Football Game Preview: Strom Thurmond Rebels vs. Saluda Tigers

Strom Thurmond and Saluda are an even 5-5 against one another since October of 2015, but not for long. The Rebels will be playing at home against the Tigers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Strom Thurmond will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more points each contest than the last.

Strom Thurmond is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They breezed past Pelion to the tune of 61-0 on Friday. The win continues a trend for the Rebels in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won eight in a row.

Deonte Phillips

Rushing Touchdowns (Career)

10/17/25 vs Pelion	3
10/10/25 vs American Leadership Academy	2
10/03/25 @ Batesburg-Leesville	2
09/26/25 @ Lincoln County	2
08/29/25 vs Silver Bluff	2

Deonte Phillips produced another solid performance rushing for 97 yards and three scores. Those three rushing touchdowns gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Kaden Wigfall, who rushed for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Strom Thurmond didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Pelion to a completion percentage of just 45.5%. That dominant aerial defense primarily came from two players: Grayson Smith and Shaheed Williams, who each logged one passes deflected. Strom Thurmond has been improving in that area: they had allowed a completion percentage of 0.61 earlier this season, but they've only allowed one of 0.61 in their last three games.

Special teams was a major factor in the game for Strom Thurmond, racking up 13 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Bryston Coleman, who ran a punt back for a touchdown.

Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Saluda challenged Ninety Six on Friday. The Tigers were just a hair shy of victory and fell 28-27 to the Wildcats.

Strom Thurmond's victory bumped their record up to 6-2. As for Saluda, their defeat was their first in the region, dropping their region record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 5-3.

Strom Thurmond came up short against Saluda in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, falling 35-25. 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.