South Carolina House Adopts Resolution Honoring Bamberg-Ehrhardt Red Raiders' 2025 Title

The South Carolina House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 5289 on March 3, 2026, formally recognizing the Bamberg‑Ehrhardt High School varsity football team for winning the 2025 South Carolina Class A state championship. The resolution records that the Red Raiders defeated Lamar High School 35-21 in the championship game played in Orangeburg on Friday, December 5, 2025, securing the program’s first state trophy since 1990.

The resolution’s heading frames the action plainly: "TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Bamberg‑Ehrhardt High School varsity football TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR A STELLAR SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2025 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE." The version of the document bears the date 03/03/2026 and the House Journal notes the item as introduced and adopted on House Journal page 2.

Text in the resolution recounts key plays from the Orangeburg title game: Lamar scored first to lead 7-0 in the first quarter; Bamberg‑Ehrhardt took the lead on a second‑quarter rushing touchdown by Jalen McGraw; and the teams went to halftime with the Raiders ahead 14-13. The resolution’s recitals culminate in the 35-21 final and characterize the victory as ending "a thirty‑five‑year struggle for a comeback" to reach state championship status.

Legislative language also directs how the recognition should be delivered to the school community. The resolution resolves that the House "recognize and honor the Bamberg‑Ehrhardt High School varsity football team, coaches, and school officials" and further resolves that "a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Jordan D. Smith and Coach Corey Crosby."

Season context beyond the resolution was reported by WRDW/WAGT: the station reported Bamberg‑Ehrhardt completed a 15-0 undefeated season, scored 758 points in 2025—surpassing the program’s previous best of 518 in 2023—and outscored opponents 522-29 in a nine‑game stretch from September 12 through November 14. WRDW also noted Bamberg‑Ehrhardt was the last remaining undefeated team in South Carolina at season’s end and that the City of Bamberg presented the team with a city "resolution of achievement" more than a month after the title.

Coach Corey Crosby is named in both the House resolution and local coverage; WRDW’s visual coverage shows Crosby celebrating after the SCHSL Class A state win. The resolution specifically directs a copy be presented to Coach Crosby and to Principal Jordan D. Smith, tying the legislative recognition to school leadership.

By placing Resolution 5289 on the House Journal and sending copies to school officials, the South Carolina House has translated a December championship in Orangeburg and an end to a 35‑year gap into formal statewide recognition for Bamberg‑Ehrhardt’s players, coaches, and community. WRDW summed the moment as "a bright future for a team that seems to just be getting started.