South Carolina’s Week 3 football slate brought no shortage of fireworks, and several of the High School On SI South Carolina Top 25 teams made their presence felt in a big way.
South Pointe kept rolling and now owns the state’s longest active winning streak at 16 games. The Stallions have outscored their first two opponents 105-7, and that unbeaten start has been built on the kind of dominant balance that leaves little room for drama.
Dutch Fork also made a statement, turning defense into the headline against Spartanburg. The Silver Foxes forced seven turnovers, including five fumbles, and held Spartanburg to minus-76 yards. That kind of pressure can break a game open fast, and this one never really found its footing for the other side.
Northwestern had one of the most eye-catching offensive bursts of the week, piling up 61 first-half points in a 68-12 win over Stratford. Cameron Miller added an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown, and the Trojans also got two safeties from the defense in the runaway victory.
There was a tense finish for one of the state’s longtime programs as the Green Wave rallied from a 14-0 hole but came up short when a potential game-winning field goal missed in the final seconds.
Several individual performances stood out across the state as well. Berkeley quarterback Henry Rivers completed exactly 16 passes for the third straight game, while South Florence running back Cameron Jones churned out 267 rushing yards. North Augusta linebacker Dez Davis delivered one of the week’s biggest defensive highlights with a 94-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Camden and Hartsville met for the 97th time, dating back to 1922, in what remains the longest active rivalry in South Carolina high school football. Camden also produced one of the night’s most explosive plays when Grayson Rimph found Isaiah Smith for a 98-yard touchdown, the second-longest touchdown reception in school history.
Other top teams handled business with different paths to the same result. Kendaris Bailey put together another 100-yard rushing game, and the Indians’ defense added three sacks and forced four turnovers. The Bearcats played without injured starting quarterback Jonah Young but still jumped out to a 33-0 lead against the previously undefeated Seahawks, with Jalen Culp throwing two touchdown passes in Young’s place.
Irmo stayed unbeaten behind Alabama commit Tai Phillips, who returned and rushed for three touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets also earned a comeback win behind Esaias Carroll, who ran for three scores, including the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
James Island got a big day from Brady Dantzler, who threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns, while the defense forced four turnovers. The Trojans’ win was one of several that featured a defense setting the tone and an offense finishing the job.
Niko Henderson threw for 201 yards as the Warriors scored 28 unanswered points to hand Butler its first loss of the season. No.
14 Oceanside Collegiate also came through in one of the week’s ranked matchups, edging No. 12 Ridge View 24-17 behind two touchdown passes from Aiden Maravian and a late stand against the Blazers’ rally.
Bear Woods led the Rams with three first-half touchdown passes, and the Lions used a strong second half to pull away from the Patriots, outscoring them 35-13 after halftime. Henry Rivers added three touchdown passes for the Stags in a win over the Sharks, handing them their first loss of the season.
The Gamecocks got a lift from Damarion Holmes, whose 35-yard interception return for a touchdown helped spark a shutout. And the Yellow Jackets closed the week by forcing six turnovers and getting four touchdown passes from Colin Tillman in their second straight victory.
From turnover-heavy defensive showings to explosive passing nights and a few rivalry notes mixed in, Week 3 gave South Carolina plenty to talk about.
In Other News...
South Carolina Fans Will Notice A Different Williams-Brice Atmosphere Saturday
Williams-Brice Stadium will look and feel a little different Saturday when South Carolina hosts Towson for its annual Salute the Troops game. The Gamecocks are leaning into a full day of pageantry, with military honors, auctions, merchandise sales and other fan-focused activities part of the game-day mix, while also working to smooth out some of the experience issues that showed up last time fans filled the building.
Around the game itself, the school has lined up extra events meant to stretch the atmosphere well beyond kickoff, including stadium tours and pep rallies. For South Carolina, it is a chance to make the setting feel more polished and more festive at once, with the tributes to service members at the center and the fan experience under a closer spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Beamer Just Sent A Clear Message About South Carolina Leadership
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The timing was no accident. Beamer said the move was designed to address leadership concerns from last season, and the decision also gives the Gamecocks a chance to let those voices set the tone before the first snap matters. The captaincy votes will be revisited after the season, but for now South Carolina has made its priorities plain: establish accountability early, lean on player buy-in and see whether this group can steady the team from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Gamecocks Still Have One O-Line Decision Looming As Peak Nears Return
Jacarrius Peaks arrival was supposed to give South Carolina another experienced option up front, but the N.C. State transfer has spent the opening stretch working back from a knee injury suffered soon after he joined the program. He did not play in the season opener, leaving the Gamecocks to lean on freshman Darius Gray and transfer Dayne Arnett at tackle while the staff managed the line without one of its anticipated additions.
Shane Beamer said Peaks return is expected soon, and once he is healthy, the coaches will sort out where he fits. That creates one more live decision for an offensive line that has already had to adjust on the fly, with the Gamecocks now waiting to see whether Peak slides into a starting job or gives them needed depth as they head deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]