Back on Top! Thomas Heyward football captures another SCISA Class A championship

For the first time since 2021, Thomas Heyward football are state champions.

Tony O’Banner ran for two touchdowns as the Rebels defeated Williamsburg Academy, 23-8 to win the SCISA Class A championship on Saturday at Charleston Southern.

It is THA’s 12th state championship and first since winning four in a row from 2018-2021.

Williamsburg Academy took an 8-0 lead in the second quarter on Micah Balder’s pass to Jay Kellahan and a successful two-point conversion by the Stallions.

THA got on the board as O’Banner scored on a 52-yard run to cut the lead to 8-7 with 5:25 left in the second.

The Rebels got a big momentum boost before halftime as Joshua Gibson picked off a pass to end the Stallions’ drive. Gibson picked off two passes in the game.

Then, O’Banner took it 57 yards to put THA up 14-8 with 10 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Rebels made it 20-8 in the third quarter on Kiran Boggess’ TD pass to Gibson.

Donovan Robinson made it 23-8 on a 15-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

SCHSL Playoffs

South Florence 56, Hilton Head Island 28

South Carolina commit Jayden Sellers scored five touchdowns as the Bruins defeated the Seahawks in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.

The loss ends Hilton Head’s season at 9-3.

Sellers rushed for 227 yards, four TDs and also caught three passes for 105 yards and a TD.

Bruins quarterback Messiah Jackson threw for 112 yards and two TDs.

Derrick Raniszewski threw for a pair of scores and Troy Timko ran for one in the loss.

North Augusta 36, May River 6

Michael Doe ran for three touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets eliminated the Sharks in the second round of the 4A playoffs.

Andrew DeGennaro hit two field goals and Jayden Hatcher had a TD run for NA, which advanced to the third round for the first time since 2018.

Asa Hakins had May River’s lone TD.