The annual Dorchester County Showdown took on a fresh twist this year, hosted at Ashley Ridge High School. Unlike previous showdowns and jamborees, where local Dorchester County schools faced off against each other, this year's event saw the county's top football teams matched up against schools from outside the county. The participating schools included Woodland High School, Summerville High School, Fort Dorchester High School, Dorchester Academy, and Ashley Ridge High School, each bringing their best to the field in an evening of spirited competition.
The games were packed with excitement from start to finish. Dorchester Academy faced off against Branchville High School, narrowly losing 12-6 in a hard-fought game. Woodland High School went head-to-head with Bluffton High School, where Donovan Miles made an early impact by recovering a fumble and scoring a touchdown. Despite a late-game 42-yard reception by Jervaze Salley to Ja'Keese Salley, Woodland fell short, with Bluffton securing a 14-6 victory.
Summerville High School engaged in a tense battle with Irmo High School, only to be outdone by a 36-yard pass in the final possession that gave Irmo a 17-14 win. Fort Dorchester High School, however, shone brightly, shutting out the defending 2A state champions, Oceanside Collegiate High School, with a decisive 14-0 victory. Host school Ashley Ridge High School capped off the evening with a commanding 35-19 win over Beaufort High School.
The atmosphere at Ashley Ridge was electric, with food trucks lining the courtyard, filling the air with mouth-watering aromas that added to the festive environment. The high school bands, including the Marching Wolverines, were performing their awesome stadium jams. Dorchester School District 2 Athletic Director Tyronne Drakeford reported an impressive turnout, with 5,230 tickets sold for the event. A portion of the proceeds, 10% of each ticket, was dedicated to funding the Dorchester County Unified Track Program, which was established last year to enable students with special needs to compete in a full track season.
In a memorable moment during the event, Stokes Automotive issued a challenge to Dorchester School District 4 Superintendent Mr. Beckwith and Dorchester School District 2 Superintendent Dr. Robbins. The superintendents were tasked with kicking a 15-yard field goal to earn an additional $600 for the Unified Track Program. Both superintendents rose to the challenge, successfully making their kicks, which resulted in each of the four Dorchester County Public Schools receiving $1,457.50 to further support their Unified Track & Field Programs.
The event was widely praised and well-attended, showcasing the best of Dorchester County's athletic talent and community spirit. Woodland High School will now prepare to face the Cougars of Colleton County High School this Friday, August 30, at 7:30 p.m. as they aim to bounce back from their narrow defeat.
Dorchester School District 4 and Woodland High School are also gearing up to host the Dorchester County Middle School Football Jamboree at Woodland High School on Saturday, August 31. Gates open at 8 a.m., with the first kickoff scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Tickets are priced at $5.00 and can be purchased at the gate or through GoFan. https://gofan.co/event/1646377?schoolId=SC2689