Two dominant backs in Caleb Feaster and Deonte Phillips are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Chester Cyclones will head out on the road to take on the Strom Thurmond Rebels at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Chester is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They strolled past Batesburg-Leesville with points to spare, taking the game 42-28. The win continues a trend for the Cyclones in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won three in a row.
Hudhaifah Taylor
| 11/14/25 vs Batesburg-Leesville | 3 |
| 11/07/25 vs Blacksburg | 2 |
| 10/18/24 vs Columbia | 2 |
| 09/25/24 vs Keenan | 2 |
| 10/24/25 @ Mid-Carolina | 1 |
Chester's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Hudhaifah Taylor, who rushed for 91 yards and three scores on only nine carries. Those three rushing touchdowns gave Taylor a new career-high. T'Mari Caldwell was another key player, rushing for 75 yards and one TD on only eight carries.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Chester was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 396 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 287 rushing yards in eight consecutive games.
Meanwhile, everything came up roses for Strom Thurmond against Liberty on Friday as the squad secured a 48-21 victory. The result was nothing new for the Rebels, who have now won eight contests by 22 points or more so far this season.
Strom Thurmond's win came from a few key players Chester will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Kaden Wigfall, who rushed for 62 yards and one touchdown. He didn't just play on offense: he also picked up a sack and made two total tackles (2.0 for loss).
Strom Thurmond's defense made their presence known, laying out the QB four times. That dominant display was truly a team effort as four different players picked up one apiece. Kaleb Simpkins got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Strom Thurmond's win bumped their record up to 10-2. As for Chester, their victory bumped their record up to 8-4.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Chester has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 290.3 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Strom Thurmond struggles in that department as they've been averaging 197.9 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything went Chester's way against Strom Thurmond in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, as Chester made off with a 44-23 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Cyclones since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
