South Florence High School Wins 4A State Championship

News Summary

The South Florence Bruins high school football team has triumphed in the 4A State Championship against Westside with a nail-biting score of 42-41. This victory marks their second title in three seasons, showcasing resilience after a rocky start. Key players contributed significantly, and the game delivered heart-stopping moments until the very end, solidifying the Bruins’ legacy in high school football.

South Florence Celebrates a Thrilling Championship Win!

In the lively city of South Florence, fans are bursting with excitement as the local high school football team has just captured the 4A State Championship in an electrifying game against Westside, ending with a nail-biting score of 42-41. This victory marks the Bruins’ second title in three seasons, and fans couldn’t be prouder! What makes this win even sweeter? It’s the Bruins’ third straight appearance in the state championship game!

From Uncertainty to Glory

The season was a rollercoaster ride for the Bruins. Their head coach noted that this season had been the most unexpected of all their championship runs, especially considering how rocky things started out. Just last season, South Florence marched into the title game with a flawless 14-0 record but faced heartbreak with a narrow 34-32 loss to the same Westside team. However, the 2023 journey has been about resilience and recovery, as the Bruins finished this season with a commendable 12-3 record.

Game Highlights That Kept Us on the Edge

The championship clash took place under the lights at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg, kicking off at 7:36 p.m. The atmosphere was electric, and fans could feel the tension in the air. South Florence showcased significant improvement throughout the season, especially comforting considering they lost a whopping 29 seniors from last year’s squad. Talk about a fresh team stepping up!

Leading the charge for South Florence was a robust running game featuring two senior running backs: Zion Gilbert, who notched an impressive 952 rushing yards, and Tre Leonard, who dominated with 1,287 rushing yards this season. On the other side, junior quarterback Messiah Jackson was on fire, completing 124 of his 211 passes for 1,933 yards, tossing 27 touchdowns while keeping his interceptions down to eight. The wide receivers also had standout contributions, with Jayden Sellers making 52 receptions for 888 yards and Lennix Valarie accounting for 40 catches totaling 785 yards.

Not to be outdone, the Bruins’ defense was led by the remarkable Amare Adams, a five-star recruit already committed to Clemson. He was a force on the field, racking up 73 tackles including an astonishing 13 tackles for loss, proving to be a pivotal player for South Florence.

Heart-Stopping Moments in the Final Minutes

As the game approached its conclusion, the tension reached a boiling point. With only 26 seconds left on the clock, South Florence achieved a significant moment by recovering an onside kick. However, the team was unable to capitalize on the opportunity to extend their lead. Westside wasn’t going down without a fight. Their quarterback, Cutter Woods, had a stunning performance of his own, throwing for 384 yards and six touchdowns, showcasing his skills despite the heartbreaking loss.

The final moments of the game delivered drama when Westside made a desperate attempt for a two-point conversion to seize the lead but failed with an intercepted pass.

Lessons Learned and Success Achieved

Reflecting on the season, South Florence faced challenging matchups early on, including tough games against 5A opponents like Summerville and Northwestern. Despite losing those games, they were invaluable lessons learned, helping the team find their rhythm. Following a loss to Hartsville, the Bruins ignited their season with six consecutive wins, fueling their determination leading up to the championship victory.

Celebrating five years with the program, the coaching staff admired the hard work and dedication of this year’s squad. It is notable that this team, feeling like the *least talented* on paper, overcame all odds to lift the championship trophy, proving that resilience and determination are what truly matter in sports.

So here’s to the South Florence Bruins – a team that showed us that when you face challenges head-on, fantastic things can happen!