News and Updates

Johnston, SC – The gridiron celebrations at Strom Thurmond High School (STHS) Stadium just keep on coming.

It seems as though only a few short months have passed (it’s actually been a bit over nine) since the 2025 Class AA football state champion STHS Rebels were celebrating on the same field with a state championship trophy and title T-shirts. Friday’s celebration following a regionally televised 21-7 season-opening home victory over area rival North Augusta High School was different in the number of proverbial “marbles” at stake in the non-region affair, but it remained significant.

Winning at home in the “Peach Fields” is as meaningful for this group of Rebels as it was for the 2025 champions.

“We take a lot of pride in playing here,” said STHS Head Football Coach Andrew Webb. “The guys take a lot of pride in playing here and our goal is not to lose here. It took everything we had and I’m real proud of them.”

The Rebels’ (1-0) “Blue Steel” defense bent at times, but it never broke in allowing the Class AAAA Yellow Jackets just 61 rushing yards on the evening. Meanwhile, on offense, Strom Thurmond’s three-headed attack at running back of juniors Kaden Wigfall, Zy Rouse, and Preston “Squirt” Holmes posted 181 yards on the ground with a pair of scores from Rouse.  

The game’s scoring began early in the second quarter after Strom Thurmond junior safety Zy Rouse reeled in an errant pass attempt from North Augusta signal-caller Collin Tillman, nearly returning it for a touchdown before being called out of bounds inside the five-yard line. Rouse would plunge in a play later from two yards for the opening score of the contest.

“That dude is a dog,” Coach Webb said of Zy Rouse’s all-around performance at four different positions. “I’m glad he’s on my team.”

After another Rouse score capped a Rebels’ drive in the fourth quarter, seemingly putting the ballgame game away, North Augusta’s offense came alive. The visiting stands were re-energized when senior quarterback Collin Tillman began to connect with his receivers and found a wide open Zay Harris streaking up the sideline for a 34-yard touchdown, making the score 13-7 following the extra point kick from Jacob Degennaro.

However, the Rebels had an answer – junior special teams wizard, Preston Holmes. Holmes took the ensuing kickoff and weaved in, out, and through would-be North Augusta tacklers good for a 95-yard score that sent the Peach Fields into a full-on frenzy and really did put the game away after Zy Rouse added the two-point conversion for the eventual 21-7 final.

“The expectation is to fight with everything you’ve got for as long as it takes and I thought you saw that late in the game,” said Coach Webb. “We were able to run the ball and finish the drive, and we were able to run the clock out there at the end and not give the ball back to them, so I’m very proud of the guys up front.”

“We have a bunch of things to clean up,” he added. “Just because you win doesn’t mean it was pretty. We have a bunch to get better at and we’re going to fix that on Monday.”

The Rebels take to the road this week (Aug. 28) for the season’s second game at traditional powerhouse Abbeville High School, now an annual threat to win the Class A title. North Augusta (0-1) returns home to face Lexington High School.

Scoring Summary ST NA Quarter Score Scoring Play

Strom Thurmond 2 6 0 (TD) Zy Rouse rush for 2 yards

Strom Thurmond 2 7 0 (PAT) Justus Daly Extra Point

Strom Thurmond 4 13 0 (TD) Zy Rouse rush for 2 yards

Strom Thurmond 4 13 0 (PAT Failed) Justus Daly Extra Point

North Augusta 4 13 6 (TD) Collin Tillman pass complete to 6 Zay Harris for 34 yards

North Augusta 4 13 7 (PAT) Jacob Degennaro Extra Point

Strom Thurmond 4 19 7 (TD) Preston Holmes Kick return for 95 yards

Strom Thurmond 4 21 7 (PAT) Zy Rouse rush for 3 yards

Contact the ECSD Public Information Office (PIO) by email at ecsdpio@edgefieldcountyschools.org.

Johnston, SC – The Strom Thurmond High School (STHS) NJROTC program, part of the Strom Thurmond Career & Technology Center (STCTC), is celebrating exceptional results from the August assessment window of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam. These results highlight the dedication of participating students and the strong academic and career preparation provided through NJROTC.

A total of 40 students took the August ASVAB exam, and of those students:

-        18 students achieved Career Ready status.

-        25 students, or 63%, met the benchmark for entrance into the armed forces.

-        20 of the 25 students who met the entrance benchmark were participants in the Strom Thurmond NJROTC program.

-        10 students scored above 51.

