The Strom Thurmond Rebels will host Fairfield Central on Friday night in the Class AA Final Four, continuing a dominant postseason run fueled by a heavy ground attack and a physical, disciplined defense.
Strom Thurmond enters the semifinal at 11-2 after blowout playoff wins over Chesterfield, Liberty, and Chester High School. The Rebels outscored their first three postseason opponents by a combined 128-29, putting together one of the most complete stretches of their season.
Stars on both sides
Senior running back and linebacker Deonte Phillips has been the engine of the Rebels’ success on both sides of the ball. Phillips has rushed for 970 yards and 22 touchdowns this year while also recording 32 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. His two-way presence remains a major key heading into the program’s biggest game of the season.
Receivers Shaheed Williams and Kaleb Simpkins have been reliable playmakers in the passing game and steady contributors on defense. The duo has combined for more than 1,400 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, while each has collected two interceptions. Their ability to impact the game in multiple ways gives the Rebels matchup advantages across the field.
Senior quarterback Bri’shaun Lee has delivered efficient production through the air, throwing for 19 touchdowns with a 111.9 quarterback rating and completing 60 percent of his passes. His poise and consistency have helped Strom Thurmond maintain balance offensively.
On defense, the Rebels continue to set the tone up front. Senior defensive end Grayson Smith leads the team with five sacks, and middle linebacker Bryston Coleman anchors the unit with nearly seven tackles per game. Their ability to pressure opposing offenses has been a major reason Strom Thurmond has controlled games from start to finish.
Semifinal showdown with Fairfield Central
Now the Rebels shift their focus to Fairfield Central, which enters the semifinal at 10-3 and riding its own wave of playoff momentum.
With home-field advantage and one win separating them from a trip to the Class AA state championship on Dec. 6, Strom Thurmond is looking to extend its postseason run and secure a shot at the program’s first state title since 2005.
