. Knotts also won seven championships while coaching in North Carolina. The win would be Dutch Fork’s 300th in program history.
Prediction: Dutch Fork
This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Guide to SC football state championships: Players to watch, schedule, predictions."
