Pinewood Prep Seeking “Dynasty In The Making Status” With Win In The SCISA AAA Finals

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

North Charleston—Dynasties begin somewhere, often rooted in the deep seeds of hard-work, commitment, and among teams who embrace the culture of winning.

The Dynasty Maker might say, “We first believed, before we achieved.”

Looking back, in a few years, those of us who help record the statistics, and great moments in prep sports in South Carolina, just might point to Pinewood Prep’s game with Wilson Hall as a defining moment in the growth of Pinewood Prep football. A state championship victory will define this for sure. 

Should the Panthers capture a SCISA AAA title with a win over Wilson Hall (1-1) at Charleston Southern tonight, head coach Devonte Hollomon, a former star player at South Carolina, before being drafted into the NFL, will forever be remembered as the coach who got the dynasty going.

Pinewood Prep comes into the game tonight, 9-2, and they were the region champions of SCISA 1-AAA, defeating teams 436-200 during the 2024 season. On offense, the team has seen seven different ball carriers collectively gain 2,648 yards rushing on 282 carries and 39 TD’s. Through the air the Panthers have completed 121-of-182 passes for 2,020 yards and 27 TD’s. Big plays have fueled the Panthers success all season.   

The Panthers defeated Trinity Collegiate, 49-13 in the first round of the play-offs, and followed up with a big semi-final- round win over Northside Christian, 35-21 to advance to the gold medal round.

After last week’s game, Coach Hollomon said, “It was a fight tonight and our kids love the game and they kept battling,” said Coach Holloman. “This is the spot we had hoped to be in when we started the season. 

“I love these players, and I love coaching them, and they competed hard for all four quarters tonight, and coming out on top makes all the hard-work worth it,” said Coach Hollomon. “I felt like we wore them down in the second half. We had a complete team effort tonight from the entire team.”

 Against Northside Christian, senior running back Jeremiah Singleton, the Region 1-AAA Offensive Player of the Year, ran for 232 yards on 20 carries while rushing for four touchdowns. Singleton comes into the game against the Barons having rushed for 1,771 yards on 178 carries and 28 touchdowns. He is averaging an impressive 9.95 yards a carry.

Senior all-region quarterback Asa Windham has been a good field general all season. Windham has completed 110-of-160 passes for 1,801 yards and 24 TD’s with just four interceptions this season. He has also added 423 rushing yards on 46 carries and he has four rushing touchdowns.

The go-too receiver has been all-region senior Terrence Stallworth who has 35 catches for 655 yards and 12 TD’s this season.  Junior WR Jayden Alexander has caught 26 passes for 421 yards and six TD’s while senior WR Jaden Bellish has contributed with 18 catches for 403 yards and six TD’s.

At all-levels of football, you might think it is only a few talented horses that pull the wagon of success, but this not so. Football is also about the Jimmies and the “Joe’s”. For example, after the Panther offense rushed for 358 yards last week, even the public address announcer cited the play of the offensive line. They include seniors Jackson Spafford and Sami Abuhakema, along with junior MacGregor Tuten and three up and coming sophomores in Jacob Sweet, David Harper, and Kenneth Robbins.

The top six tacklers on defense coming into the game tonight include senior MLB Connor White with 67 total tackles and he has been named the Region Defensive Player of the Year. Senior CB Daniel Wiggins has 51 tackles, and three interceptions to date. Soph LB Jaydon Parrott has 48 tackles along with junior DE prospect JT King who (6-4,235), who also plays TE on offense, comes into the game tonight with 34 tackles and a team leading 6.5 sacks.

Junior MLB Dawson Wilson has contributed 30 tackles while freshman Marion Summers has 30 tackles followed by soph DL Jacob Sweet (6-3-245) who has played well with 26 total tackles. 

Other defensive players with 18, or more tackles on the hit index include DL Arden Murray (21), junior CB Grady Fuller (20), highly regarded junior baseball prospect Will Watson is a Free Safety for the Panthers (18) and he plays a Wildcat on offense some later in games. Watson might be the fastest player on the team. Watson has completed 12-of-23 passes for 242 yards and two TD’s while adding 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Windham also has 18 tackles on defense.

One notable flip of a player to defense in the finals will be soph David Harper (6-2, 235), who could start, or play a lot in the defensive front against Wilson Hall. Alex Hylton has also been a very effect combo-kicker-punter for the Panthers this season.

Late on Thursday, just before taking the practice field, Coach Hollomon told the HSSR, “Last year when we lost out to Hilton Head Christian, in the semi-final round, we felt like they were stronger than we were. and we made a commitment to get in the weight room and get stronger,” said Coach Hollomon. “I hung a picture of a championship ring in our locker room, with a note on it, implying that winning a state title was a serious goal of our team this season.

“I do not think this team is over-confident because we beat them (49-7) in early October and gave them their only loss of the season,” said Coach Hollomon. “We have had very good practices this week and we know we are going to get Wilson hall’s best shot.”  

 In an e mail to the HSSR Monday night, Coach Hollomon said, “With history on the line, the Panthers are confident, excited, and hungry!”



Probable Offensive Starters

QB Asa Windham Sr. #4

RB Jeremiah Singleton Sr. @1

LT Sami Abuhakema Sr. #56

LG Jackson Spafford Sr. #75

C Kenny Robbins Soph #78

RG Cameron Wren Jr. #50

RT Macgregor Tuten Jr. #71

WR Terrence Stakkworth Sr, #2

S-WR Jaden Bellush Sr. #3

O-WR Jayden Alexander Jr. #8

TE Heyward Moore Soph #11 or

TE McKinley Bilton Sr. #32

PK Alex Hylton Sr. #6

Probable Defensive Starters

DE JT King Jr. #17

DT Jacob Sweet Soph #54

DT Preston Holiday Soph #99 or

DT David Harper Soph #71

DE Arden Murray Sr. #24

LB Connor White Sr. #34

LB Jayden Parrott Soph #42

CB Daniel Wiggins Sr. #0

CB Grady Fuller Jr #15

FS Will Watson Jr. #7

FS Mason Sumners Fr. #30

FS Carson Good Jr. #21

P Alex Hylton Sr. #6