And just like that, we are down to four.
Last week, Horry County went just 2-5 in first-round high school football playoff action, struggling on the road and putting the number of teams still alive in the second round of the SCHSL playoffs from 10 down to just four.
Loris and Atlantic Collegiate — the two Horry County teams that hosted first-round playoff games last Friday — were the ones who got the job done in front of their home crowds.
Class 3A Loris completely dismantled Battery Creek 59-19, with the Lions pulling some of their starters in the second quarter. Class 2A Atlantic Collegiate blanked Woodland 14-0 for the team’s first postseason victory in the program’s three-year history.
Things didn’t go as well for local teams that hit the road.
Aynor lost to Newberry 54-14, Conway lost to West Florence 42-7, North Myrtle Beach lost to Lucy Beckham 38-21, Socastee lost to Lugoff-Elgin 42-6 and St. James lost to Westwood 41-14.
Those local teams were outscored by a combined 217-62, ending all five of their seasons.
All 10 county teams made the playoffs, but injury-depleted Green Sea Floyds opted out.
This week, Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach will rejoin the mix after receiving first-round byes in the playoffs. Due to the makeup of brackets in Class 5A, the Panthers and Seahawks earned a break until week two of the postseason.
As a reminder, Class 5A is split into two classifications — Division I features the schools with the largest enrollment (26 schools), while Division II features the remaining 28 programs in Class 5A.
Carolina Forest is competing in the Class 5A Division I championship bracket, while Myrtle Beach competes in Class 5A Division II.
Atlantic Collegiate will hit the road on Friday, while Carolina Forest, Loris and Myrtle Beach will remain at home for a healthy slate of local matchups across Horry County this weekend. Below, read everything you need to know to get ready for the action.
Horry County High School Football Postseason
Week 2 Schedule
Friday, Nov. 14
Atlantic Collegiate Academy (5-6) at Philip Simmons (9-2)
ACA in Round 1: Win over Woodland 14-0Philip Simmons in Round 1: Win over Whale Branch 57-12
In athletics, we love the improbable. And when it comes to the run that Atlantic Collegiate is making, the Armada have done nothing short of pulling off the improbable. Head Coach Antoine Rivens’ team has found something, and whatever it is, there’s been no shortage of head-turning from across the area and state because of it.
The Armada, after starting the year 0-5 and finishing last year with a 1-8 record, have now won five of their past six games and are rolling into the second round of the playoffs.
ACA isn’t doing anything flashy, but they have employed an old-school style of football that is very simply working. The defense has allowed more than 20 points just once in the last six outings; and completing a four-quarter shutout against any team in the playoffs — as they did against Woodland — deserves extended recognition.
Rivens and Co. have found their groove. This week presents a tough Philip Simmons group, but it’s hard to believe the Armada have any lack of confidence at this point in the season. With a little bit of a “nothing to lose” mentality, ACA will go in, led by running back Semaj Wilson, hoping to keep the special run alive.
Carolina Forest (9-1) vs. Fort Dorchester (5-6)
Carolina Forest in Round 1: BYEFort Dorchester in Round 1: Win over Lexington 24-21
After a earning a bye in the first round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs, the Panthers will host Fort Dorchester on Friday.
The story all season for Carolina Forest has been the standout duo of QB Kamren Long and RB Jaryn Fox, and that shouldn’t change here in the team’s first playoff matchup. Veteran Head Coach Marc Morris has been around the playoffs a time or two, and there’s no reason to believe that the Panthers will employ any type of game plan different than the one that has gotten them this far.
On the season, Long’s numbers have been impressive: 89-for-142 for 1,604 yards and 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He’s loved his favorite target Nick Zincone, who has hauled in 40 passes for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Combine that high-powered passing attack with Fox, who finished the regular season with more than 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground, and Carolina Forest will have the attack needed to surge into the third round of the playoffs.
Fort Dorchester employs a balanced offensive attack with the ability to make gains through the air and on the ground with a spread-the-wealth type of scheme. The Knights play in a difficult region — matching up against teams like James Island (10-1), Summerville (9-2) and Ashley Ridge (6-4).
Loris (11-0) vs. Orangeburg Wilkinson (10-1)
Loris in Round 1: Win over Battery Creek 59-19Orangeburg-Wilkinson in Round 1: Win over Keenan 25-12
The Lions continue to leave no doubt that they are legitimate contenders in Class 3A this season, and that certainly showed in last Friday’s first-round matchup against Battery Creek.
At times, it looked like the two schools were playing at completely different levels of competition. Loris quarterback Moon Gerald didn’t even need to play through halftime, as he and the majority of the team’s starters got an extended break with the game out of hand early on.
Much like their neighbors over at Carolina Forest, it’s hard to imagine Loris and its coaching staff will try to do much different than what has gotten them here in this second-round matchup. Gerald has dazzled, throwing for 39 touchdowns and just one interception this season. He has also added five more scores on the ground. He’s loved the duo of Khalil and Khalid Sherman — the twins both have hauled in nine touchdown passes each this season. Expect for them to get plenty of work at home on Friday.
So far in 2025, the Loris defense has surrendered just 180 total yards per game.
Orangeburg-Wilkinson comes in with a high-powered offense, showing few flaws and boasting a strong passing attack. Sophomore quarterback Brenden Peoples has shined this season. Granted, he likely hasn’t seen many defenses quite like Loris’ over the course of his football-playing career.
Myrtle Beach (7-3) vs. West Florence (6-5)
Myrtle Beach in Round 1: BYEWest Florence in Round 1: Win over Conway 42-7
The Seahawks are back in action this Friday night after earning a bye in the opening round of the Class 5A Division II postseason. Myrtle Beach went on the road to West Florence earlier this season and picked up a back-and-forth 42-38 victory.
Realistically, this game might look nothing like the high-scoring affair we saw back in August. The Myrtle Beach defense has had its struggles, but it has improved over the last month of the season.
West Florence can say the same. The Knights have allowed less than 10 points in four of their past five games dating back to Oct. 10. This game may not exactly be a defensive struggle, but it’s hard to see a combined 80 points being scored again.
For Myrtle Beach, the time is now for the trio of quarterback Tanner Gaddy, running back Michael Cohen and power back Antonio Brown.
Myrtle Beach has the ability to be balanced — both high-flying and ground-and-pound. Since the start of the season, much of Head Coach Mickey Wilson’s focus has been on getting his inexperienced offensive line in a position to provide opportunities for the team’s playmakers to shine. Now in win-or-go-home season, the Seahawks hope everything can finally fire at once to advance into the third round.
November 12, 2025 | Horry Independent, The (Conway, SC)
Author/Byline: Joe Wedra | Section: Sports