COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Pointe defeated Hartsville in the 4A state title game by a final score of 51-28 and Dillon fell short of winning its fifth consecutive title, losing to Chapman by a score of 29-27.
Derion Kendrick threw five touchdown passes – three to Steve Gilmore – as South Pointe won its third consecutive state title with a 51-28 victory over Hartsville in the South Carolina Class 4A championship game Saturday.
Kendrick had TD throws of 54, 17 and 45 yards to Gilmore, the younger brother of Buffalo Bills defensive back Stephon Gilmore, all of them in the second quarter. Kendrick closed the second quarter with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Scott Robinson as the Stallions (15-1) took a 30-14 halftime lead.
Any chance of a comeback by Hartsville (13-2) was thwarted early in the third quarter when Jalen Pickett-Hicks picked up a Red Foxes fumble and scored from 37 yards out.
South Pointe’s win overshadowed the performance of Hartsville tailback Tiyon Evans, who rushed for 264 yards and a touchdown.
Kendrick finished 18-of-28 passing for 261 yards. Gilmore had six catches for 135 yards.Dillon vs. Chapman
Carlos Montalvo-Corra hit a 43-yard field goal with 9:30 left and Chapman held on to defeat four-time defending state champion Dillon for a 29-27 victory in the South Carolina Class 3A high school championship on Saturday, the Panthers first ever football title.
Dillon, which won its state championships at Class 2A level before getting reclassified this season, looked like it would continue the run when it took a 27-24 lead on Brayden Hawkins 19-yard touchdown pass to Murishi Irankunda late in the third quarter.
The Panthers (12-3) inched closer with a safety to start the final period, then hung on after Montalvo-Corra’s kick. Chapman allowed Dillon only 71 yards on four fourth-quarter drives after the go-ahead field goal.
DJ Twitty ran for 202 yards and two touchdowns for Chapman.
Johnny Hawkins led Dillon with 188 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
