The Undefeated: Breaking Down All Unbeaten SCHSL Teams
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After 10 weeks of football, the Palmetto State is down to 11 unbeaten SCHSL teams. 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…
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Continue ReadingAfter 10 weeks of football, the Palmetto State is down to 11 unbeaten SCHSL teams.
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.
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.
CLASS A
Whale Branch Warriors (6-0, 2-0 Region VII-A)
Players making waves: QB/DB KJ Chisholm (581 total offensive yards, 12 total touchdowns, three interceptions on defense); RB/LB Darrell Cummings Darrell Cummings 5'9" | 185 lbs | ATH Whale Branch | 2024 State SC (625 yards, seven touchdowns, 24 total tackles)
Most impressive victory: The Warriors avoided any sort of letdown by throttling Allendale-Fairfax on October 13. Senior defensive lineman Bradford Thompson 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.
CLASS 3A
Daniel Lions (9-0, 4-0 Region I-3A)
Players making waves: RB Ja’kari Bennett Ja’kari Bennett 5'6" | 160 lbs | RB Daniel | 2024 State SC (1,038 yards, 18 touchdowns); QB Kolten Chapman (1,539 yards, 18 touchdowns); LB Spencer Conn Spencer Conn 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Daniel | 2025 State SC (56.5 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks);
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.
Belton-Honea Path Bears (9-0, 3-0 Region II-3A)
Players making waves: RB Marquise Henderson Marquise Henderson 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Belton-Honea Path | 2025 State SC (1,522 yards, 25 touchdowns through Week 8); RB Shaheem Robbs Shaheem Robbs 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Belton-Honea Path | 2024 State SC (860 yards, 14 touchdowns); OLB Tye Kelley (28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss)
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,
Gilbert Indians (9-0, 4-0 Region V-3A)
Players making waves: QB Drake Braddock Drake Braddock 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Gilbert | 2024 State SC (1,847 yards, 20 touchdowns through Week 8); RB Jaylen Jay Jaylen Jay 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Gilbert | 2025 State SC 754 yards, 10 touchdowns); LB Wynn Meetze Wynn Meetze 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Gilbert | 2026 SC (45.5 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three interceptions)
Most impressive victory: Defensive tackle Xavian Davenport 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.
CLASS 4A
South Florence Bruins (9-0, 4-0 Region VI-4A)
Players making waves: LB Dirrick Goodman Dirrick Goodman 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB South Florence | 2024 State SC (39.5 tackles; four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles); DE Amare Adams Amare Adams 6'4" | 305 lbs | DL South Florence | 2025 State SC (25.5 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles); LB Terry Gordon Terry Gordon 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB South Florence | 2026 State SC (43.5 tackles, six tackles for loss)
Most impressive victory: The September 29 win over Hartsville was peak South Florence. Quincy Rhodes Quincy Rhodes 5'11" | 155 lbs | DB South Florence | 2024 State SC returned a kickoff for a touchdown, Cameron Coe Cameron Coe 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB South Florence | 2025 State SC returned an interception for a touchdown and the Bruins created four turnovers in total.
Irmo Yellow Jackets (9-0, 4-0 Region V-4A)
Players making waves: QB AJ Brand AJ Brand 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Irmo | 2025 State SC (1,672 yards and 26 touchdowns passing and 639 yards and nine touchdowns rushing); RB Jaden Allen-Hendrix Jaden Allen-Hendrix 6'2" | 230 lbs | RB Irmo | 2024 State SC (1,385 yards, 12 touchdowns); WR Donovan Murph Donovan Murph 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Irmo | 2026 State SC (615 yards, 10 touchdowns); TE Caleb Alexander Caleb Alexander 6'0" | 180 lbs | TE Irmo | 2024 State SC (348 yards, nine touchdowns)
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.
James Island Trojans (9-0, 4-0 Region VII-4A)
Players making waves: QB Braxton Scott Braxton Scott 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB James Island Charter | 2024 State SC (1,007 yards, 10 touchdowns); RB Amor Scott Amor Scott 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB James Island | 2025 State SC (488 yards, 10 touchdowns); WR Wushi Ravenel Wushi Ravenel 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR James Island | 2024 State SC (444 yards, five touchdowns); LB Christian Glover (42.5 tackles, eight tackles for loss); DL Hendrix Beran Hendrix Beran 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL James Island | 2025 State SC (28.5 tackles, 14 tackles for loss)
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 Malachi Jefferson Malachi Jefferson 5'10" | 250 lbs | DL James Island | 2025 State SC (transfer from Indian Land) showed right off the bat they were ready to go.
Midland Valley Mustangs (9-0)
Players making waves: RB Traevon Dunbar Traevon Dunbar 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Midland Valley | 2024 State SC (1,876 yards, 24 touchdowns); RB Preston McNair Preston McNair 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Midland Valley | 2025 State SC (785 yards, 11 touchdowns); LB Andon Hawkins Andon Hawkins 5'7" | 205 lbs | LB Midland Valley | 2025 State SC (71 tackles, nine tackles for loss); LB Dominic Morgan (56 tackles, six tackles for loss)
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.
Lucy Beckham Bengals (8-0, 4-0 Region VII-4A)
Players making waves: LB Hank Aeppli (40.5 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks); DB Perrin Ketchen (five interceptions, 15.5 tackles); QB Chalmers Ballard (1,063 passing yards, 15 touchdowns); RB Charles Byrd (728 yards, seven touchdowns)
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 Robert Myers.
CLASS 5A
Summerville Green Wave (9-0, 3-0 Region VII-5A)
Players making waves: QB Jaden Cummings Jaden Cummings 5'11" | 195 lbs | QB Summerville | 2025 State SC ; WR Yannick Smith Yannick Smith 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Summerville | 2024 State SC ; RB Trae Green Trae Green 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Summerville | 2024 State SC ; WR Quintrelle Pettiford Quintrelle Pettiford 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Summerville | 2024 State SC ; DB Michael Woodfield Michael Woodfield 6'2" | 160 lbs | DB Summerville | 2024 State SC ; LB Kayden Gaddist Kayden Gaddist 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Summerville | 2024 State SC
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 Trae Green Trae Green 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Summerville | 2024 State SC ‘s touchdown with less than two minutes to play the Green Wave were in danger of falling off this list.
White Knoll Timberwolves (10-0, 4-0 Region IV-5A)
Players making waves: LB Jaiden Kimble Jaiden Kimble 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2024 State SC (47 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks); LB Demenico Banks Demenico Banks 5'10" | 225 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2024 State SC (44.5 tackles, three tackles for loss); RB Tiyon Fanning Tiyon Fanning 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB White Knoll | 2027 State SC (578 yards, nine touchdowns)
Most impressive victory: Kimble, Banks, Lincoln Ilunga Lincoln Ilunga 6'0" | 195 lbs | DL White Knoll | 2024 State SC and Caleb Geronomi Caleb Geronomi 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB White Knoll | 2026 State SC 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.