Clarendon County’s three public high school football teams will enter the 2026 season with statewide recognition after each earned a spot in preseason rankings released by the High School Sports Report.
Manning and East Clarendon were ranked among the top seven teams in HSSR’s Class AA poll released July 29, while Scott’s Branch secured a top-10 position in Class A Division II.
Manning leads the local teams at No. 4 in Class AA, trailing only top-ranked Strom Thurmond and co-No. 2 teams Clinton and Dillon. East Clarendon enters the season at No. 7.
The two programs are also included in the MaxPreps Class AA statewide rankings. Manning is No. 16 with a 41.66 rating, while East Clarendon is No. 21 with a 37.69 rating.
Both teams are coming off nine-win seasons.
Manning finished 9-4 overall and 5-1 in Region 7-AA last year. After opening the season with losses to Crestwood and Scott’s Branch, the Monarchs won seven of their final eight regular-season games to earn the region championship.
Manning defeated Academic Magnet 48-7 and Timberland 46-24 in the playoffs before its season ended with a 56-6 loss to Hampton County.
The Monarchs produced 4,227 yards of offense in 2025, including 2,917 rushing yards and 1,310 passing yards. They averaged 325.2 yards per game and scored 438 points. Manning recorded 41 rushing touchdowns and 15 passing touchdowns.
East Clarendon finished 9-3 overall and 4-2 in Region 7-AA, placing third in the region. The Wolverines began the season with four consecutive victories, including a 39-0 win over Scott’s Branch, and later defeated Manning 26-12.
East Clarendon closed the regular season with a 42-14 victory over Marion. The Wolverines defeated Lake Marion 14-0 in the opening round of the playoffs before falling to Central 49-28.
East Clarendon scored 330 points while allowing 141, finishing undefeated in five home games.
Scott’s Branch is ranked No. 8 in HSSR’s Class A Division II preseason poll. Blackville-Hilda holds the top spot after adding 15 players from Williston-Elko when that school dropped varsity football for the season.
The Eagles are No. 21 in MaxPreps’ combined Class A statewide rankings with a 26.43 rating. The MaxPreps rankings include teams from both Class A divisions.
Scott’s Branch finished 9-3 overall and 5-1 in Region 5-A last season, placing second in the region. After losing its opener to East Clarendon, the Eagles edged Manning 40-38 and went on to win seven of their next eight games.
The Eagles defeated Hannah-Pamplico 32-14 in the first round of the playoffs before Johnsonville ended their season with a 38-14 victory.
Scott’s Branch recorded 1,959 yards of offense in the statistics reported to MaxPreps, including 1,463 passing yards. The Eagles threw for 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Scott’s Branch senior wide receiver Nyren Bowman also earned individual preseason recognition. HSSR ranked the 6-foot, 180-pound receiver No. 57 on its initial list of South Carolina’s top 100 senior football prospects in the Class of 2027.
