Bouncing Back? GSPD Programs Hoping To Improve In 2026

As spring practice continues around the Palmetto State, high school football teams across South Carolina are looking toward the 2026 season with high hopes.   Each program is facing a unique challenge this fall. Some are hoping to maintain 2025 momentum, while others are starting anew and looking to reestablish themselves.   Amid this landscape, eight programs in the GSPD are identified as prime candidates to rebound this fall, aiming to improve upon their losing records from the 2025 season.   ANDREWS YELLOW JACKETS   It may have been the program's first losing season in four years, but don't be fooled by Andrews' 4-7 mark last season. The Yellow Jackets shook off a 1-4 non-region record to win three games in Region VI-2A and hung with Cheraw in the first round of the playoffs. Andrews was without [player_tooltip player_id='1811021' first='Dutch' last='Stafford'] for most of last season and the return of one of the Yellow Jackets' top players will certainly improve their outlook in 2026. The offense is predicated on a ground attack, but had one of its best passing attacks in years as [player_tooltip player_id='1827399' first='Avery' last='Durham'] threw for 1,145 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. If Andrews can stay balanced on offense and healthy across the board, the Yellow Jackets may be back to their winning ways very soon.     ATLANTIC COLLEGIATE ARMADA   After winning just two combined games in its first two seasons of existence, Atlantic Collegiate appeared to be on a similar path in 2025 after an 0-5 start. Then, the Armada caught fire, winning four of its next five games to close out the regular season and beating Woodland 14-0 for the program's first playoff win. With a ground-oriented attack, the Armada will need to replace now-departed tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1850667' first='Quay' last='Vereen'] and his 979 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore. Fellow back [player_tooltip player_id='1821585' first='Semaj' last='Wilson'] is back for his senior year after running for a team-leading 12 touchdowns and finishing second on the team with 77 tackles. With momentum building, don't be surprised if the Armada break through for the program's first winning season.    CONWAY TIGERS   Conway suffered through its eighth consecutive losing season, but new head coach Jody Jenerette has some pieces that could help the Tigers right the ship in 2026. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1399640' first='Noah' last='Legg'] is an effective signal-caller and physical runner who can spark the offense. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1816981' first='Jacob' last='Johnson'] was off to a strong start in his freshman season before suffering a season-ending injury midway through the year. After getting 52 carries last year, his numbers should spike significantly as a sophomore. Conway also returns senior [player_tooltip player_id='1687637' first='Gabriel' last='Williams'] at linebacker, which should help the Tiger defense improve.     DARLINGTON FALCONS   Darlington's 3-8 record last fall was rough, as it was unable to find better results behind a three-year starter at quarterback. But the Falcons have a veteran senior class intent on making sure it doesn't happen again. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1664618' first='Keontae' last='Scipio'] anchors the defense after leading the team with 73 tackles last year and adding 6.0 tackles for loss. Fellow linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1823880' first='Christian' last='Charles'] is undersized but makes up for it with an athleticism that will be sorely needed to shore up a unit that surrendered the most points in school history last year.  On offense, [player_tooltip player_id='1664650' first='Jaiden' last='Green'] is an interior menace whose ability to push defensive linemen around should do wonders for [player_tooltip player_id='1821259' first='Deron' last='Ross'] and the rest of the Falcon running backs.     MARION SWAMP FOXES   Marion faces a significant uphill climb after tumbling from 10 wins in 2023 to a winless 2025 season. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='1821491' first='Kaleb' last='Moore'] will have to come up big to help the Swamp Foxes bounce back this fall. Moore posted 15 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and 68 tackles from the secondary as a sophomore. Fellow rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1822040' first='Malachi' last='Graham'] is a do-it-all weapon for Marion, with experience as a passer, ball carrier, receiver, kick returner, and cover man. With an offense that never scored 20 points in a game last season, Graham will likely have to be the straw that stirs the drink for the Swamp Foxes.     MULLINS AUCTIONEERS   Mullins found itself at 3-2 and unbeaten in Region VII-2A play heading into October, but the Auctioneers couldn't muster another victory the rest of the way. If Mullins wants to recapture the momentum of last year's opening weeks, it will need linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1604041' first='Nathan' last='Peracki'] to lead the charge on defense. Mullins lost six of its top seven tacklers to graduation, with Peracki, who finished with 85 stops and 12.0 tackles for loss, as the lone exception. [player_tooltip player_id='1820265' first='Kanazzion' last='Bethea'] is gone at quarterback, so the Auctioneers will need somone to take the reins of the offense. Whoever wins the job will have the advantage of setting up behind [player_tooltip player_id='1664628' first='DeAndre' last='Stackhouse'] up front. Stackhouse, a rishing senior, is a road grater who will need to help a ground attack that returns just 21 percent of its rushing yardage from last year.    NORTH MYRTLE BEACH CHIEFS   North Myrtle Beach is seeking its first winning record in six years, but the Chiefs have some talent to keep an eye on. [player_tooltip player_id='1664629' first='Jaden' last='Chestnut'] is a two-way threat at wide receiver and defensive back, while [player_tooltip player_id='1817711' first='Nico' last='Miller'] is one of the state's best kicking weapons who never missed during the 2025 season. Veteran returning running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1824442' first='Jayden' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820056' first='Jonathon' last='Evans'] will be critical to helping ease the transition at quarterback, as the Chiefs lost quarterback Will McNeely to transfer. Defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1822564' first='Dustin' last='Clement'] will present problems for multiple offensive tackles this season. Expect North Myrtle Beach to put up more points this season with a more balanced approach, which could help the Chiefs boost their win total from last year's mark of three.     SOCASTEE BRAVES   Socastee finished 3-8 last season, but closed strong with wins over region foes Conway and St. James in the final two weeks of the regular season. All-region wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1664640' first='Paul' last='Livingston'] is back for his senior year and could be a diamond in the rough. He'll also help draw attention away from [player_tooltip player_id='1821034' first='Marcus' last='Brown'] at the other receiver spot. The speed of [player_tooltip player_id='1467828' first='London' last='Wilder'] (pictured) at running back makes him a threat running or catching the ball. Combine his lightning the thunder of [player_tooltip player_id='1816423' first='Elijah' last='Owens'] and his power running, and Socastee has a formidable one-two punch in the backfield. If the offensive line can hold up, these weapons should help the Braves score much more than their 13.2 points per game average last year, which will keep them in many more contests.

As spring practice continues around the Palmetto State, high school football teams across South Carolina are looking toward the 2026 season with high hopes.