-        3 students scored above 80.

The ASVAB measures skills and aptitudes related to education, training, and military career opportunities. A score of 31 is identified as the passing score for military entrance eligibility. A score of 51 is equivalent to a high school GED benchmark, while a score of 80 qualifies a student for a full-ride ROTC scholarship at any school in the country with an ROTC program, subject to applicable scholarship and program requirements.

These results demonstrate the value of consistent preparation, academic support, leadership development, and career-focused instruction. The strong participation of NJROTC cadets among those meeting the military entrance benchmark reflects the program’s commitment to helping students prepare for success beyond high school.

Special congratulations to the following top scorers, each of whom earned a score above 80:

-        Cadet Kiyanah Bibbs, Sophomore

-        Cadet Cason Shiver, Senior

-        Cadet LaTrez Robinson, Senior

Strom Thurmond High School and Strom Thurmond Career & Technology Center leaders congratulate all students who participated in the August ASVAB and recognize the hard work of the NJROTC cadets, instructors, families, and staff who helped make these results possible.

Contact the ECSD Public Information Office (PIO) by email at ecsdpio@edgefieldcountyschools.org.

Johnston, SC – When data related to ship-to-home summer meals for rural-designated Edgefield County families arrived it stunned Edgefield County School District (ECSD) Child Nutrition Director Connie Cunningham. There were not just a few Merriwether-area families that had been denied access to the program due to their address not qualifying as “rural” according to U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural designation maps – there were over 70 of them.

DATA BREAK: According to the S.C. Department of Public Health* (SCDPH), South Carolina has the seventh-highest rate of food insecurity nationally, which includes a 14.4-percent food insecurity rate among Palmetto State families and a 13.8-percent food insecurity rate for Edgefield County families. According to SCDPH information, the six dimensions of food insecurity include Decision-Making Agency, Short-Term Stability, Long-Term Sustainability, Access, Availability, and Utilization. When one or more of these dimensions are not met it creates food insecurity.

Undaunted, Cunningham and her staff jumped into action by quickly locking in a meal vendor, establishing a distribution location at Merriwether Middle School (MMS), and communicating with families. Their hard work provided well over 5,000 breakfast and lunch meals to help sustain those families over the summer prior to the start of the new school year (7/28).

“It was a blessing to hear from so many parents who expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the convenience of having nutritious meals delivered directly to their homes, helping ensure that our children continued to have access to healthy meals throughout the summer,” said ECSD Child Nutrition Director Connie Cunningham. “When we realized a portion of our community did not qualify as rural, we were determined to do everything we could to serve those families as well. That led us to establish a convenient meal pickup site, ensuring even more students had access to nutritious meals.”

ECSD Child Nutrition team members Jennifer Crump and Shannon Kirkland of Merriwether Elementary School (MES) were part of the extended effort at the MMS summer meal distribution site. ECSD Child Nutrition Administrative Assistant LaNor Browder was also instrumental in delivering meals within the community.

“It’s surprised me with the number of kids and families we’ve seen,” said Crump, who serves as the cafeteria manager at MMS and who is also known as “Aunty Jenn” to many of her school’s students, during a June distribution day at MMS. “It’s been really good. We’re excited to see how many families we’ll have come out today. They’ve been appreciative of what we’re doing, and the kids really need it so that makes us feel good.”

“It’s been exciting seeing everyone come in and being a part of the program,” added Kirkland.

For Cunningham and the ECSD Child Nutrition team, serving the community follows a very simple formula for success.

“We meet students and families where they are,” said Cunningham. “No matter where meals are served, we remain committed to doing our very best to provide healthy, nourishing meals that support our students’ growth, learning, and well-being. To every parent and guardian who signed up and trusted us to serve your family this summer—thank you! Your participation made this program a success, and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve our community. We look forward to continuing to care for and nourish our students throughout the new school year.”

“This was not a one-time thing,” she added. “This is something we would like to be able to offer each summer.”

ECSD Summer Meals: By the Numbers

- 2026 ECSD Child Nutrition Summer Ship-to-home Meals provided 28,777 breakfasts and 28,777 lunches.

- 2026 ECSD Child Nutrition Merriwether Middle Summer Distribution Meals provided 2,820 shelf-stable breakfasts and shelf-stable 2,820 lunches.

*Data Source: (2023) Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap. LINK TO DATA

Contact the ECSD Public Information Office (PIO) by email at ecsdpio@edgefieldcountyschools.org.