Two dominant backs in Deonte Phillips and Caleb Feaster are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Strom Thurmond Rebels will host the Chester Cyclones at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Strom Thurmond's favor is that they have posted at least 31 points in their last three contests.
Strom Thurmond is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They breezed past Liberty to the tune of 48-21. The game was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 41-0.
Strom Thurmond's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Kaden Wigfall, who rushed for 62 yards and one score. Wigfall also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, picking up a sack and making two total tackles (2.0 for loss).
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Strom Thurmond was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 257 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 216 rushing yards in six consecutive matchups.
Strom Thurmond's defense stepped up as well, 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.
Meanwhile, Chester strolled past Batesburg-Leesville with points to spare on Friday, taking the game 42-28. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Cyclones.
Chester's win came from a few key players Strom Thurmond will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Hudhaifah Taylor, who rushed for 91 yards and three TDs on only nine carries. Those three rushing touchdowns gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of T'Mari Caldwell, who rushed for 75 yards and one touchdown on only eight carries.
Strom Thurmond's record now sits at 10-2. As for Chester, their record is now 8-4.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Strom Thurmond has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 197.9 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Chester struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 290.3 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Strom Thurmond suffered a grim 44-23 defeat to Chester in their previous meeting back in November of 2024. Will the Rebels have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
