Charleston High School Football Playoffs 2026: First-Round Matchups, Dates & Teams to Watch
The road to a state championship begins this week as Charleston-area high school football teams prepare for postseason action across the Lowcountry.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The regular season is in the books, the brackets are set, and the stakes are higher than ever!
The 2026 South Carolina high school football playoffs kick off this week, with teams from Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, and surrounding Lowcountry communities preparing to chase state championship dreams.
The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) and South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) released their postseason brackets over the weekend, setting up opening-round matchups Thursday, November 5, and Friday, November 6.
While several local teams will battle for survival this week, others have earned first-round byes and are already preparing for the next round.
Here’s your guide to the Lowcountry teams competing in this year’s playoffs.
🏈 Thursday Night Spotlight: Fort Dorchester at Wando
The Lowcountry’s postseason begins Thursday evening with a Class 5A showdown between Fort Dorchester and Wando.
Thursday, November 5 — 7 PM
📍 Fort Dorchester at Wando High School
The ninth-seeded Patriots will travel to Mount Pleasant to face the eighth-seeded Warriors in a matchup with major implications for the Lower State bracket.
The winner advances to face No. 1 seed James Island in the second round on November 13.
With a spot against the Lower State’s top seed waiting, both programs have plenty to play for.
🏆 SCHSL: Friday’s Lowcountry Playoff Matchups
Friday, November 6, brings another full slate of postseason football. Most SCHSL opening-round games are scheduled for 7:30 PM.
| Classification | Matchup |
|---|---|
| Class 5A | Blythewood at Summerville |
| Class 5A | Ashley Ridge at Sumter |
| Class 4A | North Myrtle Beach at Lucy Beckham |
| Class 3A | Swansea at Hanahan |
| Class 2A | Academic Magnet at Philip Simmons |
| Class 2A | East Clarendon at Woodland |
| Class 1A Division II | Bethune-Bowman at Baptist Hill |
Class 5A: Summerville Hosts, Ashley Ridge Hits the Road
Summerville enters the playoffs as the No. 5 seed in its Lower State bracket and will host No. 12 Blythewood.
A victory would send the Green Wave into a second-round matchup against No. 4 Carolina Forest.
Ashley Ridge, meanwhile, faces a road test against sixth-seeded Sumter. The winner advances to meet No. 3 Ridge View.
Class 4A: Lucy Beckham Welcomes North Myrtle Beach
Fifth-seeded Lucy Beckham begins its postseason journey at home against No. 12 North Myrtle Beach.
The winner moves on to face No. 4 South Florence in the second round.
Class 3A: Hanahan Prepares for Swansea
Hanahan enters the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Lower State bracket and will host No. 10 Swansea.
The winner advances to a second-round matchup against Oceanside Collegiate, which earned a first-round bye.
Class 2A: Philip Simmons and Woodland Begin Their Runs
Two area teams will host opening-round contests.
Third-seeded Philip Simmons welcomes No. 14 Academic Magnet, while sixth-seeded Woodland faces No. 11 East Clarendon.
Both programs will look to take advantage of home-field opportunities as the postseason begins.
Class 1A Division II: Baptist Hill Hosts Bethune-Bowman
Baptist Hill enters the postseason as the No. 15 seed and will host No. 18 Bethune-Bowman on Friday.
The winner advances to face second-seeded Lake View in the next round.
⭐ Five Lowcountry Teams Earn First-Round Byes
Not every team has to take the field this weekend.
Five Charleston-area programs secured opening-round byes thanks to their positions in the postseason brackets.
| School | Classification | Lower State Seed |
|---|---|---|
| James Island | 5A | No. 1 |
| Berkeley | 5A | No. 2 |
| Bishop England | 3A | No. 4 |
| Oceanside Collegiate | 3A | No. 2 |
| Cross | 1A Division II | No. 3 |
James Island enters the 5A Lower State bracket in the top position, awaiting the winner of Fort Dorchester and Wando.
Berkeley, the No. 2 seed, will meet the winner of Socastee and Gray Collegiate.
In Class 3A, Oceanside Collegiate awaits the Hanahan-Swansea winner, while Bishop England will face the winner of Darlington and Loris.
Cross will begin its Class 1A Division II postseason on November 13 against the winner of Lewisville and Denmark-Olar.
All five teams now have additional time to prepare for their second-round opponents.
🏈 SCISA Playoffs: Independent Schools Chase State Titles
The Lowcountry’s independent-school football programs are also preparing for postseason action.
SCISA’s first-round games are scheduled for Friday, November 6, with several local schools hosting playoff matchups.
Local and Regional SCISA Matchups
| Classification | Matchup |
|---|---|
| Class 4A | Heathwood Hall at Northwood Academy |
| Class 4A | Ben Lippen at Pinewood Prep |
| Class 4A | Porter-Gaud at Laurence Manning |
| Class 3A | Northside Christian at First Baptist |
| Class 2A | Orangeburg Prep at Colleton Prep |
| Class A | Carolina Academy at Dorchester Academy |
Northwood Academy Gets a Championship Rematch
One of the most intriguing first-round matchups features Northwood Academy hosting Heathwood Hall.
Northwood enters the postseason as the defending SCISA Class 4A state champion. The two programs met in last year’s championship game, making their opening-round rematch particularly noteworthy.
Pinewood Prep Takes on a New Challenge
Pinewood Prep, last year’s SCISA Class 3A state champion, is competing in Class 4A following reclassification.
The Panthers open their postseason at home against Ben Lippen as they pursue another championship at a higher classification.
First Baptist, Porter-Gaud, Colleton Prep, and Dorchester Academy will also look to extend their seasons through the November 6 opening round.
🏟️ The Road to State Ends in Orangeburg and North Charleston
For SCHSL teams, the journey ends at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg.
The 2026 SCHSL state championships are scheduled for December 4–5, with six championship games across the two days.
The Class 5A championship is scheduled for Saturday, December 5, at 8 PM.
For SCISA teams, Charleston will help host championship weekend!
The Class 4A championship is scheduled for Friday, November 20, at 7 PM at Buccaneer Field at Charleston Southern University in North Charleston.
The Class A, 2A, and 3A championship games follow on Saturday, November 21, at the same venue.
That means several Lowcountry teams have the opportunity to compete for state championships close to home.
📣 Lowcountry, Who Are You Rooting For?
From the Friday night lights in Summerville and Hanahan to the playoff battles at Wando, Lucy Beckham, Philip Simmons, and beyond, the road to a state championship is officially underway.
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