South Florence High School football (the Bruins) has become one of South Carolina’s most compelling high school programs in recent years. Led by strong coaching, rising talent, and growing community support, the Bruins have been making deep playoff runs, appearing repeatedly in state championships, and showcasing players who are drawing attention from college recruiters. This article dives into the factors behind their success, how they’ve built the program, who the key players and coaches are, and what the future looks like.
Table of Contents
South Florence Football: Program Snapshot
Coaching & Leadership
Season by Season: Recent Performance
Key Players & Talent Pipeline
Facilities & Infrastructure
Culture, Community & Support
Challenges & Opportunities
What’s Next: Expectations for the Coming Seasons
Conclusion
1. South Florence Football: Program Snapshot
South Florence High School is located in Florence, South Carolina. Its football team, the Bruins, compete in the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL), Class AAAA. Over the last several seasons, the Bruins have gone from being competitive to dominant, earning multiple state championship game appearances and winning multiple titles. Their rise has been underlined by consistency in coaching, player development, and community backing.
2. Coaching & Leadership
At the heart of the Bruins’ success is Drew Marlowe, who has served as the head coach since about 2019. In his tenure, he has overseen a dramatic turnaround of a program that had suffered losing seasons. Marlowe has emphasized organizational stability — retaining coordinators and assistant coaches, fostering trust with players and their families, and pushing for a strong, unified culture.
His staff includes offensive and defensive coordinators who have been consistent figures, helping build systems that players can understand and buy into. The continuity in the coaching staff has been frequently cited as a reason for the Bruins being able to execute well even under pressure in playoff and championship settings.
3. Season by Season: Recent Performance
Here’s a look at how South Florence has performed over the recent seasons:
2022: The Bruins went undefeated (15-0) and won the state title, marking a milestone for the school — the first boys’ state title in a male sport. LaNorris Sellers played a leading role, adding star power.
2023: They entered the title game with a 14-0 record but fell in a very close match to Westside (34-32), denying them back-to-back perfect seasons. Still, it showed consistency at the highest level.
2024: After a regular season with some challenges (including three losses), the Bruins made it back to the championship game and won in a dramatic 42-41 rematch over Westside. Key performances, clutch plays, and resilience defined this season.
That gives them two state titles in three years, plus multiple title game appearances. The record over those three years is extremely strong and schools, fans, and the rest of the region have taken notice.
4. Key Players & Talent Pipeline
Part of South Florence’s rise is its ability to develop and showcase high-level talent. Some important notes:
Amare Adams: One of the most notable recent players from South Florence. As a senior he had a standout season, was a top recruit, committed to a major college program (Clemson), and earned All-State and national honors.
Others like Tre Leonard, Jayden Sellers, and other key athletes have earned All-Region and All-State recognition, helping deliver the wins on the field. Their stats in rushing, receiving, and defense have been impressive.
LaNorris Sellers (former): A star quarterback who helped set a tone of excellence in previous seasons, proving the Bruins could compete at the very highest level and producing a pipeline for future recruits.
The talent pipeline appears strong. Players are getting recognition, being recruited to college, and the coaching staff seems capable of developing underclassmen and JV players for varsity contributions.
5. Facilities & Infrastructure
A football program’s success isn’t just about players and coaches — facilities matter. South Florence has invested in improving its facilities:
The school has a modern football field, including synthetic turf, upgraded drainage and infrastructure. This supports safer play and performance.
Supporting staff, training, and conditioning have grown alongside the facilities, helping with player safety, recovery, and stamina.
Investment in infrastructure signals that the school and community are committed to sustaining long-term success in athletics.
6. Culture, Community & Support
Success has many owners beyond just the players and coaches. Some cultural & community factors:
Community pride & engagement: The Florence community has rallied behind the Bruins. Home games, playoff runs, and state championship appearances bring strong local interest and support.
Player buy-in & mental toughness: The 2024 team in particular had a “chip on its shoulder,” believing they could overcome past shortcomings and finish strong. That mindset matters in playoff and close-game situations.
Stability in coaching staff: As noted above, retaining coordinators and assistants builds continuity, trust, and consistent training. Players know what to expect, which helps performance.
7. Challenges & Opportunities
Even for a program that has been so successful, there are always hurdles and areas for growth:
Maintaining consistency: As other programs adjust, recruit, and improve, South Florence needs to continue evolving — in scheme, training, and talent development — to stay ahead.
Replacing departing players: With standout players graduating and moving on, bridging that gap with new talent is always a challenge. Sustaining peak performance requires continuous recruitment.
Pressure and expectations: With recent championships and close losses, expectations from fans and media rise. That can bring additional pressure on players and staff to deliver.
Injury risks: Football is physical; maintaining depth in the roster and conditioning is critical. Any significant injuries to star players can shift momentum.
Resource allocation: Expense in maintaining good facilities, support staff, training, and equipment can be substantial. Ensuring the program is well-funded is always essential.
8. What’s Next: Expectations for the Coming Seasons
Given what South Florence has built, here’s what one might expect:
Continued presence in state playoffs and championship games. The program has proven it can reach finals repeatedly; next goals could include multiple consecutive titles.
More players earning college offers. With exposure, the coaching staff, and strong performances, more Bruins will likely be recruited to Division I and II programs.
Evolving offensive/defensive schemes. To stay ahead, they might adopt more varied or advanced tactics, especially to counter what opponents prepare for them.
Maintaining staff stability while bringing in new assistants who can innovate, especially in strength & conditioning, analytics, and nutrition.
Community & booster support likely to grow, perhaps with more attention to sports medicine, athletic training, and facility upgrades.
From a fan’s perspective, games will continue to have high energy, close matchups, and likely some nail-biting finishes, especially in playoff runs.
9. Conclusion
South Florence High School’s football program has transformed into a powerhouse in South Carolina high school football. Through strong coaching leadership in Drew Marlowe, development of key players like Amare Adams and LaNorris Sellers, investment in facilities, and deep community support, the Bruins have not just achieved success but built sustainability. Two state titles in three seasons, repeated finals appearances, and a culture of resilience and belief mark them as a program to watch.
Maintaining that level won’t be without challenges, but South Florence seems well positioned to continue its climb. For fans, recruits, and stakeholders, the expectations are now higher — but the foundation is solid.