Three-time champ Chesterfield gets ousted in South Carolina football

For the first time in four years, there will be a new 1A Division I state champion.

Chesterfield, coached by former South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Steve Taneyhill, had won the last three crowns and also played for the title in 2006 when the state decided to split the classification into two championships.

On Friday, though, Lamar got the best of Chesterfield, avenging last season's loss in the state championship game to the Golden Rams 28-13.

"It means a lot to our kids and our community, especially the way we got thumped by them last year," said Lamar coach J.R. Boyd to the Florence Morning News.

Chesterfield won the title 36-16 over Lamar last season.

Lamar ran the ball 32 times for 150 yards in the win. Chris Peoples led the way with three touchdowns and 95 all-purpose yards.

Click here to view MaxPreps' South Carolina football playoff brackets.

ASHLEY RIDGE EARNS SCHOOL'S FIRST POSTSEASON WIN
Ashley Ridge (Summerville) was a 2A team during its first two years of existence, but reclassification bumped the Swamp Foxes to the 4A classification. They advanced to the playoffs in their first season, but lost that game. They won a total of five games in the 2A classification.

This season was different, as the Swamp Foxes won six games and won the first playoff game in school history, as they beat Region VI-4A champions Lugoff-Elgin 28-24.

Ashley Ridge had a 15-play, 97-yard scoring drive that ended with quarterback Cameron Cox scoring from seven yards out with 21 seconds remaining. Cox ran for 101 yards and two scores and threw for 225 yards in the win.

"We're a young program, and we don't have the best athletes right now, but these guys never, ever give up," first-year coach Kenny Walker told the Charleston Post and Courier. "Things didn't look too good for us at a lot of different points tonight, but the offense just kept plugging away, and we made some plays we had to make."

SOUTH FLORENCE ENDS PLAYOFF WIN DROUGHT
The last time South Florence won a playoff game, George Bush was President. George H.W. Bush, that is.

On that night in 1992, the Bruins beat Lower Richland 20-18.

Friday night, the Bruins knocked off Wren 24-21 in the first round of the 4A Division II playoffs. The Bruins will play at Greenwood this week.

South Florence's Te'von Johnson caught a 6-yard pass from Kaleb Griffin with 2:32 to play for the winning points.

"We tensed up a little bit in the second half, but these guys are a mature group and battled back," South Florence coach Lynn Fleming told the Florence Morning News. "They knew what they had to do and it was about the kids making plays."

TWO MORE S.C. PLAYERS ARE NAMED TO ALL-AMERICAN BOWL GAME
The state added two more players to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game, which will be played at noon on Jan. 8, 2011 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Goose Creek offensive lineman Brandon Shell and Marlboro County linebacker Lateek Townsend were both named to the East team.

Shell, the great nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Art Shell, has verbally committed to South Carolina, while Townsend still hasn't committed. They join Dorman wide receiver Charone Peake in the game.

ANOTHER COACHING JOB IS OPEN
There's another coaching job open in the state, as St. James' Billy Hurston has stepped down. St. James lost in the playoffs two weeks ago and finished with a 2-9 mark. Hurston, who has been the school's only coach, posted a 16-56 overall record in seven seasons at the helm.

Hurston guided the Sharks to two playoff appearances but they never had a winning record. St. James and Brookland-Cayce each currently have openings for head coaches.

STARS FROM LAST WEEK
Lake City running back Shon Carson continued his onslaught on the season, rushing for 290 yards and five scores in the 62-41 second round defeat of Hanahan. He ran 29 times and scored on runs of 58, 13, 12, 2 and 20 yards. He surpassed 2,000 yards for the second straight season and has 2,143 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on the year ... Irmo tailback Dawan Scott ran for 217 yards in a 39-26 win over Spartanburg. His night included 122 rushing yards and three scores in the opening quarter. He added another rushing score and a passing touchdown ... Gaffney quarterback DeEdward Burris was 21 of 24 on the night, throwing for 257 yards and three scores in the 28-0 win over Wando in the opening round of the 4A Division I playoffs.

ON DECK THIS WEEK
Dillon (12-0) at Timberland (St. Stephen) (12-0): For the third straight season, Dillon and Timberland will meet in the 2A playoffs. Dillon has handed Timberland its only loss in each of the last two years. Friday will be a matchup of two of the best defensive teams in 2A, as Dillon has allowed just seven points a game and Timberland allows just 10 points a game.

Fairfield Central (Winnsboro) (11-1) at Belton-Honea Path (12-0): The Bears have had three straight blowouts, while the Griffins' contests have been a little closer. Either way, this should be a good game. The Bears are the only undefeated team left in 3A and are trying to win their first state title since 2004.

Williston-Elko (11-1) at Christ Church Episcopal (Greenville) (12-0): The Blue Devils, who won last year's 1A Div. I championship, are averaging 54.6 points a game while allowing just 9.9. Christ Church is also averaging more than 50 points a game, but its defense is allowing 12.1 points per game. This is the first season since 1977 that the Cavaliers have won more than one playoff game in a season.

Jason Gilmer is an award-winning writer who has covered football in South Carolina for more than a decade. He does a statewide high school football blog on GoUpstate.com. You can reach him at palmettotalkblog@gmail.com.