If you were standing on the sidelines in Orangeburg this past December, you felt it. That specific, bone-chilling Lowcountry dampness that usually signals the end of something big. For the thousands of fans who packed into South Carolina State University’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, that "something big" was the conclusion of a 2025 season that honestly felt like a fever dream at times.
Looking for south carolina high school football scores usually means scrolling through a glitchy app or waiting for a Friday night tweet. But the real story isn't just the numbers. It’s about how Dutch Fork keeps a stranglehold on the state, how Oceanside Collegiate became a giant-slayer, and why the landscape of SC high school ball is about to look completely different in 2026.
We just watched the final whistles of an era. With the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) about to reshuffle the deck with massive realignment, those December scores carry more weight than usual.
The December Scoreboard: Championship Weekend Breakdown
The 2025 state finals weren't exactly "close" across the board. Some were absolute clinics. If you missed the live updates, here is the raw data of how the trophies were handed out on December 5th and 6th, 2025.
Dutch Fork 40, Summerville 20
Let's be real: Tom Knotts is a cheat code. The Silver Foxes claimed their fourth consecutive title in Class 5A Division I. Summerville kept it tight early, trailing only 14-7 at the half, but the second half was a different beast. Jaxon Knotts accounted for four touchdowns, and the defense turned the Green Wave into a puddle.
Northwestern 55, Irmo 10
This was a massacre. Plain and simple. In the 5A Division II title game, Xavier Means put on a show for the Trojans, racking up six touchdowns (four on the ground!). It’s rare to see a team as talented as Irmo get dismantled like that, but Northwestern looked like they were playing a different sport that night.
South Pointe 35, South Florence 14
In Class 4A, the Stallions finished a 14-1 season by suffocating a very good South Florence team. It was the "J’Zavien Currence Show," as the Gamecock-bound quarterback proved why he’s one of the best in the country.
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Oceanside Collegiate 28, Belton-Honea Path 7
The Landsharks did it again. Facing a previously undefeated BHP squad in the 3A final, Oceanside’s defense was like a brick wall. This marked their third straight title. Love them or hate them, the charter school from Mt. Pleasant knows how to win in December.
Strom Thurmond 31, Hampton County 8
The Rebels took the 2A crown in a game that was mostly a defensive struggle until the fourth quarter. It was a gritty, classic SC high school football game that felt like it belonged in the 1980s—in the best way possible.
Lamar 44, Bamberg-Ehrhardt 22
The Silver Foxes (the other ones) dominated the 1A championship. Lamar’s speed was just too much for the Red Raiders to handle on the big stage.
Why These Scores Matter More Than You Think
You might think these are just numbers for the record books. You'd be wrong.
Actually, the 2025 scores are the final data points before the SCHSL 2026-2028 realignment kicks in. This is a huge deal. The league is shrinking Class 5A from 54 schools down to 40. They're also killing off the "Division I and Division II" split for the big schools. Next year, those 40 schools will play for one single trophy.
Can you imagine? No more "splitting the glory." It’s going to be a bloodbath.
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The Rise of the Multiplier
A huge reason some of these scores look the way they do (looking at you, Oceanside and Gray Collegiate) is the "out-of-zone multiplier." The SCHSL uses a 3.0 multiplier for students living outside a school's designated zone. This was designed to level the playing field between traditional public schools and charters/private schools.
Did it work? Well, Oceanside Collegiate still won 3A. Gray Collegiate was a force in 4A. It seems the "powerhouses" are finding ways to adapt faster than the rules can change.
SCISA: The Private School Power Shift
While the public schools were duking it out in Orangeburg, the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) was crowning its own kings in late November.
The biggest shocker? Hammond School's eight-year title run is over. They lost to Heathwood Hall 16-13 in the semifinals. Heathwood went on to face Northwood Academy in the Class 4A final, where Northwood took home the hardware with a 34-20 victory.
Over in Class 2A, Bethesda Academy put a beating on Pee Dee Academy (54-15) to claim their second title in three years. It’s a reminder that the talent in this state isn't just concentrated in the big public 5A programs. There are kids in the 8-man league—like the ones at W.W. King, who beat Laurens Academy 50-36 for the championship—who can absolutely fly.
South Carolina High School Football Scores: The "Hidden" Stats
Scores tell you who won. They don't tell you how.
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Take a look at the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas that happened just a few weeks ago on December 21st. South Carolina beat North Carolina 17-7. If you look at the box score, you’ll see Maliq McGowan from Stratford leading the rush with 42 yards.
But the real story was the defense. Caden Ramsey (Cross) and Gehad Sneed (Berkeley) made life miserable for the NC quarterbacks. When you see a low score like 17-7 in an All-Star game, it tells you that the defensive coaching in South Carolina right now is arguably the best in the Southeast.
What to Watch for in 2026
The off-season isn't really an off-season anymore. Coaches are already grinding. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here’s what you need to keep an eye on before the 2026 kickoff:
- Realignment Appeals: The SCHSL Executive Committee is meeting right now (January 13-14, 2026) to hear appeals. Some schools are fighting their new classifications. By January 23, we should have the official region assignments.
- The Quarterback Carousel: With stars like Currence and Means moving on to the SEC and ACC, who takes the mantle? Watch for Jordan Turner at Bethesda Academy to potentially make a jump to a bigger program, or the next crop of freshmen at Dutch Fork.
- The New 5A Reality: With only 40 teams in 5A, every single region game becomes a playoff atmosphere. There are no "easy" Fridays anymore.
How to Get Real-Time Scores
Look, I get it. You want the numbers as they happen. If you’re hunting for south carolina high school football scores during the season, you’ve basically got three reliable options:
- The SCHSL Official Scoreboard: It’s not the prettiest website, but it’s the source of truth for sanctioned games.
- MaxPreps SC: Good for stats and rankings, though sometimes their "live" updates lag by a series or two.
- High School Sports Report (HSSR): These guys are the OGs. If you want to know which kid in Class 1A just broke a 70-yard run, they usually have someone on the ground.
Honestly, the best way is still following local beat reporters on X (formerly Twitter). Guys who are actually standing in the rain in Rock Hill or Sumter will always beat an algorithm.
The 2025 season gave us some of the most lopsided championship scores in recent memory, but it also showed that the depth of talent in the Palmetto State is deeper than it’s ever been. Whether it's 8-man ball or the 5A titans, football in South Carolina remains a religion.
The jerseys will change and the regions will be redrawn, but the obsession stays the same.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Recruiters:
- Bookmark the SCHSL Realignment Map: The 2026-2028 cycle changes travel times and rivalry dynamics drastically.
- Watch the 3.0 Multiplier Impact: Monitor how schools like Bishop England and Gray Collegiate perform in their new, potentially higher classifications.
- Follow the Shrine Bowl Rosters: The players who dominated the 17-7 win over NC are the ones you'll be seeing on Saturdays at Williams-Brice and Death Valley very soon.