South Carolina High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams – Sept. 18
The South Carolina On3 Massey Ratings list as of Sept. 18 reflects the best of South Carolina high school football, as eight of the top ten teams are undefeated. However, the rankings have stayed relatively the same since the last update.
Here’s how South Carolina’s best football teams fare with each other before another round of football games occurs over the weekend.
The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory. According to the model, two teams from South Carolina rank inside the nationwide top 100.
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1. Northwestern
Previous: No. 1
After allowing 71 points in their first two games, the Trojans’ defense has stepped up to limit opponents to 21 points in their last two matches. That total includes the 14 points given to South Pointe in their Sept. 13 clash. Meanwhile, Finley Polk had two touchdown passes in that game, while Zymier Gordon-Miles had 91 rushing yards and a touchdown. Northwestern will take on Nation Ford on Sept. 20 for a shot at a 5-0 record.
2. Dutch Fork
Previous: No. 2
The Foxes feature the top-ranked defense in South Carolina high school football after giving up seven points in three games. They’ve registered back-to-back shutouts against Ridge View and Gray Collegiate to maintain their undefeated run. Ethan Offing had two touchdown passes, Maurice Anderson had 149 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Boykin Bickley had 113 receiving yards and a touchdown. Dutch Fork will put their unblemished record on the line against Oceanside Collegiate Academy on the 20th.
3. Irmo
Previous: No. 3
After escaping the challenge posed by Butler, the Yellowjackets cruised to victory against Carolina Forest 55-7. Aaron Brand Jr. threw for 377 yards and four touchdowns while adding 77 rushing yards and two more scores. Maleek Miller and Donovan Murph combined for 321 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Amire White finished with 109 rushing yards and a touchdown. Irmo will take on Myrtle Beach on the 20th in a game wherein Massey Ratings gives them a 96 percent win probability.
4. Gaffney
Previous: No. 4
The Indians are coming off a shutout victory over Freedom. Conversely, Gaffney tallied 31 points in that game, thanks mainly to Jayvon Gilmore’s three touchdown passes, Chas Smith’s 106 rushing yards, and Jamarcus Smith’s 119 receiving yards. Meanwhile, the Gaffney defense collaborated for 11 tackles for losses and four sacks. However, the competition gets more challenging for the Indians as they face 14th-ranked Boiling Springs in two days and seventh-ranked Spartanburg next week.
5. Westside
Previous: No. 5
The Rams have strengthened their case for being one of the best South Carolina high school football teams by scoring at least 50 points against ranked opponents: tenth-ranked T.L. Hanna and 22nd-ranked Belton-Honea Path. Cutter Woods torched the Bears’ defense with four touchdown passes, which were caught by De’masya Dawson (two), Armoni Weaver, and Dreson Evans. Westside will play Prince Avenue Christian on the 20th before their showdown with Weddington, North Carolina’s top-ranked team, the following week.
6. Hillcrest
Previous: No. 6
The Rams improved to 3-0 with a 28-21 win over Greer. Kalab Sutton had 324 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Yellow Jackets, while Weston Willis finished with 192 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Antrez Nance had two sacks, and the Hillcrest defense tallied seven tackles for losses. The Rams will face Mauldin (Sept. 20) and Greenwood (Sept. 27) to close the month.
7. Spartanburg
Previous: No. 7
The Vikings bounced back from their loss to Dutch Fork by dominating Broome 47-6. Trey Burke threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns, while Trenton Lynch added 149 rushing yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Spartanburg’s defense swarmed the Centurions, tallying five sacks and 14 tackles for negative yardage. The Vikings can improve to 3-1 by defeating the 3-0 Eastside on the 20th.
8. Summerville
Previous: No. 8
The Green Wave maintained a perfect 3-0 record after surviving the fierce resistance put up by Berkeley. It’s the first time Summerville had a close game in the 2024 South Carolina high school football season because they won their first two assignments (Stratford and South Florence) by an average of 19.5 points. To close the month, Summerville will compete against Chapin (Sept. 20) and Goose Creek (Sept. 27).
9. Sumter
Previous: No. 9
While it was the first time the Gamecocks did not reach 40 points in a game, their 35 points against Crestwood were still enough for their fourth straight victory. John Peeples led the way with 178 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Christopher Bentley finished with 137 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Spring Valley will be the next team on Sumter’s schedule, and Massey Ratings gives the Gamecocks a 98 percent win probability.
10. T.L. Hanna
Previous: No. 10
The Yellow Jackets have won two of their last three games, including their latest victory over Wren. T.L. Hanna escaped with the win after recovering a fourth-quarter fumble by the Hurricanes. To wrap up their September 2024 schedule, T.L. Hanna will face Greenwood on the 20th and Mauldin on the 27th.
Teams 11-25 in the latest South Carolina High School Football Rankings
11. JL Mann
12. Clover
13. White Knoll
14. Boiling Springs
15. South Florence
16. Dorman
17. DW Daniel
18. South Pointe
19. Camden
20. Chapin
21. River Bluff
22. Belton-Honea Path
23. Byrnes
24. Fort Dorchester
25. Wren