(Story courtesy Edgefield County School District public information)
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — The mission is complete. The Standard that is Strom Thurmond High School Rebels football has been met, and moved just a little bit higher.
The Strom Thurmond High School (STHS) Rebels (13-2) are the 2025 Class 2-A State Champions following a dominating 26-7 victory over the Hampton County High School Hurricanes (11-4).
Once again, the team’s seniors led the way, this time all the way to the school’s first football state championship since 2005.
“This group of seniors is so special,” said STHS Head Coach Andrew Webb. “We met back in the spring and set a goal to go undefeated at home, to win the conference, win the Upper State championship, and we set a goal to finish number one and we did it. I cannot give this group of seniors enough credit. I love ’em. They love each other and they love playing Rebels football.”
Offensively, running back Deonte “Diesel” Phillips motored through the Hurricanes’ defense on the ground for 149 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Bri’Shaun Lee completed 5 of his 7 passes through the air good for 126 yards and another two scores. Wideout Kaleb Simpkins caught three balls for 107 yards and a touchdown, with Shaheed “Sha” Williams hauling in the other touchdown pass on a diving catch in the end zone.
Webb credited the team’s offensive line for taking over the football game and controlling the line of scrimmage.
“That was the key to us winning,” said Webb. “The boys up front have been so good to us and have gotten better and better. Coach (Riley) Addis has done such a great job with those guys and they were outstanding again tonight.”
Defensively, Sha Williams was all over Willie Jeffries Field at SCSU’s Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium, with 14 total tackles, two forced fumbles, an interception and a huge hit on a crucial fourth down play that stuffed any thoughts Hampton County may have had of climbing back into the football game.
“That’s a really good football team with the number one offense in (Class) 2-A that came in averaging 46 points a game and the Blue Steel defense held them to seven,” stated Coach Webb. “What an outstanding job by our defensive coaches and players. They played to the standard of the people who came before them and I’m really proud of them.”
Jalin Collins added two more interceptions when the Hurricanes went to the air in the second half. Bryston Coleman and Kaden Wigfall each had 9 tackles and Grady Stone had 6 stops. Grayson Smith and Wytravious Dugar had 5 tackles apiece.
The lone score for Hampton County came just before halftime after a long kickoff return deep into Thurmond territory when quarterback Tarell Grant found receiver Desmond Mathis for a 16-yard score on the only completed pass of the game for the Hurricanes.
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