The Undefeated: Breaking Down All Unbeaten SCHSL Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After 10 weeks of football, the Palmetto State is down to 11 unbeaten SCHSL teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a nice club to be in, sure. But it takes the right amount of discipline, a good bit of talent and even some luck to get there. All of the 11 coaches have their reasons for why his team is still undefeated.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just as important, the schools who have accomplished it run the gamut from those we believed could pull this off way back in August to a few surprises.This is how all of them have stayed unbeaten so long and the biggest pieces that have led the charges.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CLASS A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Whale Branch Warriors (6-0, 2-0 Region VII-A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: QB/DB <strong>KJ Chisholm</strong> (581 total offensive yards, 12 total touchdowns, three interceptions on defense); RB/LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997381' first='Darrell' last='Cummings']</strong> (625 yards, seven touchdowns, 24 total tackles)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: The Warriors avoided any sort of letdown by throttling Allendale-Fairfax on October 13. Senior defensive lineman <strong>Bradford Thompson</strong> finished the game with 6.5 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble and jumped in on offense and added a rushing touchdown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CLASS 3A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Daniel Lions (9-0, 4-0 Region I-3A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997148' first='Ja'kari' last='Bennett']</strong> (1,038 yards, 18 touchdowns); QB <strong>Kolten Chapman</strong> (1,539 yards, 18 touchdowns); LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157945' first='Spencer' last='Conn']</strong> (56.5 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks);&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: In dispatching Pendleton on Friday, Bennett had four first-half touchdowns to open a three-score lead at the break and the Lions never looked back. Chapman did have an interception in the game - just his second of the year - but he also threw for 279 yards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Belton-Honea Path Bears (9-0, 3-0 Region II-3A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605525' first='Marquise' last='Henderson']</strong> (1,522 yards, 25 touchdowns through Week 8); RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144034' first='Shaheem' last='Robbs']</strong> (860 yards, 14 touchdowns); OLB <strong>Tye Kelley</strong> (28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: We had an immediate sign that BHP would be special when it defeated Westside by two touchdowns to open the year. Henderson went for 197 yards and three touchdowns,&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Gilbert Indians (9-0, 4-0 Region V-3A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='782263' first='Drake' last='Braddock']</strong> (1,847 yards, 20 touchdowns through Week 8); RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012653' first='Jaylen' last='Jay']</strong> 754 yards, 10 touchdowns); LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1043170' first='Wynn' last='Meetze']</strong> (45.5 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three interceptions)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: Defensive tackle <strong>Xavian Davenport </strong>mades sure the Indians picked up a nice non-region win over Lexington by picking up four total tackles and recording a pair of sacks in the September 15 victory.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CLASS 4A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>South Florence Bruins (9-0, 4-0 Region VI-4A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996915' first='Dirrick' last='Goodman']</strong> (39.5 tackles; four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles); DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809742' first='Amare' last='Adams']</strong> (25.5 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles); LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon']</strong> (43.5 tackles, six tackles for loss)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: The September 29 win over Hartsville was peak South Florence. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208353' first='Quincy' last='Rhodes']</strong> returned a kickoff for a touchdown, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157897' first='Cameron' last='Coe']</strong> returned an interception for a touchdown and the Bruins created four turnovers in total.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Irmo Yellow Jackets (9-0, 4-0 Region V-4A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> (1,672 yards and 26 touchdowns passing and 639 yards and nine touchdowns rushing); RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix']</strong> (1,385 yards, 12 touchdowns); WR [player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph'] (615 yards, 10 touchdowns); TE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142759' first='Caleb' last='Alexander']</strong> (348 yards, nine touchdowns)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: Irmo hit Ridge View hard, and the Yellow Jackets hit the Blazers again again and again. Brand finished with four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and ended with a easy-looking 200-plus total yards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>James Island Trojans (9-0, 4-0 Region VII-4A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91365' first='Braxton' last='Scott']</strong> (1,007 yards, 10 touchdowns); RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605524' first='Amor' last='Scott']</strong> (488 yards, 10 touchdowns); WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448987' first='Wushi' last='Ravenel']</strong> (444 yards, five touchdowns); LB <strong>Christian Glover</strong> (42.5 tackles, eight tackles for loss); DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012698' first='Hendrix' last='Beran']</strong> (28.5 tackles, 14 tackles for loss)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: The 25-7 season-opening win at Class 5A Stratford set the tone for the Trojans' defense. Beran, Glover and first-year defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272709' first='Malachi' last='Jefferson']</strong> (transfer from Indian Land) showed right off the bat they were ready to go.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Midland Valley Mustangs (9-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91348' first='Traevon' last='Dunbar']</strong> (1,876 yards, 24 touchdowns); RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272712' first='Preston' last='McNair']</strong> (785 yards, 11 touchdowns); LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272716' first='Andon' last='Hawkins']</strong> (71 tackles, nine tackles for loss); LB <strong>Dominic Morgan</strong> (56 tackles, six tackles for loss)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: The 21-16 win over Strom Thurmond on August 25 has been a stumbling block for Midland Valley of late, but the Mustangs controlled the clock with its strong ground game, including 182 yards from Dunbar.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Lucy Beckham Bengals (8-0, 4-0 Region VII-4A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: LB <strong>Hank Aeppli</strong> (40.5 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks); DB <strong>Perrin Ketchen</strong> (five interceptions, 15.5 tackles); QB <strong>Chalmers Ballard</strong> (1,063 passing yards, 15 touchdowns); RB <strong>Charles Byrd</strong> (728 yards, seven touchdowns)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: While Lucy Beckham will have a Week 10 showdown with James Island, the October 6 win against Bluffton was aided by Byrd's 142 yards and a score and another rushing touchdown from reserve <strong>Robert Myers</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CLASS 5A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Summerville Green Wave (9-0, 3-0 Region VII-5A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings']</strong>; WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771065' first='Yannick' last='Smith']</strong>; RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589013' first='Trae' last='Green']</strong>; WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='998693' first='Quintrelle' last='Pettiford']</strong>; DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267457' first='Michael' last='Woodfield']</strong>; LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='140607' first='Kayden' last='Gaddist']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: As far as the regular season goes, it's going to be tough to top Friday's win over Ashley Ridge. The Swamp Foxes pushed Summerville all night, and until <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589013' first='Trae' last='Green']</strong>'s touchdown with less than two minutes to play the Green Wave were in danger of falling off this list.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>White Knoll Timberwolves (10-0, 4-0 Region IV-5A)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players making waves: LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='911089' first='Jaiden' last='Kimble']</strong> (47 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks); LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142518' first='Demenico' last='Banks']</strong> (44.5 tackles, three tackles for loss); RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036740' first='Tiyon' last='Fanning']</strong> (578 yards, nine touchdowns)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive victory: Kimble, Banks, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142785' first='Lincoln' last='Ilunga']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025815' first='Caleb' last='Geronomi']</strong> pushed the Timberwolves to a 17-14 win over perennial powerhouse Dutch Fork 17-14 by leading a defensive effort that allowed the Silver Foxes only 141 yards of offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->