Top-ranked South Pointe sends message with region-opening win over AC Flora
After playing a tough early schedule, South Pointe passed its first region test Friday.
South Carolina commit J’Zavien Currence accounted for three touchdowns as the Stallions bounced back from a slow start and defeated AC Flora, 35-12, at Memorial Stadium in a matchup of top teams in Class 4A.
South Pointe came into the game ranked No. 1 in 4A while AC Flora was No. 4. The two teams came into the game as the favorites in Region 3-4A, with the winner taking the early control in the region race.
“We always tell them a timid man will surrender but a resolute man will prevail,” South Pointe coach Bobby Collins said. “We got down 12-0 and coach Floyd (AC Flora) does a great job on offense and his kids came out and played well. But our defense settled down and played well. Our goal on offense was to get five touchdowns and we got that done. We are excited for the group.
The game had a playoff-like feel and excitement with it being AC Flora’s biggest game since playing in the 2022 4A Upper State championship against South Florence. The Falcons breezed through their non-region schedule, averaging 42 points a game, but hadn’t faced the likes of South Pointe.
The Stallions came in a little more tested, playing the likes of Hough (NC) and defending 5A Division II champion Northwestern.
At times, South Pointe and AC Flora didn’t resemble top-ranked teams, combining for almost 40 penalties (more than 20 by South Pointe) and five turnovers, including three in a four play span, during the game.
But the top-ranked Stallions flexed their muscles as Currence delivered the big plays when the Stallions needed them most. He had a 59-yard pass on the first play of the second half to set up Zymir Gordon-Miles’ 1 -yard touchdown run to put the Stallions up 21-12.
Currence added a 6-yard pass to Kaden Vasil later in the quarter and scored on a 40-yard TD run to put the Stallions up 35-12 with 9:50 left.
The senior finished with 222 yards passing and 86 on the ground.
“We knew they threw all they had at us in the first quarter,” Currence said. “So we knew we had to calm down and not let our emotions get too high. The result was us coming back and beating them big.
“... And yeah we sent a message. Them guys acted like they had chips on their shoulders. And all teams do that. But when it is time to play football, we talk with these (pointing to his shoulder pads). Those are the real chips on our shoulders.”
AC Flora jumped on top early. Quarterback Roper Wentzky hit Charlie Scott on a 61-yard touchdown to make it 6-0 with 3:33 in the first quarter.
The Falcons made it 12-0 on Blake Betette’s 1-yard run with 10:40 left in the second. The score was set up by Scott’s reverse pass to Jalen Simmons down to the 1-yard line.
South Pointe answered and dominated much of the second quarter. RJ Brown scored on a 34-yard run up the middle to cut the lead to 12-7 with 7:56 left in the third second. The Stallions took the lead as Currence scrambled for 43 yards to go ahead 14-12 in the second quarter.
In the second half, the Falcons never recovered their momentum and rhythm they had early in the game.
“The wheels fell off,” AC Flora coach Ken Floyd said. “But we are 4-1 and for two quarters we showed we could play with the best in the state. But now we got to finish. And somehow create some depth. That is our biggest issue right now.”
The Falcons lost one of their top lineman when Ashton Thompson went down in the leg injury in the first half and didn’t return.
This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 11:30 PM.
