Hartsville Football Stadium is set to ignite with fervor and excitement as the 20th season of the Great American Rivalry Series kicks off with a historic clash between the home team, Hartsville High, and the visiting Camden High. This football rivalry, dating back to 1922, has captured the hearts of fans for over a century and is regarded as the longest and most intense rivalry game in the state of South Carolina. Both teams are amongst the winningest in the nation, with Hartsville at the forefront by only 14 wins over Camden.

With 94 meetings in their storied history, the Camden Bulldogs currently hold a slim lead over the Hartsville Red Foxes with a 50-40 record. The tension is palpable as both teams step onto the field, knowing that this game could be the turning point in their long-standing rivalry.

Last year’s encounter saw the Red Foxes emerge victorious with a thrilling 36-29 win, as J’Shawn Anderson’s game-clinching 33-yard run in the dying moments sent the home crowd into an ecstatic frenzy. The memories of that game still linger, adding extra fire to the already fierce competition.

Rick Ford, the Founder and CEO of the Great American Rivalry Series, shared his anticipation for the upcoming game, stating, “The Hartsville vs. Camden matchup has been a highlight of our series for two decades. The passion and intensity displayed by both teams and their fans truly embody the spirit of high school football rivalries.”

As the stadium gates open, a buzzing crowd of 3,000 passionate fans will fill the stands, cheering for their respective teams with unrivaled enthusiasm. The echoes of history and the thrill of the game will fuel the players on the field, as they leave every ounce of energy and passion in pursuit of glory.

This season, Hartsville and Camden will go head-to-head in a battle of wills, strength, and skill. The Red Foxes will be eager to defend their home turf and inch closer to narrowing the all-time series gap, while the Bulldogs aim to extend their lead and silence the home crowd.

The stage is set, the emotions are running high, and the countdown to kickoff has begun. Brace yourselves for a captivating clash that will once again etch its name into the annals of South Carolina football history.

We Know Friday Nights.

MVP

Carmelo Daniels
Hartsville

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Curtis Lear

Hartsville

Curtis is being escorted by parents Brad and Susan Lear. Curtis is a member of the National Honors Society, National English Honors Society, and National Beta Club. Last year he was given the honor of being a part of the ring committee and was the head marshal for graduation. Currently, he is taking dual enrollment classes at USC Lancaster to add to his college credits earned through FMU's teacher cadet program and by making a 4 on the AP US History Exam.
Jackson Rundlett

Camden

Jackson is being escorted by parents Eric & Rebecca Rundlett. Jackson Rundlett is a member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, and plays Varsity football and basketball. He is actively involved in his church youth group and recently had the honor of representing Camden High School at Palmetto Boy’s State. Last year, Jackson was a mentor tutor in a kindergarten class; this year he is working for the United Way of Kershaw County tutoring elementary students two hours a day. Next year, Jackson plans to attend a four-year university and is considering majoring in engineering.

GAME SUMMARY

It was all Hartsville in this year’s match up with Camden at Hartsville Football Stadium. With last year being decided by a game ending touchdown, the Bulldogs hoped to get revenge against their longtime rival. The Red Foxes from Hartsville were looking to prove that last year’s match up was no fluke and wanted to send that message early and often in front of the packed stadium. Both teams came out strong on defense but the Red Foxes got on the board first to jump out to a 7-0 lead in the 1st quarter with a strong rushing attack. Following their opening score, an interception and great return set up Hartsville with a first and goal that they capitalized on the next play with another rushing touchdown. The Bulldogs came back out and put their first points of the game on the board on their next possession and it was looking like this year’s edition of the rivalry was going to be another nail biter. Hartsville, however, had other plans for the night and immediately answered with a long 80-yard touchdown and were ff to the races both literally and figuratively racking up a solid halftime lead. The 3rd quarter belonged to Hartsville as they scored multiple times increasing their lead to 48-6 before Camden was able to get back into the endzone cutting the lead to 48-14. The two rivals traded touchdowns in the 4th quarter with the Red Foxes of Hartsville coming out as victors with a 55-21 final score over the Camden Bulldogs. It was a dominant performance by the Red Foxes led by MVP Carmelo Daniels and Hartsville looks to be a strong contender for a deep run into the playoffs in 2023. Hartsville defended their home turf and sent their fans home with smiles and bragging rights until next year in what was another great Friday night of High School football in South Carolina!