Photo by Cameron Jacobi (MRHS Student Photojournalist)
We’re into the final month of the high school football regular season, so it’s time to start keeping tabs on the region standings as teams push for playoff spots and aim to improve their seeds and set up deep postseason runs.
Here’s a region-by-region glance at the Lowco high school football scene through Week 6.
SCHSL 6-4A: Hilton Head has done most of the heavy lifting toward locking down a region title, but the Seahawks’ path to the crown still goes through May River on Oct. 17, and the three-way race for second place that ensues will be a wild ride. The top four teams in the region are all capable of doing damage in the postseason.
| SCHSL 6-4A | REG | OVL |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head | 2-0 | 6-1 |
| May River | 1-0 | 5-1 |
| Bluffton | 1-1 | 5-2 |
| Bishop England | 0-1 | 5-1 |
| Beaufort | 0-1 | 2-4 |
| Colleton Co. | 0-1 | 1-5 |
Sept. 26
Hilton Head 38, Bluffton 28
Oct. 3
Bluffton 48, Beaufort 7
Hilton Head 41, Bishop England 10
May River 35, Colleton Co. 12
Oct. 10
Bishop England at May River
Colleton Co. at Beaufort
SCHSL 6-3A: Don’t be fooled by the overall records — Oceanside is the team to beat not only in the region, but in the Lower State. Battery Creek missed its chance for a region win at North Charleston, and the pickings are slim the rest of the way for the Dolphins, but all five teams qualify for the playoffs this year in a quirk in the bracket.
| SCHSL 6-3A | REG | OVL |
|---|---|---|
| North Charleston | 1-0 | 5-1 |
| Oceanside Collegiate | 1-0 | 5-2 |
| Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 0-0 | 6-0 |
| Hanahan | 0-1 | 3-4 |
| Battery Creek | 0-1 | 2-5 |
Oct. 3
North Charleston 16, Battery Creek 13
Oceanside Collegiate 49, Hanahan 8
Orangeburg-Wilkinson 21, Fox Creek 13
Oct. 10
Oceanside Collegiate at North Charleston
Orangeburg-Wilkinson at Hanahan
SCHSL 5-2A: The three-game losing streak against quality 4A and 3A opponents was perfect playoff prep for Hampton County, which shouldn’t face much of a test in region play and has its gaze set well into November. The Hurricanes know better than to sleep on upstart Lake Marion, though, which should provide Hampton’s toughest competition in October.
| SCHSL 5-2A | REG | OVL |
|---|---|---|
| Hampton Co. | 1-0 | 4-3 |
| Lake Marion | 1-0 | 3-4 |
| Whale Branch | 0-0 | 2-4 |
| Edisto | 0-1 | 4-3 |
| Barnwell | 0-1 | 2-5 |
Oct. 3
Lake Marion 19, Barnwell 14
Hampton Co. 43, Edisto 0
Oct. 10
Whale Branch at Edisto
Hampton Co. at Lake Marion
SCHSL 4-1A: Bamberg-Ehrhardt is the team to beat in the region and perhaps the entire state, but Ridgeland’s stout defense and resurgent ground game have the Jags’ set up for a second straight runner-up finish and a favorable playoff draw. Hardeeville has weathered the grueling part of its schedule and has three winnable games left with a chance to snag a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
| SCHSL 4-1A | REG | OVL |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgeland | 2-0 | 3-4 |
| Bamberg-Ehrhardt | 1-0 | 7-0 |
| Allendale-Fairfax | 0-0 | 0-6 |
| Denmark-Olar | 0-1 | 1-6 |
| Hardeeville | 0-2 | 1-6 |
Sept. 26
Ridgeland 16, Hardeeville 0
Oct. 3
Ridgeland 52, Denmark-Olar 12
Bamberg-Ehrhardt 64, Hardeeville 6
Oct. 10
Allendale-Fairfax at Ridgeland
Denmark-Olar at Hardeeville
SCISA 1-3A: Pinewood Prep stands head and shoulders above the region this year, and First Baptist is planted firmly in the cellar. The battle for the juicy center between John Paul II and HHCA on Oct. 24 at Hardeeville’s City Hall could be the most competitive matchup of the rivals in years.
