Strom Thurmond Cupboard Not Bare After 2025 Title Run

Life's good after a state championship in any sport, but that rings especially true of a high school football title in South Carolina.   The immediate postgame celebration on the field, the bus ride back to the home field where the local fans are waiting, celebrations at the school and in town to honor the players and coaches who helped capture their sport's biggest prize.   But, like with every other team in the state, the focus must soon switch to gearing up for next season. Some of the state's 2025 champions will look awfully similar from a roster standpoint in 2026, while others will be mostly starting over fresh.   For Class 2A champ Strom Thurmond, it's a little bit of both. Yes, it was a huge, successful senior class that left its mark on the program, finishing the season by checking off those boxes of a Region II-2A championship, an Upper State title, and undefeated record at home in the peach fields and Thurmond's first state crown in 20 years. But there's no shortage of returning talent or potential future stars who will soon be called upon to continue that Rebel tradition.   Here's a look at 12 returners who played key roles last year and should be in line for even more in 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='1671490' first='Jaivaughn' last='Bellamy'] DL   Bellamy, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound edge rusher, had six multi-tackle games last season on his way to 27 stops with eight for loss and a pair of sacks. He gave Pelion fits with three tackles for loss and a sack during a region win, and he had a pair of tackles for loss in the playoff-opening win over Chesterfield.   Justus Daly K   Daly shared kicking duties last season, and he scored all 12 of his points in the postseason. Three of those came on a 28-yard field goal to give the Rebels a 9-7 lead over Fairfield Central at halftime of the Upper State title game. It was the Rebels' first and only made field goal of the season, and considering the circumstances it shows the trust head coach Andrew Webb and the Rebels had in their freshman kicker.   [player_tooltip player_id='1422601' first='Wytrayvious' last='Dugar'] DB   The Rebels' secondary was loaded with playmakers, and Dugar more than proved he belonged in the conversation by finishing second on the team with 87 tackles. He made six stops in the backfield and also intercepted a pass, and he'll provide senior leadership to the back half of the defense in 2026.    [player_tooltip player_id='2129235' first='Hezekiah' last='East'] OL   East was a mauler up front on a veteran offensive line that under position coach Riley Addis adopted the mantra of being first and the fight. He led the way from his left tackle position, pushing and shoving his way through opposing defensive fronts to spark a balanced and dangerous Strom Thurmond offense. He's one of two returners up front, and his presence will be massive as the Rebels break in some youngsters on the line.   [player_tooltip player_id='1162969' first='Jakari' last='Gordon'] WR/DB   The Rebels' passing game is going to look plenty different this coming season following the graduation of senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1820528' first='Bri'Shaun' last='Lee'] and leading receivers [player_tooltip player_id='617663' first='Kaleb' last='Simpkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823102' first='Shaheed' last='Williams']. Gordon was the team's No. 3 receiver, averaging 14.3 yards per reception with a touchdown catch, and he could be ready to take on a much larger role in the offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818415' first='Preston' last='Holmes'] RB/DB   Speaking of players who could be in line for a lot more playmaking opportunities, Holmes could be a candidate. He rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries as a young member of a deep running back group, and he averaged 18.9 yards per runback as the team's most-used kickoff returner.   [player_tooltip player_id='1820537' first='John' last='Laster'] OL   Laster is the Rebels' other returning offensive lineman, and at center his leadership up front will be just as critical as East's. He helped pave the way for a run game that averaged 6.5 yards per attempt for the season, and he was also a fiery, emotional leader on the field and sideline for the state champs.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823108' first='Gregory' last='Moore Jr']. LB/WR   Moore emerged as one of the Rebels' defensive stars, and he saved some of his best performances for their biggest games. He made a season-high 11 stops in an overtime win over Batesburg-Leesville to open region play, made tone-setting stops in playoff routs of Liberty and Chester and had a season-saving assist on a potential game-tying two-point conversion with no time remaining against Fairfield Central.    [player_tooltip player_id='1817078' first='Garrett' last='Pearson'] K   Pearson was the other half of the Rebels' place-kicking duo, and he finished the season with 31 made extra points. No one in the peach fields needs to be reminded how fruitful it can be to have a reliable kicker, and this coming season the Rebels will have the luxury of using either one - or both - to provide key points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818416' first='Zy' last='Rouse'] ATH   Rouse was the Rebels' X-factor in 2025, doing most of his damage after taking direct snaps in short-yardage and goal-to-go situations despite being one of the smaller players on the field at the time at 5-9 and 160 pounds. It didn't matter. He used his speed, vision and agility to rush for 554 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he finished the year as the team's second-leading scorer with 82 total points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1820532' first='Bralen' last='Searles'] DL/TE   In a way, Searles can technically be called a third returning blocker up front for the Rebels after providing a punishing presence when used on offense from the H-back position, occasionally sneaking out of the backfield for passing opportunities. On defense he had seven tackles for loss, a sack and three forced fumbles, and his snap count should increase moving forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615095' first='Kaden' last='Wigfall'] WR/RB (pictured)   Wigfall served as a bit of a change-of-pace running back as a speedster to contrast the bruising [player_tooltip player_id='1820530' first='Deonte' last='Phillips'] - not that Phillips was caught from behind very often - and his effectiveness helped the Rebels' offense wear down opposing defenses. He was the team's second-leading rusher with 715 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 8.5 yards per carry while also providing Thurmond's longest carry of the season with a 75-yard burst.

Life's good after a state championship in any sport, but that rings especially true of a high school football title in South Carolina.