Six Teams Remain Unbeaten in AAAAA

  HSSR Div. I AAAAA Ranking  (Ranking After Week”6” Games October, 4^th)

1. Dutch Fork - 4-0 (211-17)

2. Summerville – 6-0 (388-128)

 3. Sumter- 7-0 (329-118) 

4. JL Mann – 4-1 (179-71)

5. River Bluff 6-0 (211-119)

6. Boiling Springs-3-1 (148-47)

7. Spartanburg- 3-1 (129-61)

8. Blythewood 6-1 (196-78)

9. Ashley Ridge-5-1 (235-145)

10. James Island 4-2 102-37)  

 HSSR Div. II AAAAA Ranking  (Ranking After Week “6” Games Oct. 4^th)

1. Gaffney- 4-0 (155-76) 

2. Irmo – 6-0 (232-95)

 3. Northwestern- 6-0 (290-128) 

4. Greenwood 5-1 (169-110)

5. Hillcrest 4-1 (118-91)

6. White Knoll 4-2 (218-113)  

7. Riverside- 3-1 (132-93)

8. Indian Land 4-2 (215-135)

9. Catawba Ridge 4-2 (215-97)

10. Lucy Beckham 4-2 (175-117)

Div. I AAAAA & Div. II AAAAA Led By Six Teams With Undefeated Records 

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Moncks Corner — The HSSR has been breaking down the AAAAA football classification in South Carolina with a weekly Div. I and Div. II AAAAA ranking, to give everyone a clear insight into who the likely contenders are once the AAAAA playoffs begin in November.

 With realignment the SCHSL placed the 54 largest high schools in enrollment in the AAAAA classification for the next two years.

        The first 26 schools are in Div. I and the next 28 schools are in Div. II AAAAA. The top 26 AAAAA schools in order of enrollment include: 1. Dorman (3,106) 2. Carolina Forest (2,800) 3. Summerville (2,623) 4. Byrnes (2,540) 5. Spring Valley (2,502) 6. Stratford (2,312) 7. Ashley Ridge (2,300) 8. Boiling Springs (2,262) 9. Lexington (2,169) 10. Clover (2,107) 11. West Ashley (2,106) 12. Wando (2,100) 13. Sumter (2,054) 14. Cane Bay (1,980) 15. Mauldin (1,978) 16. James Island 17. Ridge View (1,909) 18. Blythewood (1,901) 19. JL Mann (1,887) 20. Spartanburg (1,883) 21. River Bluff (1,882) 22. Fort Dorchester (1,858) 23. Stall (1,844) 24. Rock Hill (1,833) 25. Wade Hampton (1,833) and the final member of Div. I AAAAA is Dutch Fork (1,823). 

 Here goes Div. II AAAAA: 27. Socastee (1,741) 28. Hillcrest (1,699) 29. Woodmont (1,693) 30. Goose Creek (1,685 31. Conway (1,670 32. Westwood (1,664) 33. White Knoll (1,664) 34. Greenville (1,655) 35. Berkeley (1,644) 36. Chapin (1,643) 37. Eastside (1,633) 38. Easley (1,626) 39. TL Hanna (1,614) 40. Fort Mill (1,605) 41. St James (1,596) 42. Greenwood (1,587 43. West Florence (1,558) 44. Gaffney (1,556) 45. Northwestern (1,534) 46. Indian Land (1,492) 47. Nation Ford (1,485) 48. Lugoff-Elgin (1,484) 49. Riverside (1,463) 50. Lucy Beckham (1,450) 51. Irmo (1,440) 52. North Myrtle Beach (1,420) 53. Myrtle Beach 1,362) and the final member of Div. II AAAA is number 54. Catawba Ridge (1,319).

 The HSSR top three teams in Div. I AAAAA have remained undefeated throughout the 2024 season to date. Top ranked Dutch Fork (5-0)  is playing very well and the Silver Foxes are coming off a 63-10 win over Chapin. Dutch Fork’s potent defense has only allowed 17 points all season.  

 Against Chapin, quarterback Ethan Offing completed 11-of-13 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. The top two rushers were Maurice Anderson (8-65 yards-5 TD’s) and Quinton Wilson gained 36 yards on three rushes. The top three Silver Fox receivers against the Eagles were Boykin Bickley (3-49), Dayloun Shepard (3-22) and Josh Smith (2-80-1 TD). Jaxon Knotts came in and completed 8-f-13 passes for 63 yards in a back-up role.  

After five games Offing has completed 78 passes for 1,075 yards and 10 TD’s. Andreson is the top rusher with 426 net yards on 54 carries and 11 TD’s. The top receiver to date is Bickley with 25 catches for 409 yards and four TD’s. 

 The Silver Foxes defense is as potent as ever. Against Chapin, Michael Steel led he way with six hits, followed by Elgin Sessions, Daniel Smith, and Josh Smith with five each. Smith is the top tackler through five games. with 31 tackles. 

Summerville is ranked number two in Div. I coming off of a 77-6 win over Stall. The Green Wave are led on offense by Dartmouth quarterback commitment Jaden Cummings who has completed over 65 per cent of his passes thrown. Keshon Washington is a tackle breaking running back for Summerville and sophomore receiver Jaiden Kelly-Murray is among the top prospects in his class in the entire Southeast.

The Green Wave can score points against any team but will their defense step up in the playoffs to give themselves a chance at the gold medal round?

Sumter dominated West Florence, 63-25 in a region game last week, racking up over 500 yards of offense in their big win over West Florence.

 The Gamecocks are led by soph QB Frank Richardson who went into the West Florence game having completed 28-of-46 passes for 554 yards and six TD’s. Sumter is fortunate to have three very talented running backs led by senior Kam Fortune (5-10, 165) who went into the region opener with 600 yards and 9 TD’s followed by senior John Peeples (6-1, 185) who had 580 yards and 12 TD’s with Jacori Jackson (6-0,175) gaining 411 yards.

 Sumter, head coached by Mark Barnes,  had out-scored teams 329-118 so far in the 2024 season. They have a strong opportunity to win a region title and make a deep run in the play-offs.

 In Div. II AAAAA you have a similar situation with the top three teams all being undefeated. Number one Gaffney (4-0) is led by OL and USC commitment Sheldrick Sarratt (6-5,315), highly regarded and Arkansas commitment, junior QB Jayvon Gilmore (6-5, 195), and junior RB Jaiden McDowell (5-11, 185).

 The Indians are led on defense by three-year LB starter Andrew Ruppe (6-1, 225).

Irmo, coming off an impressive 34-7 win over Lexington is 6-0 and led by WR Donovan Murph who just reclassified from a junior, to a senior, and he has numerous big times offers. Murph went into the game with Lexington with 42 catches for 600 yards and three TD’s. Virginia Tech quarterback/athlete AJ Brand came into last weeks game having completed 84-of-112 passes for 1,121 yards and 13 TD’s.

Brand is also the Jackets top rusher with 490 yards and 8 TD’s on the ground.

 Third ranked Northwestern (6-0), coached by Page Wofford is coming off of a 57-23 win over Clover and the Trojans are loaded with talent. Senior QB Finley Polk who has completed 137-of-194 passes for 1,934 yards and 28 TD’s to date. His top two receivers are talented Kameron Vance (42-693-11 TD’s) and Jayden Nichols (38-609-8 TD’s).

 The top rusher is Zymier Gordan-Miles who has 561 yards and four TD’s to lead the ground game for NW.

 The Trojan defense is led on the tackle index by Will Massey (25 tackles), Andre Pickett (19 and 9.5 TFL) along with Tamarion Watkins (18 tackles and two picks).