| SCISA 1-3A | REG | OVL |
|---|---|---|
| Pinewood Prep | 1-0 | 5-2 |
| John Paul II | 1-0 | 3-3 |
| HHCA | 0-1 | 2-5 |
| First Baptist | 0-1 | 1-6 |
Sept. 26
Pinewood Prep 69, HHCA 28
Oct. 3
John Paul II 42, First Baptist 10
Bulloch Academy 55, HHCA 28
Wilson Hall 28, Pinewood Prep 21
Oct. 10
John Paul II at Hilton Head Prep
First Baptist at HHCA
SCISA 1-2A: Bethesda is a bonafide juggernaut that has steamrolled its first five opponents, putting up 47 points or more in each game. Folks who follow SCISA closely say the Blazers are untouchable in 2A. Hilton Head Prep has two winnable region games left and a chance to salvage its season with a strong finish.
| SCISA 1-2A | REG | OVL |
|---|---|---|
| Bethesda Academy | 1-0 | 5-0 |
| Pee Dee Academy | 1-0 | 3-2 |
| Dillon Christian | 1-0 | 2-4 |
| St. John’s Christian | 0-1 | 0-5 |
| Hilton Head Prep | 0-2 | 1-5 |
Oct. 3
Pee Dee 44, Hilton Head Prep 0
Bethesda Academy 50, Beaufort Academy 0
Dillon Christian 39, St. John’s Christian 13
Oct. 10
John Paul II at Hilton Head Prep
Bethesda Academy at Dillon Christian
St. John’s Christian at Pee Dee
SCISA 2-1A: Colleton Prep has a leg up over Beaufort Academy by virtue of its 14-0 lead when play resumes just before halftime on Oct. 17, finishing what was started Sept. 26 in Walterboro. Most everything else has been decided, though a resurgent Thomas Heyward team still gets its crack at BA, and a three-way tie for first isn’t entirely off the table.
| SCISA 2-1A | REG | OVL |
|---|---|---|
| Colleton Prep | 2-0 | 5-1 |
| Beaufort Academy | 1-0 | 5-2 |
| Thomas Heyward | 1-1 | 1-3 |
| Andrew Jackson Acad. | 0-1 | 1-5 |
| Patrick Henry | 0-2 | 1-5 |
Sept. 26
Colleton Prep 14, Beaufort Academy 0 (susp. 2Q)
Oct. 3
Bethesda Academy 50, Beaufort Academy 0
Thomas Heyward 47, Patrick Henry 14
Oct. 10
Andrew Jackson Academy at Thomas Heyward
Patrick Henry at Colleton Prep
SCISA 8-man: It looks like it’s Holly Hill and everybody else this year, though Jefferson Davis will get another shot at the Raiders in the regular season and perhaps a third in the playoffs. Cross Schools has shown major progress throughout the season and will have two viable shots at picking up a win down the stretch.
| SCISA 8-man | REG | OVL |
|---|---|---|
| Holly Hill Academy | 7-0 | 7-0 |
| Jefferson Davis Acad. | 4-1 | 4-2 |
| The King’s Academy | 4-2 | 4-2 |
| Cathedral Academy | 2-4 | 3-4 |
| Palmetto Christian | 1-5 | 1-5 |
| Cross Schools | 0-6 | 0-6 |
Oct. 3
The King’s Academy 40, Cross Schools 28
Holly Hill 56, Palmetto Christian 24
Jefferson Davis 58, Cathedral 22
Oct. 10
Cross Schools at Cathedral
Jefferson Davis at Palmetto Christian
Holly Hill at The King’s Academy